Resting Metabolic Rate (rmr) Breathing Test

Hey ya'll,

As you all know, I've been struggling with weight regain in the last year or two. Anyway, my doctor and I have zero'd in on one culprit - the psychiatric meds I take.

But my girlfriend suggested that I get my resting metabolic rate tested. It basically spits out information that lets your practitioner come up with a target number of calories you should be taking in to maintain your weight. My friend, who also had an RNY said that she was tested right after the surgery and the test came up with 1200 calories. Now that she's at goal weight, the test said she should be taking in 1580 calories.

Anyone ever hear of this, experience it, etc.?

Thank you as always for your insight and support,
Lauren

I think there are several ways to get that information.  When I had the body scan, they came up with a resting metabolic rate.  Mine was 1295.  I have found that if I stay around there, and exercise, I lose slowly.  It is pretty difficult to stay that low.  When I had mine done before with the same method, it was 1100 but I was closer to 111 then and hadn't really been working out so I had much less muscle.

Thanks for the info Price!

I've had my RMR and BMR tested in many ways, some more accurate than others.

I've had the breathing test and it was pretty accurate but there are things that can throw them off so do you research first.

When I had my body fat tested via the dunk tank, they gave me a BMR and it seemed right based on how I was losing.

I've used various online calculators and found them all over the map.

I have a BodyMedia FIT and I find that pretty accurate for most things. (It doesn't do swimming and it can be low on things like biking.)

My scale uses bio-impedience to do body fat and also gives a BMR and the body fat is somewhat accurate but off by as much as 8% so I assume the BMR is off too. But it's in the ballpark.

Generally, I go with reality though. If I eat X and I lose Y then I back-calculate my BMR from that.

Thanks for the info. That is really helpful.

You might also want to see if anyone in your area offers the Bod Pod.  It seemed pretty accurate to me. I've done the dunking test too, but like this better because I can do it during a work day and not have to dry my hair after.  I've attached a link to information on it.

http://www.bcm.edu/bodycomplab/bpodmainpage.htm

I have never heard of a breath test but I would REALLY like to do the dunk test but havent found a place to do it locally.  I did not find the body media fit helpful....I was always in a deficit and never lost weight and found it frustrating and it ticked me off.  I would like to know my resting rate...I bet it is low.

Jennifer