Question about BMR and calories

[PaintedDaisy]

Hi there. I'm wondering if someone can help me figure this out. I've never been a numbers person, so just trying to wrap my head around this.

According to a website (bmi-calculator.net), my BMR is 1525. I went to figure out my daily caloric needs, and figured I was lightly active (1-3 times a week of planned exercise), which is 1525 x 1.375= 2096. This is what I should consume to maintain my current weight.

Now, I've been eating roughly between 1400-1570 calories a day for the past 2 weeks, and even before then I would average out at 1500. Yet I can't seem to lose weight. What should I be doing here?

This particular website says to cut my calories by 500 below my maintenance level (so roughly 1500) and never go more than 1000 below. So I guess what I'm wondering is why when I've been eating 1500 a day I still haven't lost a pound? Am I going too low? SHould I go lower? I find 1200 a day is just, really hard to do (find I don't have energy to go to the gym and get lightheaded/lethargic).

So any light shed on this would be great. Thanks

Ultimately I just want to lose some weight here and see some results someday soon.

 

[Steve]

Look, it sounds like you have been eating 1500 for a long time. When you do this, your body adapts. Hormones adjust. Your maintenance caloric intake drops to roughly 1500. The calculator gives you a higher number b/c that is the average for someone with your stats. It does not take into account individual circumstances such as your chronic caloric deficit.

Where 1500 was once a deficit, it is not maintenance.

You have 2 options. Cut calories to lose weight. I would not suggest this.

Or, you can correct your metabolism by systematically up your calories ever week or two by small increments until you get back up toward your suggested maintenance. Once there, hang out for a few weeks and let your body "reset" so to say.

Then, you can start cutting cals again and weight loss should occur.