I’ve been using my Fitbit for about 6 years now, going through about 2-3 different models. On days that I just kinda laze around the house (napping, watching TV, extremely sedentary), I only burn \~1400-1450 cals. I’ve been using this as my BMR number. I do see results doing it this way, so it works for me, I think. Online calculators give me a higher number though, and people generally tell me that consuming 1450-1500/day is way too low. I guess I’m just curious what y’all think about that and how others have estimated their BMR.
I started with my fitness pal and it set my calories at almost 1700. Wasn’t losing much on keto once the water weight came off. Switched to the on on r/keto sub and have mostly been losing 1lb/week since with calories at 1430. I generally land somewhere between 1200 and 1400.
As for those telling you 1400 is too low, they’re just wrong and nosy
Here’s my naive approach: Weigh-in daily, freshly out of bed and right after visiting the bathroom, same time and time elapsed since last meal if possible. Keep track of your intake with the greatest possible precision. Repeat for 30 days.
The average change in weight over that period (weight on day #30 minus weight on day #1 divided by 30) should approximately equal the average energy imbalance over that period – surplus if weight was gained, deficit if weight was lost – multiplied by 7,700 for a result in kg or 3,500 for a result in lb. The average caloric intake over the same period should equal the average TDEE plus (or minus) the energy imbalance. Solve for TDEE and you get your estimate, which you can now proceed to utilize for the next month.
Contrived example: