The real question: How many Calories should I eat?

Question

I am 5'3. On the back of food boxes and other Items it says "Based on a 2000 calorie diet". How many calories should I eat, if I want to loose weight, combined with exercise?

I want to loose 30 pounds by July.

Answer 1

You should go by a 2,000 calorie diet or less. If you want to lose weight, exercise maintain a healthy diet and keep stress-free! Just stay away from very unhealthy foods like PopTarts. Good Luck

Answer 2

Stop thinking in terms of "I want to lose 30 pounds by July". If you change your long term exercise and diet habits, the 30 pounds will come off and stay off. If you think in the short term, then you risk the Yo-Yo of saying every January that you want to lose 30 pounds by July.

5 Pounds a month is pretty good. If you are currently eating about 2,000 calories a day, then cutting to 1,500 will cause you to lose a pound a week. There are 3,500 calories in a pound, and a deficit of 500 calories a day would equal a pound lost. It gets a little tricky, because with exercise, you actually need a little more to eat to stay out of starvation mode, but your body becomes more efficient burning calories.

I'll add the link to the diet site that I use. Good luck! Don't be afraid to start off slow and gain momentum... you are actually more likely to stick with it and not be overwhelmed.

Answer 3

I really dont think the calories matter, I think what matter is where you get them, for example if you are getting all your calories from junkfood you will get fatter, and if you are getting all your calories from healthy things like fruits vegetables and whole grain, then you will not be fat. I lost around 35 pounds and never once counted my calories, or exercised. I just ate a crap load of healthy foods, I have not gained the weight back and I am still eating healthy foods, and maintaining my weight

Answer 4

The 2000 calorie stuff on the back of boxes is for the average weight of a man, not apetite woman. go to Caloriesburnedperhour.com and there is aformaul ther eto figure out weight loss or maintenance

Answer 5

Well it depends on how many calories you burn...And really your aim is to exercise without pushing yourself over...Just eat good stuff, veggies, good meats, fish, chicken, fruit, and carbs for energy! Remember food is really just fuel to make you go. The calories don't matter so much then. However if you don't have the time to exercise alot, then stick with around 2,000 calories. It's the recomended.

Answer 6

No less than 1200 kcal per day. If you eat less it is not safe for your body, and you will actually negatively affect your metabolism, which helps you lose weight. Also try adding some exercise, at least 30 min a day, and your results will be much better. Just dieting alone may leave you with a "saggy" appearance, if you work out you will build muscle which obviously makes you look better but also increases your metab. so that you burn more kcal even just resting. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

No less then 1200 calories. Probably right at 1300 to 1400 calories to start losing weight.

Answer 8

Okay-5'3". Woman should weigh 100 lbs at 5'-so 5 lbs for every inch after 5'-your weight should be 115-approx. depending on your bone structure-small, med. or large. The bigger your bone structure-the little more you can weigh. Best way to lose-is 1-2 lbs per week at the most. Please-do not weigh yourself every day! Your water weight can flucuate-so minimum weigh in-one time per week-same time of day-same amount of clothing-or none. Best time-first thing in the morning, after potty break-before eating or drinking anything, in sleepwear or nude. For calories, take the weight you should be (example 115) times 15 to figure the number of calories to eat every day. Take care.

Answer 9

I went to this website ediets. com and you put in your current weight, height, age and what you want your weight to be. It will tell you how many calories you should be consuming a day in order to lose so much weight. I am 5'3 also and wanted to lose 10 pounds in 5 weeks - it said I should be eating about 1300 calories a day.

Answer 10

MyPyramid Tracker is an online dietary and physical activity assessment tool that provides information on your diet quality, physical activity status, related nutrition messages, and links to nutrient and physical activity information. The Food Calories/Energy Balance feature automatically calculates your energy balance by subtracting the energy you expend from physical activity from your food calories/energy intake. Use of this tool helps you better understand your energy balance status and enhances the link between good nutrition and regular physical activity. From now on, you can also keep track of your energy balance history and view it up to one year. MyPyramid Tracker translates the principles of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and other nutrition standards developed by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services.