900 calories to lose weight?

My BMR is 1411.3 so to lose weight I'd need to subtract 500 to get the amount of calories I need to lose weight and, since I don't exercise (I have my reasons, it's not just becasue I'm lazy >.<), the amount I get is 911 calories a day. How can that be so? Isn't going under 1200/1000 bad and going to make my body go into starvation mode?

(By the way, I'm 5'3", 122 pounds, 15 years old)

Your going to get some major feedback with this one for "undereating" even though everyone does it. i insist you exercise... you feel better

Unless you specifically used a site/formula designed for teens (which seems unlikely given the number), your BMR is not 1411.3.  It would be 1411.3 if you were over 21.  It's probably closer to 1600/1700. 

I think the main problem, though, is that you've misunderstood what BMR is.  BMR is the calories your body would burn if you were in a coma.  It doesn't include any calories that you burn from standing up, walking around, eating/drinking, any exercise you do, etc.  To calculate how many calories you really burn in a day, you multiply your BMR by a number which depends on how active you are.  (The number will range from about 1.2 to 2.)

As a general rule, it's a really bad idea to eat less calories than your BMR.  So, that's your minimum safe intake.  Let's say, for argument's sake, that your BMR was 1600 cals/day.  If you were totally sedentary, you'd burn about 1920 calories/day.  In that case, you should eat 1600 cals/day (since no less than the BMR) and you'd lose about 3 pounds per month.  Now, take that same BMR but exercise regularly (say 45 minutes four days a week).  In that case, you'd be burning closer to 2400 calories per day.  Then you could eat 1900 calories/day and lose 1 pound per week.  Essentially, most sedentary people in a healthy weight range can't safely get a 500 calorie daily deficit so, as you get closer to a healthy weight, you need to add in exercise if you want to lose your weight somewhat quickly.

And, allibug, not everybody undereats.  Lots of people have lost weight (and kept it off!) the healthy way.

Thank you very much, susiecue. I was about to panic if I had to eat so little.

I know you don't want to hear this, but since your BMI is normal, and since you are only 15 and therefore still growing, you shouldn't be restricting your calories.

You might find this webpage to be helpful

Weight Loss for Teens

If you scroll down, it has tools geared for teens, such as a BMI calculator.  You might also want to read up on nutrition to make sure you are getting all you need from your food. 

Being healthy and strong is more important than being ultra skinny.

Original Post by susiecue:

Unless you specifically used a site/formula designed for teens (which seems unlikely given the number), your BMR is not 1411.3.  It would be 1411.3 if you were over 21.  It's probably closer to 1600/1700. 

 Umm I'm 22..around the same and my BMR is 1,600...not that low.

So yes, your estimates are probably wrong cheerybox. You should eat way more then that considering for a teenager the lowest they should go when losing weight is 1,500, due to development.

Hi - Losing weight is an inexact science - beside the calorie intake and output equation, there are other things that vary one's weight loss or gain. Some of those things incloude: skipping breakfast, how much healthy vs unhealthy food is consumed, getting sufficient sleep, having a metabolic disorder, and internal parasites.

I am short too - 5'1" and I have been a runner since i was 10 yrs old (i'm 43 now). Like a lot of small people, I've had to watch what I eat my whole life. That doesn't mean I've been dieting forever, but to maintain my 'bikini' weight, I do need to pay attention.

In the end, I've truly believe, whatever works for you to lose weight is the proper amount of food to eat and/or excercise to complete. Good luck!