Hello, first off I'm a guy and don't have first hand experience on how much energy the female body uses on an average day. However, I am trying to calculate the BMR of a female friend of mine and the number came out to( using the Harris Benedict formula) 1653cals a day. This just seems low, though she is tiny, 5'2" 123Lbs.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!
Thanks,
Nate

Hi!

BMR is the Basal Metabolic Rate and is what your friend needs for her body to function for a day (without exercise factored in)
You then need to mutliply it by an activity factor which is explained in this thread:

http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=1222

If you've done that, then yes you've got it right. :tu:

Just seems low to me :rolleyes:
Thanks for the reply though. :nod:

I question if these formulas really are accurate... So I started a thread about it. It'll be very interesting to read the responses...Geez, hope I get responses... :D

Just seems low to me :rolleyes:
Thanks for the reply though. :nod:

It's not low. Mine is around 1500 and I have as much lean body mass as your entire friend :lol:

I've done the calculation a couple of ways, but I'll use what I have on Fitday. My basal is 1320 and when you factor in my activity level of sitting at a desk all day, my average calories burned would be around 1900. I walk a lot, I run sometimes, I lift, so I could probably safely change my Fitday profile to something a little more active, but my main activity is sitting in front of a computer. I'm 5'1" or 5'2"-- last time my height was measured it was 5'2" and I still find it hard to believe... :) I allegedly weigh 125 pounds.

Calculations for BMR are a guideline, not entirely precise of course, just as you can't really guarantee that there are 62 calories in that medium orange I had earlier. My scale weight of 125 pounds on my scale is 132 pounds at the gym, 128 on the doctor's scale. Which is why I care more about how my health is doing and how my clothes are fitting than all the numbers. The numbers are fun and sometimes helpful, but they're all pretty much guidelines.

I can generally eat 1800-2200 calories a day to maintain my current size. Put me at 1500 calories for 2 days in a row and I will smack you down for a cookie!! :lol: