test for matabalism

Is there a test to tell you how many cal you burn to lose. I think I read it once here. your metabolic rate or something like that.

Here is a link to a BMR calculator.  It is pretty accurate. I just had a body compostion done and the numbers are simular.  You can google BMR or RMR calculators and find some cool links.  here is the link to one I found: http://www.internetfitness.com/calculators/bmr.htm

Thanks for the link Dana, it's really interesting.

Yes there is one. I did it at the local Physical Therpy center. You lay down and breath into a machine and it will tell them your resting metobolic rate. That is how may calories you burn just laying down. If you eat that amount or less you body will go into starvation mode. Then they put me on a treadmill and hooked me up and then figured out what my heart rate should be to burn fat and what to stay under not to burn gulcose. It is a great help to keep from starving yourself and yet knowing about what you should eat daily. I wish I could remember what it was called, but if you want to e-mail me I will call them an ask.  Sara

The online BMR tests are based on averages.  If you have a lot of muscle (like me) they can be off quite a bit.  They are a good place to start.  You might want to check to see if any local gyms do testing.  Your BMR is basically the number of calories you would need to eat if you did nothing but lay in bed all day.