i am 14 years old, weigh 120 lbs, and I'm 5''5. I'd like to know how many calories I need a day without exercise..just plain living.
2006-08-12 17:10:41 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
You seem quite healthy already. Don't exceed 2,000 calories a day, but try to eat less than that. I would suggest 1,500 calories, but don't sweat it if you eat more, just balance your meals out. If you eat a 500 calorie slice of cake, then eat healthy the rest of the day. Just eat clean foods and stay active and you'll be fine.
Be proud of yourself for planning at your age! Very wise decision.
2006-08-12 17:15:28 · answer #1 · answered by Seinfeld 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your body's natural metabolism uses about one calorie per minute just to keep you 'ticking over'. This equates to 1440 calories per day.
As soon as you start doing anything, even just walking about, making a cup of tea etc you'll require more calories.
You're of average height and a healthy weight so you're looking at approximately 1800 to 2200 calories per day - more if you do physical work or have a high metabolism.
To give you some idea of the amount of calories you need per hour...
Sleeping = 58 calories per hour
Gentle activity such as walking slowly = 160 calories per hour
Moderate activity such as dancing = 350 calories per hour
Vigorous activity such as sprinting = 800 calories per hour
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Just seen some of the other answers that have said 1200 calories a day - this is too low and is potentially harmful.
The government health department's advise is 2000 calories a day but this is a very general figure. Use the website below to calculate a more accurate figure based on your weight, height etc...
http://www.inch-aweigh.com/dcn.php
2006-08-13 00:15:30 · answer #2 · answered by Trevor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1200 Calories
2006-08-13 00:18:08 · answer #3 · answered by ∂ılβεгЃ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About 1200.
2006-08-13 00:21:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well minimal exercize is nessesary... don't go dorment believe me it will hurt you when you get older..
do walk.. ride a bike.. take the stairs... you don't need to go crazy like an athlete!
at your age i'm unsure i've forgotten what i ate when i was 14.. but i'd say 2000 calories a day.. but i was a bike rider and walked alot. (not extraordinary athletic walking just walk here walk the stairs, walk to the deli.. walk to the post office... take a nice walk, walk to my buds...)
oh and keep water in your system, you don't need to do that 8 glasses of 8 .oz water (unless you already do) but just enough to keep you hydrated.. also remember sometimes you may not be hungry you may just be thirsty... same goes with when you feel a bit down or weak... you may not be getting sick or depressed you may just need a glass of water or juice.
stay away from sodas often... fast food, all that processed junk... treat it like a treat, not like real food.
5 veggies and 5 fruits a day... that works.. may not be all that fun but it will help in the long run, it's better to feel good and eat right then to enjoy snacks and feel like you've been runned down by a herd of buffalo.
think of those things.. and remember do this early... as you get older it does effect you... poor diet... well just look at alot of the middle age spreaders out there... and folks with huge bellies... that's tough to pull that weight and it's not good for you... it does effect the way you feel and your health.. it is hard to get rid of that after it starts so don't let it get a grip.. eat right and stay active.
helps keep that blood pressure down and diabetes at bay too.
along with other ails.
:D
2006-08-13 00:21:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you are a good weight 1200 calories a day will maintain
what you have.
2006-08-13 00:13:23 · answer #6 · answered by retrodragonfly 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on how 'active' you are without excercising. If you are someone who sits around all day or in front of computer you'll probably put on weight faster than someone who takes the stairs rather than the elevator and such.
1200 sounds about right for you but you could check out
http://www.howstuffworks.com/calorie.htm
2006-08-13 00:16:59 · answer #7 · answered by duck_michelle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont think you should worry how many calories you eat unless you are eating food like crazy.i think it also matters what you eat .you should eat less food more times a day so you burn off the calories,because if you eat large portions your body will store the extra calories for extra weight
2006-08-13 00:19:14 · answer #8 · answered by wesley 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
about 1700
2006-08-13 00:19:50 · answer #9 · answered by lef guru 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋