BMR vs MFP?

Amyrinthe
Amyrinthe Posts: 2
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I've been on MFP for about a month now. I've been following my 1200 cal/day recommendation strictly (except for one or two days so far). I've seen limited success, yo-yoing between 136 and 140lbs. I've been trying to educate myself on the forums and I discovered threads regarding BMR (basal metabolic rate). According to what I've read here- and now on other sites as well- it's important to eat at least as much as your BMR each day in order to achieve healthy, consistent weight loss. If this is the case then why would MFP recommend a lower caloric intake than my BMR? Should I continue eating aiming for 1200 net cals/day or should I base my caloric intake on my BMR?

Help please! Thank you!

Replies

  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    What other sites say it? I've never seen it anywhere except in these forums and I read everything. It's a myth. A very, very pervasive and popular myth in this tiny corner of the internet and no where else. In the weeks I've been ranting about it here, no one has yet produced one other credible source of the claim.
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    I've been on MFP for about a month now. I've been following my 1200 cal/day recommendation strictly (except for one or two days so far). I've seen limited success, yo-yoing between 136 and 140lbs. I've been trying to educate myself on the forums and I discovered threads regarding BMR (basal metabolic rate). According to what I've read here- and now on other sites as well- it's important to eat at least as much as your BMR each day in order to achieve healthy, consistent weight loss. If this is the case then why would MFP recommend a lower caloric intake than my BMR? Should I continue eating aiming for 1200 net cals/day or should I base my caloric intake on my BMR?

    Help please! Thank you!

    MFP is just a very clever computer, you put some info in, and it's spits out a number. It is a fantastic tracking tool, but in respect of numbers it's just a computer not a nutritionist.

    I did the same as you, started on 1200, then did some research and decided 1200 was too low. I got my numbers ran by Helloitsdan and then continued losing at 1600 even though MFP's goal pages told me I wouldn't lose at that amount.

    Yes, I did lose on 1200 but I felt ill, lightheaded and grouchy. Eating at 1600 was more sustainable and I think I would have given up on 1200.

    There are people on here that have been successful on 1200, but you need to ensure an adequate intake of protein to maintain lean mass.

    There are also people who have had success on less aggressive deficits.

    You need to do your own research and find what works for you.

    Good luck.:flowerforyou:
  • douglasmobbs
    douglasmobbs Posts: 563 Member
    BMR is just an estimated number based on one formula or another.

    at 136-140lb I assume you are not here to lose a lot of weight, but more tone up, improve your eating quality and perhaps drop a few pounds.

    Calories out - calories in = weight loss.

    This is a simplified formula that has a number of more complex things behind it, but good enough for the vast majority of people (including myself)

    Before you look at the number of calories you are eating look at what you are eating. Make healthy choices, research how much protein, fat, fiber, vitamins etc you need and look at what sort of foods you want to eat to hit these. Logging these will come to a number of calories. So long as this is less than your calories out (look up the posts about TDEE to see what is included in calories out) you will lose weight.

    If you want a guide calorie number I suggest you get a healthy plan eat it for a couple of weeks then weigh yourself. The following week stick to your plan and do your regular exercise logging everything very carefully. From this you will see what your calories in, calories out and weight loss are. You will likely need to add a fudge factor into the equation to suit your own unique body.

    So calories out +/- fudge factor - calories in = weight loss (3500 * lbs)

    at 136-140lb aim to lose 0.5-1lb (probably 0.5) per week. and then you will see how many calories you can eat each week and divide them up how you want. Some people like splitting them evenly across all days others like saving some for a bigger weekend.
  • Amyrinthe
    Amyrinthe Posts: 2
    Thank you for the feedback, guys! I really appreciate your thoughts. :)
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