In case you haven’t heard, the basal metabolic rate (BMR) is a scientific measurement of the amount of energy your body needs to function at its best. It is typically expressed in calories per day and, according to the Mayo Clinic, is the most useful measurement for those who want to lose weight.
Eating a diet that causes your BMR to increase is typically considered a good thing; you’re feeding your body nutrients and energy it needs to maintain healthy lifestyles. But what if an excessive increase in BMR isn’t healthy for you? Is it okay to eat the amount of food you need to maintain your current weight or should you keep trying to lose weight and avoid foods that cause your BMR to go up?
Let’s discuss the pros and cons of eating your BMR so you can make a healthier decision for your own body.
Pros
Eating your BMR can help you lose weight because it helps you calculate how many calories you need to maintain your current weight. If you’re looking to lose weight, eating more calories than you need is usually considered a bad idea because it could cause you to lose essential nutrients that your body needs in order to function properly. However, it’s important to note here that the amount of calories you need to maintain your current weight is often different from the amount of calories you need in order to perform at your best. Your BMR measurement will help you determine how many calories you need in order to maintain your current weight while also considering your current activity level and food preferences. For example, if you’re a person who likes to eat a lot of protein and avoid carbohydrates, you might find that the calories you need in order to maintain your current weight are higher than if you preferred to eat lots of carbs and avoid protein.
Eating your BMR is also a good idea if you want to prepare for a big event, like a wedding or birthday party. Large gatherings like these are usually associated with extra food and calorie-rich foods, so eating a bit more than usual may help you handle the festivities. And what’s more, studies show that people who consume more calories prior to a big event tend to lose weight afterward, so you may find that eating a bit more than usual helps you at an important time in your life.
Cons
Just because your BMR has increased doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll end up with chronic health problems. There are several different conditions that your BMR can increase to, but none of them are necessarily unhealthy. Your BMR can increase due to various conditions, including but not limited to:
- stress
- cold weather
- thyroid problems
- diabetes
- anemia
- and more
The problem is that doctors don’t always have the time to thoroughly go over every patient’s medical history before prescribing a diet plan. If you have one of the conditions above, you might not want to increase your BMR by eating extra food. Your doctor probably wouldn’t recommend it either.
Let’s say you’re extremely stressed and haven’t eaten in days. Suddenly, you find yourself faced with a choice: eat your BMR or starve. You might not want to opt for the latter because you’re already at your goal weight and haven’t gained any serious pounds. But, on the other hand, if your BMR is high due to a thyroid condition, you might want to try a diet that includes more protein and less carbs, as these are usually the types of foods that worsen thyroids. The decision is entirely up to you.
Let’s Assume You’re At Your Goal Weight
Let’s say that you’ve already reached your goal weight and are now maintaining it. If this is the case, you might want to consider eating your BMR instead of trying to lose weight. First of all, we should point out that being at your goal weight does not necessarily mean you’re healthy. Your body fat percentage might be lower than what is considered ideal, and there are definitely other health problems that could be prevalent. However, for the most part, being at your goal weight is considered a good thing. It means that you’re taking care of your body in the right way and are eating the proper foods in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Your BMR can serve as a guide to help you stay at your goal weight while also ensuring you’re getting all the nutrition your body needs. Remember, not all calories are created equal, and certain foods are often more nutritious than others. Furthermore, there is a wide variety of food that you can eat that is low in calories and high in nutritional value. You aren’t forced to eat anything specific when you opt for a diet that increases your BMR. This can be a healthy choice for people who want to maintain their current weight while also wanting to eat as much food as they need in order to get all the nutrients their bodies require.
What About Weight Gain?
One of the concerns with eating your BMR is that you may put on some extra pounds. This is more of a concern if you want to lose weight, as you don’t necessarily want to gain weight. But, if you’re already at your goal weight and satisfied with how you look, you may be inclined to let your BMR sit for a while before worrying about adding more pounds. This is often the case with those who have successfully maintained a healthy weight for many years. They’ve learned to trust their bodies and understand that, most of the time, their bodies know what it’s doing.
The truth is that, for the most part, your BMR doesn’t normally increase when you put on weight. There are exceptions to this rule but, for the most part, if you gain weight, your BMR will decrease. Your body needs more calories than it uses just to maintain its current weight. So, if you want to put on weight, you need to either reduce the calories you’re taking in or increase the calories your body uses. In most cases, this means reducing the amount of food you eat or taking a more active lifestyle. Your BMR isn’t necessarily an enemy in the war against obesity, but it is a measurement that you need to consider if you want to achieve better health outcomes.
Is It Okay to Eat Your Body’s Basal Metabolic Rate to Lose Weight?
Taking into consideration all the pros and cons, it is usually a good idea to eat your BMR in order to lose weight. However, it’s also important to remember that not all calories are created equal, and there are several different types of diets that you can follow that will increase your BMR. If you’re interested in trying a diet that includes increasing your BMR, make sure to consult with your doctor before starting any new diet plan.