Understand What BMR Means

• BMR, or basal metabolic rate, is the number of calories your body uses to carry out basic day-to-day functions. BMR is more commonly referred to as "metabolism."
  
  

Calculate Your BMR

• For women, calculate your BMR by using the following equation:
  BMR = 655 + (4.3 x weight in lbs.) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years).
  Once you have this number, you know the number of calories your body needs at rest every day.
  
  

Multiply Your BMR by Activity Level

Example

• For a 180 pound woman who is 5' 7" tall and 40 years old, her BMR would be:
  655 + (4.3 x 180) + (4.7 x 67) - (4.7 x 40) = 1555.9
  Assuming she is lightly active, would multiply 1555.9 x 1.375 to get a total daily calorie intake of 2139 calories per day.
  
  

Calorie Minimums

• Women should never consume less than 1200 calories per day, unless under the supervision of a health care professional.