BMR

1grammy
1grammy Posts: 4
edited October 2 in Health and Weight Loss
I am a 50 year old female. My BMR is 1329. MFP figures my calorie goal to lose 1 lb per week to be 1290 (without exercise). I thought should never go under your BMR. On days that I exercise this number is not an issue, but on days without exercise is 1290 calories enough?

Replies

  • PalmettoparkGuy
    PalmettoparkGuy Posts: 212 Member
    No, that's why you eat your exercise calories back and go by the "net" number.
  • lilybug13
    lilybug13 Posts: 154
    The BMR is what you should eat to maintain, 1290 is so that you lose weight. If you want to stay the same you should eat 1329...
  • Michelle9939
    Michelle9939 Posts: 291
    On days when you don't exercise try to eat your BMR calories. Then on days when you do exercise, eat your exercise calories.
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,736 Member
    The 1390 isn't for her to maintain. It's if she's in a coma. Since she's not in a coma (you're not, right, OP????) she has a whole bunch of getting out of bed, living her life, housework/job/etc calories to work with too.

    It's only really a 100 calorie difference between your bmr and your goal calories when you don't exercise (and it sounds like you're eating your exercise calories back so yay for you). I wouldn't worry about it too much but if you are, just eat around or maybe a little over your bmr on the days you don't exercise.
  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    The BMR is what you should eat to maintain, 1290 is so that you lose weight. If you want to stay the same you should eat 1329...

    NO you should not eat below your BMR. Your BMR number doesn't mean its your daily calorie intake. It only means the amount of calories your body burns when you're just lying on bed for 24 hours. You have to multiply it by your activity level to know your calorie needs & from there you subtract 250 or 500 cals to know the amount of calories you should be eating to lose weight. If her BMR is 1,329 cals & assuming that she is sedentary then this is how she would know her exact daily calorie needs"

    1,329 x 1.2 (sedentary) = 1,594.80

    So therefore if she eats 1,594.80, she will maintain her current weight. Now to lose weight, she has to subtract 250 from that figure.

    1,594.80 - 250 = 1,344.80 (is the amount of calories she has to eat to lose weight)

    Now if shes burning another 250 cals from her exercise or other activities, she will now have the 500 calorie deficit for the day. 500 x 7 days = 3,500 calorie deficit. 3,500 calorie deficit = 1 pound lost.
  • FitasBarbie
    FitasBarbie Posts: 141 Member
    I was also worried if I should be eating below or above my BMR. This thread is very informative.
  • 1grammy
    1grammy Posts: 4
    You are right. I am not in a coma (although sometimes it sure feels like it). I exercise 5 times a week for 1 hour, so most days the number is not an issue. I just can't seem to find the right formula to lose! Calories up or down? Can't really find time for more exercise. I need to lose 20 more pounds and it does not want to go!
  • robpett2001
    robpett2001 Posts: 320 Member
    Thank you for explaining this. I think MFP could be more clear about this on the BMR page, and include those mulitipliers in there. Here's a calculator that does:
      http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr

    You have to multiply it by your activity level to know your calorie needs & from there you subtract 250 or 500 cals to know the amount of calories you should be eating to lose weight. If her BMR is 1,329 cals & assuming that she is sedentary then this is how she would know her exact daily calorie needs"

    1,329 x 1.2 (sedentary) = 1,594.80

    So therefore if she eats 1,594.80, she will maintain her current weight. Now to lose weight, she has to subtract 250 from that figure.
    <snip>
  • Jess5825
    Jess5825 Posts: 228
    so, I'm curious. I have a Bodymedia Fit. I've been sleeping with it too. While I'm in bed it says I burn about 600 calories in like an 8 hour period. So does this mean my BMR would be around 1800? Since I multiplied that times 3 since there is 24 hours in a day.
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