is there any way to determine or calculate one's exact metabolic rate and daily (or weekly) caloric expenditure?

I know about the general methods of finding your BMR by calculating you weight by 11-14, and if you are active then multiply by 15-18. But these methods give quite big ranges, sometimes with 400-500 calries difference.

So what I am sking is... what is the best way to figure out my metabolic rate within a 50 calorie difference? Do I do that with a blood test?

thanks

I'm not sure, but I imagine this is done at specialized fittness labs in some universities and medical research facilities?

I'm moving this to the exercise area, see of our fittness gurus can shed some light on this excellent question.

Wa'il

It can be done in a research facility, where they will use a battery of tests to detemine fun stuff such as your respotroy echnage ratio, blah blah blah ...

A better way is to use an on-line calculator such as this one:

http://www.stevenscreek.com/goodies/jcalories.shtml

It's not an EXACT science, but neither is whatthey do in the labs. What they can measure (not metabolic rate) is kinda like looking at your gas guage and gas peddle to see how fast you are going .. not the best way to check your speed, but since the human body doesn't have a "speedometer", you just have to make the best of what you have.

The calculator I linked to is pretty good, and takes into account activity.

Give it a go.

thanks guys.

that calculator that Trainer Dan posted is quite hlepful, but i still does not take into account too many factors... for example, what about weight training?

thanks, i will keep looking and if i find anything more on this topic i will be sure to post it here

Nice calculator trainer Dan.