Many people who try to lose weight end up cutting too many calories every day. So how much is really too low when it comes to calorie cutting? Continue reading to learn about how you can calculate your minimum daily caloric requirements so you can put yourself on a safe track towards slimming down.
Figure Out Your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
Your Basal Metabolic Rate, or BMR, is basically an estimate of the number of calories that your body will burn while it is at rest. This number, which is also referred to as your basal energy expenditure, or BEE, will ultimately represent your minimum caloric requirements, or the minimum amount of energy that is required in order to maintain your body’s basic functions, like your heart beat and your breathing.
An individual’s BMR will use as much as two-thirds of their total daily calories. Therefore, you can use your BMR to determine how many calories you should be consuming if you wish to either gain, maintain, or lose weight.
What Determines Your BMR?
Your gender, age, weight, and height will determine your BMR. You can use a formula to calculate what your BMR is, and there are a few different formulas to choose from. One of the easiest ones is below:
Women should calculate their BMR with the following formula:
655 + (4.3 x your weight in pounds) + (4.3 x your height in inches) – (4.7 x your age) = your BMR
Men should calculate their BMR with the following formula:
65 + (6.2 x your weight in pounds) + (12.7 x your height in inches) – (6.8 x your age) = your BMR
Why Your BMR Matters When You’re Trying to Lose Weight
Your body requires a minimum number of calories, and your BMR will tell you how many calories you need to eat every day in order to prevent your body from thinking that it is starving. The right number of calories will help your body meet its energy requirements while at rest, and it will also ensure that your body doesn’t end up using your muscles for energy when you are trying to build them up.
Once you know your BMR, you can plan your meals in a way that will give you your minimum caloric requirements. Meeting this minimum without going overboard will ensure you can lose weight in a healthy way, especially when you are also taking a high quality weight management product like PhenBlue.
