Basal Metabolic Rate – What is The Importance of Calculating Your BMR?
It is important to calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate (or BMR) because to lose weight you must burn more calories than you consume. Your Basal Metabolic Rate is the amount of energy you burn while at rest. In simple terms, it’s the number of calories you burn while asleep. As you get older your BMR decreases. Lean body mass helps burn calories, so exercising, particularly resistance training, increases your muscle mass, which increases your BMR.
Why is your BMR important? Because when you attempt to lose weight, you will want to ensure that you are consuming fewer calories than you burn. However, you need to consume enough calories to keep your body functioning. That’s why your BMR is so important.
How does BMR work? Read more in our article on the math behind your Basal Metabolic Rate, and do the calculation yourself with our Basal Metabolic Rate Calculator.