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High resting metabolic rate?

carls10carls10
in General Training Discussions
I am training for my first IM and exercising more than I ever have before. Through subjective measurements seem to have a high metabolic rate. Meaning even when not really training much I eat whatever I want and don't worry about weight gain. Now however training for IMLP I have lost at least 5#. I have been using Lose It App and it tells me that I over eat my calories everyday yet the scale says otherwise. People around me don't believe how much I eat as I am a little peep.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I realize that there could be medical issues but barring that any ideas? Maybe some consideration to adjust the Lose It App so I get a more accuate idea of what to eat. Have not done any readying etc just a subjective thing.

Comments

  • jwpicciottojwpicciotto
    A couple of questions.

    Is your weight consistantly down or is it bouncing around. If you are seeing significant fluctuations it could also be a factor of hydration. However, if you are seeing a steady progression downward this is more indicative of a caloric deficit.

    How many calories are you consuming a day on average?
    Where are you volume/intensity wise in your training plan?
    What does your Lose It App think that you should be consuming? Is is actually taking into account the increase in activity?

    Also, more importantly, how are you feeling? Are you starting to drag or feel like you are not recovering? What is going on with your body composition? Clothes fitting looser/tighter? % body fat changes?

    The scale is one tool, but a lot of times it is not the best tool to help guide an athlete as far as what is going on with their body. Hopefully Penny will jump in here and ask more insightful questions and provide some better guidance.

  • penlynwilsonpenlynwilson
    Hi Carly: How was your RMR measured? How long ago? How often are you weighing?

    Other than that - what John said . . . at least for now.

  • carls10carls10

    Lose It App does take into account exercise but its general (biking 16-20mph for so long=so many cal, no idea how it is calculated).  It tells me I get 1200 cal/day with no exercise.  I am eating closer to 3000-3500cal/day.  I also do not put in walking/commuting which for me can be close to an hour per day depening on where I go.

    Weight will fluctuate at this point: for example 109# this AM with 10% BF (per scale) after AM run before breakfast and after PM workout after dinner 112# with 12% BF. 

    I am in week 8 of race prep (IMLP is in 4 weeks).  Following the intermediate plan so typically 2hrs/day during week and 3-5hrs weekends.  I do feel like I am recovering fine, feel fine as long as I get enough sleep.  It is more the 5# from 120ish to 115ish and now sometimes lower than 110# now. 

    It's kind of the 'scrawny' feeling that I have and that I really had no intention of dropping weight.  Not weak at all, maybe more mental for me at this point just not sure.

    Like I said I eat all of the time, never don't eat if I am hungry, if anything may eat if not hungry. 

    @ Penny never had my RMR tested, this is just me observing that I eat more than everyone around me and weigh the least.  I know very unscientific.

  • penlynwilsonpenlynwilson
    Here are my thoughts:

    - Pick one time for a weight to use to track. Usually first thing in the morning after you have gone to the bathroom is best. Don't count on those body comp numbers being accurate if you are using a scale - they tend to fluctuate based on hydration levels. Unless, your scale also provides hydration status. Then, they are a little more useful. It is natural for your weight to fluctuate during the day because of fluid intake, workouts, eating, etc. That is normal. But, you need a baseline to really track trends - that is why I suggest a morning weight - no food/hydration to worry about.

    - You might search and see if there is someone who can measure your RMR near you - check out http://www.microlifeusa.com/weightmanagementdealers.asp?Zip=&btnSubmit=+FIND+

    - For your calculated RMR, I would take what it says then add the calories you are burning during your workouts and commuting. I presume you have a Garmin/HRM/something that gives you that information. That will give you a better feel until/if you get a measurement done. I'm not surprised at how much you are eating. You may need more, honestly.

    - If your performance isn't suffering and you aren't sustaining injuries, I wouldn't be worried - just concerned and keep an eye on it.
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