Question:
My metabolic rate is 1550, and I work out- how many calories should I eat?

I am 8 months pot-op weigth 148lbs (was 250lbs.) and recently joined a gym. I've been working out since I was 15 (now 23) but stopped for the past 3 years, while I got fatter! Anyway, I am back in the gym and very excited, but I don't know how many calories I should eat. I still have to lose about 20lbs. and I lift weights 4 times a week and do cardio 30 minutes each time as well. The nurse there checked everything about me and my body fat is 33%overall, so I have to get down to 23%. My metabolic rate that my body burns calories each day is 1550. I assume I need to eat less than that to lose more weight, right? I eat about 1100 calories a day now, which I kinda feel like is too much, but now that I am working out, is this okay? My daily intake usually consists of chicken and/or beef, cheese, protein drink (ISOPURE), CarnationIB and/or milk, some type of fruit, and unfortunately 100 calories of hard candy (I know I need to cut that!) Any information would be greatly appreciated! THANKS :)    — Lezlie Y. (posted on January 31, 2003)

January 31, 2003
Hi, I don't have an answer to your question (sorry!) but how did you find out your metabolic rate?
   — fropunka

January 31, 2003
I'm with Rose, how do you figure out your metabolic rate? That would be very helpful to know.
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 31, 2003
This is something I obsess on, so I can answer this somewhat. If your BMR is 1550 without doing anything but breathing, then anything that is burned above that is gone. I use www.caloriesperhour.com to calculate everything I do in a day. I would talk to your surgeon about how many calories to consume with working out. But it sounds as if you're burning the required 3500 calories a week to lose at least a lb a week. Good luck!
   — LionGirl2k

January 31, 2003
This is original poster- the nurse at the gym I go to has this awesome, extensive computer program which includes all these tests to figure out stuff about your body. So, I am assuming from my weight and body fat and how much I could lift, etc. that is how she found out my metabolic rate, I never knew there was such a thing, so I was excited. Next time I see her, I will ask her if there is a manual way you can figure it out and will let you know. Otherwise, it's just on a computer-sorry!
   — Lezlie Y.

January 31, 2003
Here is an online link where you plug in the info and it calculates it for you. http://www.sirius.on.ca/running/bmr.html Ciao and Hugs, Victoria in Italy :)
   — perezrdh