Advice Needed Please!

SaintsGal
SaintsGal Posts: 62
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I was wondering if anyone could give me some adive about the topic of BMR.

I have never eaten that many calories, the calories I have been eating have been the wrong calories usually junk food and chocolates high in fat which has resulted in my weight gain.

However, I am not determined to lose weight however, I am unsure about if I am doing this correctly. I am worried about whether I have to EAT my BMR, or NET my BMR. I usually net around about 1300 calories (both on days with no workouts and on days when I burn 400 calories I eat 1700 to make up for the 400 calories burnt).

However, my BMR is 1650 roughly but I am not hungry enough to eat the extra calories and MFP has my daily calorie goal as 1330.

Is netting 1300 daily a healthy way to lose weight?

Any advice would be appreciated
Many thanks
x

Replies

  • McLifterPants
    McLifterPants Posts: 457 Member
    Your BMR is the calories your body would need to keep your organs functioning if you were in a coma. Most people on here would recommend that you NET at least that amount.
  • SaintsGal
    SaintsGal Posts: 62
    Thank you for your response.

    But is there any medical findings that show it would have a detrimental effect on your health if you did not net your BMR? If there is work to show the negative effect it would have no my health how long does it take for the signs to show that damage is being done to my health?

    I also struggle to net 1650 (means eating 2050 calories a day) I may need some more calorie dense, healthy snacks to add to my diet. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated?

    Many thanks
    x
  • McLifterPants
    McLifterPants Posts: 457 Member
    I wish I knew more; I've been told that there is scientific evidence that if you eat too little, your body will burn lean mass instead of fat because it's more energy efficient or something, but I can't give you anything to back that up.

    I CAN help with healthy snacks though!
    - Low fat cheese
    - Greek yogurt
    - Nuts (dry roasted almonds are fabulous)
    - Avocado (full of healthy fats)

    Poke through my diary if you're curious! It's open, and I aim to net 1650 per day as well.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    But is there any medical findings that show it would have a detrimental effect on your health if you did not net your BMR?
    No. I have not seen anything, and when challenged the "eat your BMR" chorus does not produce anything either.

    Practically all clinical studies on weight loss use energy intake below BMR. Many of them don't consider exercise at all.

    You can be adequately nourished in terms of protein, minerals, vitamins, essential fats etc and be eating only half your BMR in calories. The more you eat the more likely you are to get fully nourished, but 2000 calories of crap won't do it.

    Here's some overweight / obese folks losing weight and fat with 25% calories less than their TDEE (CR), 12.5% CR plus 12.5% of exercise EX for 6 months, and an 800 calorie LCD until 15% weight loss then maintenance up to 6 months :

    48413764714673585_8NIygBW3_f.jpg
  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    Eating below your BMR or even at it will probably have you result in a plateau.. at which point you will most likely have to increase calories anyways... If you have alot to lose, you could eat under it and lose.. but you also need to eat healthy.
  • SaintsGal
    SaintsGal Posts: 62
    Thank you for all the advice

    @HannahOM thank you for the snacks some great ideas in your diary so thank you! What was your starting BMR and have you been eating at/under your BMR and losing weight?

    @GreenRun99 I am currently netting around about 1400 and have been seeing weight loss (for the moment) but have also seen many people on the forums who have seen continued weight loss netting 1400 rather than their BMR. I am just worried that netting less than my BMR will damage my health? However, I am currently not hungry, tired or feeling ill whilst netting 1400.

    Any more information would be appreciated
    x
  • McLifterPants
    McLifterPants Posts: 457 Member
    Thank you for all the advice

    @HannahOM thank you for the snacks some great ideas in your diary so thank you! What was your starting BMR and have you been eating at/under your BMR and losing weight?


    Any more information would be appreciated
    x

    My starting BMR was around 1550, and yes I ate under it, and yes I lost weight, but I was tired and cranky and hungry!! And then I stalled out. Once I upped my calories, I felt way better and have continued to lose weight. That's just my personal experience though!!
  • SaintsGal
    SaintsGal Posts: 62
    That sounds similar to me my BMR is abour 1550 and I am netting 1300 - 1400 at the moment and am seeing weight loss and, thankfully, I am not experiencing the tiredness and hunger yet so fingers crossed I won't experience this for a while.

    Well done on your weight loss Hannah! Keep up the good work!

    x
This discussion has been closed.

Categories