Question:
What is the formula for calculating the BMR when the body is at rest?

This is the number of calories the body will burn while doing nothing but breathing. It is based on weight, height, age, sex and a few other things. I found the BMI calculator on this site but can't find a BMR calculator. Does anyone know if there are any variables affecting the BMR number like percentage of body fat or how much you exercise when not at rest?    — mary ann T. (posted on March 31, 2004)

March 31, 2004
Try www.thinnerself.com
   — Cathy G.

March 31, 2004
If you send me your email address I will send you a link for a BMR calculator.
   — Tawnda C.

March 31, 2004
Hi there! Diane is right; I just recently posted a thread dedicated almost entirely to this very subject. You *can* find many calculators online (do a Google search for "resting metabolic rate" AND calculator and you will pull up several sites; HOWEVER, they are just a ballpark estimate (as Diane also said). For instance, an online calculator gave me a figure of 1600+ calories per day RMR (resting metabolic rate). When I got my RMR tested FOR REAL at a doctor's office, it was actually ONLY 1200 calories. Big difference there! For more info, look for a thread I would've posted on the 25th or 26th entitled "Important information for shorties" (it was actually supposed to ALSO say "and those who plateau often or have stopped losing weight," but the mods butchered it. Good luck!
   — sweetmana

March 31, 2004
AMOS MOD HERE. Hi sweet one! I approved that post and didnt remove anything. the system glitches sometimes delet part of posts. I dont like it any more than you do. Generally the most I do is add something to make a question clearer since the sub topic doesnt appear in the question. If I didnt do that there would be some very unintelligble questions on our board. I am a unpaid volunteer and do this only to help the members, as giving back something for all the help and support I got pre op. I am here to help! really! More a posting facilitator than a moderator. I havent removed anything in a long time and actually hate doing it. I am proud to say our members tend to be very nice to one another. Just wanted to clear this up.
   — bob-haller

March 31, 2004
Sorry, Bob. You are right; I should not have automatically assumed it was an edit-job. It's an unfortunate glitch because the original title was meant to get the attention of plateau-ers, non-losers, and short people alike. Again, please accept my apologies, and thanks for letting me know.
   — sweetmana

April 1, 2004
Yeah, those BMI calculations are just a ballpark estimate. You might consider investing in a more accurate report. This week, I had my Resting Metabolic Rate tested at my gym, with a special device called a Body Gem (about $3500, I'm told, for the machine). I was happily surprised to find mine was 1550 -- not bad for a 5'2 "shortie"! I'm thinking it has a lot to do with all the weight training and aerobics I'm doing. Muscle burns a lot more calories than fat.... If you're interested, I posted my most recent results on the message board, under the title "7-month update." Look for the sunglass-wearing smiley face!
   — Biking O.

April 1, 2004
Biking One - here's the thing...i had my RMR tested with the Body Gem, too (incidentally, I found it for about $1200 online) - and I lift weights four times a week (heavy weight lifting, not just toning) and aerobics OVER five times a week; have been doing this for over 6 weeks. Point being, with all that exercise, my RMR is only 1200. So, it doesn't always follow that developing muscle/heavy exercise is going to boost your RMR. You must have the correct combo of proper diet/enough calories/enough exercise down pat. I guess my problem has been not enough calories. Just wanted to let everyone know that it's not always as easy as exercising your butt off!
   — sweetmana

April 1, 2004
You're right, Sweet One. I have added more calories this past month, along with mixing up (and making more intense) my workouts. The "magic" formula includes consistent (and consistently challenging) exercise, water, and proper diet.
   — Biking O.

April 1, 2004
Biking One - hmmm...despite my doing the same exact things you mention (consistently changing up the exercise and making it more challenging, enough water, etc,), i guess the "magic" formula works only for some and not others. I'm happy this worked for you; it hasn't for me.<br> <br> Point being, let's be careful about spreading the myth that if everyone just "sticks with a magic formula," (i.e. water, protein, exercise) it will all work out in the end. It's just not true all the time. Sometimes, when you work the program, THE PROGRAM DOESN'T WORK. <b>Correct me if i'm wrong, but i believe this is why many of us resorted to the surgery in the first place.</b><br> <br> <Getting off of soapbox> My work here is done.
   — sweetmana

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