Frustrated with BMR estimates

rblakeman
rblakeman Posts: 25
in Health and Weight Loss
I am new to MFP but not new to fitness. I like the MFP calorie charts and I understand the theory behind eating your calories back. However, I am confused/frustrated about BMR estimates. I have gone to various websites and each give a different number...but many give close to 1200 (like 1247)...so that if I am eating the 1200 like MFP says, I have no deficit. How can I get the most accurate estimate of the number of calories I naturally burn in a day? I have a HR monitor, but it is my understanding those are only helpful for when you exercise, not for when you are doing your regular daily activities. Thanks!

Replies

  • danifo0811
    danifo0811 Posts: 544 Member
    BMR is what your body takes to survive doing NOTHING. If you do anything like preparing supper, cleaning, walking to your car, standing .... you burn more. The calorie level that it takes to let you do all that is what your deficit needs to be from. Unless your metabolism has been screwed up, your maintenance calories should be over 1700 calories.

    With my activity level, I maintain around 2200-2400. To lose, I eat 1600+.

    My understanding with HRM is to give you a more accurate idea of how much you burnt and how much to eat back. For daily activity level, you kind of just guess based on the work you do. After time, you might decide you are actually very active.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    BMR is what your body when burn in a comma. TDEE is that number multiplied by like some factor (depending on activity). The TDEE is what you base your deficit on, NOT your BMR.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    BMR is what your body when burn in a comma. TDEE is that number multiplied by like some factor (depending on activity). The TDEE is what you base your deficit on, NOT your BMR.

    this
  • IronPlayground
    IronPlayground Posts: 1,594 Member
    BMR is what your body when burn in a comma. TDEE is that number multiplied by like some factor (depending on activity). The TDEE is what you base your deficit on, NOT your BMR.

    this

    +2
  • rblakeman
    rblakeman Posts: 25
    Thank you! That makes much more sense. 1200 in a coma seems reasonable...1200 actually alive seemed low.
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    BMR is what your body when burn in a comma. TDEE is that number multiplied by like some factor (depending on activity). The TDEE is what you base your deficit on, NOT your BMR.

    this

    +2
    +another

    My bmr is 1300. I eat over 2000. I dont go near the dreaded 1200 number.

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