How many calories a day should I eat to lose weight?

Question

I just started eating healthy about a week ago. I have lost 4 pounds but I want to know how many calories a day should you eat in order to lose weight? I also walk everyday. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Answer 1

Lisa,

You should try to consume about 500 calories less than your Resting Metabolic Rate. BUT not less than 1000. Here are some formulas to estimate your Resting Metabolic Rate

For men, the RMR. =
66.5 + (13.75 x kg) + (5.003 x cm) - (6.775 x age)
For women, the RMR =
655.1 + (9.563 x kg) + (1.850 x cm) - (4.676 x age)

One thing you need to be really careful about is that in cutting your calories you don't also cut your Nutrition. Make sure you are still recieving the Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs, Protien, Fiber and other essential nutrients.

Best of Luck
Charlie

Answer 2

Do NOT do that! HOWEVER, there was an interesting, very well-publicized diet that got a lot of people losing weight some years back. It was called the Rotation Diet. Whole CITIES went on the diet. They would go to their local grocery store - here it was Fred Meyer, weigh in and their progress would be tracked. Then an amalgamated total weight loss would be posted and publicized. It was really very successful, and pretty much NO bad press--medical or otherwise--about it. Lots of veggies, salads and whole grains, etc. The ideas was this: Consume super low calories for 3 days--600; a rise in calories for the next 4 days--900; then 1200 calories for a week (7 days) -- this is the plan for women. The men's plan differs. You follow the plan for 3 weeks, and then you take a "vacation." Then go back on the plan. The author of the plan suggests that you "trick" your metabolism by changing the number of calories you consume periodically. Dr. Kahn suggests that the body when going on a diet such as you propose (800 calories) will give itself a signal that it is starving and will begin to NOT function normally and lose weight simply to preserve itself. Makes some kind of sense, actually. But with the Rotation Diet, the switches are fairly rapid and the body doesn't see itself as starving. And certainly not on a 1200 calorie diet which is what you do during the middle week of three weeks of working the plan. This plan is definitely NOT for anyone who does not wish to count calories. But, in my view, and even in Weight Watchers view, you gotta count somethin' ! Well, I did the Rotation Diet for the better part of a year, and lost over 50 lbs. It works! Follow the links to find out more. I;ve included a review there, too. The last link is a good one.

Answer 3

It's not a matter of how many calories you should eat daily, the only sure way of losing weight is to burn more calories than you consume, so if you eat 2500 calories a day, work at burning off at least 2300. And thats not could change if you are taking any medicines or weight loss drugs. hope this helped you alittle

Answer 4

I found the book to be very informative and easy to read.

I've lost 17 pounds in 12 days, I'm just concerned that I'm losing too much weight, too quickly. I will admit I haven't followed the guide exactly. I'm not sticking perfectly to the listed foods and meal plans (but mostly) and doing very little exercise, but the weight keeps flying off.

It clearly works and if I'd followed it exactly I think it would scare the living daylights out of me because of the amount that I'd lose. So thanks again for the information. I've never purchased anything like this before because they are usually full of trash, but 3WD has been a pleasant surprise.

Get started today!

Answer 5

one lb of pure fat = 3500 calories
so if you want to lose 1 lb of fat a week (assuming you want to keep your muscle mass) you would eat 500 calories less per day over one week. (doesnt sound too hard)

don't do those crash diets or what not--cuz the weight comes back.
just maintain a healthy and active (you are walkin already awesome) lifestyle and the weight will drop, or in the worst scenario--maintain the same

Answer 6

My doctor told me the average woman should lose weight at 1500 calories a day. I try to stick to 1000...because I'm impatient and it's working for me.

Answer 7

There is no right answer for everyone. It depends on your calorie needs and your metabolic rate. And losing weight requires you exercise and modify your eating habits, not just reduce calories.

Answer 8

It depends on lot of things, your age, height, weight. I think healthy diet and a 1500 calories will help you to loose weight.

Check out this site. www.mypyramid.gov

Good Luck

Answer 9

1200

Answer 10

automate your eating by planning your meals ahead of time that way you re less likely to make an unhealthy last minute food choice