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How many calories should i have to lose weight?

How many calories should I eat to lose weight?

  • I'm 16, 5'2, and 130 pounds. I'd like to lose 15 pounds by the first week of June really, but I'm happy with even just 10 pounds. How many calories do I need? To lose 1.5 pounds a week (a total of 10.5 pounds by June), calculators such as live strong.com's say I need to eat 974 calories a day. Is that net calories? I've heard that you have to have a minimum net of 1200 calorie a day in order for your body to function properly. In that case, it's almost impossible for me to lose weight, since that's pretty close to my BMR :/ I'm so confused. What do I do?

  • Answer:

    Peanut ... Your premise is generally correct! i.e. that weight gain/loss is a function of your energy balance (calories absorbed, calories burned). Being overweight at all means your average daily intake has exceeded your caloric needs, and that you do, in fact, have stored calories to burn. Taking in fewer calories than your average caloric needs while you're losing weight is no problem whatsoever -- as long as you're getting the NON-caloric micronutrients that your body needs. If you're not struggling with a neurotic relationship with food AND IF you choose to eat a diet limited to high QUALITY calories -- having plenty of nutrient dense plant foods rather than empty calories from refined foods and too much animal foods -- then your actual hunger is the correct gage for your body's caloric needs. Losing weight is mostly about diet, but make sure to get some physical activity every day, esp. aerobic (e.g. a little running). Trying to just eat less calories of the foods you are already eating (depending on your diet) is like trying to breath only 10 breaths a minute instead of 12. Instead, put unrefined plant-foods (salad vegetables -- with nuts instead of oil -- and cooked vegetables, whole fruits, beans, some raw nuts and seeds at the center of your diet. Truly: Avoid virtually ALL OIL (refined fat) and refined carbohydrates (sugar, all flour products: baked goods, energy-bar junk). You very easily could lose 15 pounds by June! ...

MsPeanut... at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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It's simple. Lose more calories then you are taking in. That's what weight loss is!

BreadCats

You have to eat 1400 calories for your body to function properly or it will affect your internal organs but it also depends on what you eat, if you only ate 1400 calories of chocolate you would be ill but as long a it is a healthy diet and exercise the weight will fall off you by June - I cut down to around 2000 calories and exercise and lost 14lbs in 3 months and I was not on a diet as it was because I am now type 2 diabetic and have to stick to a healthy diet, Good Luck

Jackie m

I'd eat about 1500 a day and then exercise. you don't need to lose that much so it won't take you long if you eat a fair amount a day. It's a healthier way about it :) You're not classed as overweight on your BMI I wouldn't worry too much :)

Aaron

~20% UNDER your daily caloric expenditure. If you burn 1000, consume 800 If you burn 1500, consume 1200 to calculate what you need just punch this into your calculator: (average calories burnt in a day) x 0.8

InvisibleKid

you should have 2000 calories a day and if you work out you should have 2200-2300 calories to help with your energy so you body can keep moving and focusing right. i hope this helped!

Elizabeth

974 calories is ridiculous! You would most likely faint if you followed that advice. I'm currently on a diet and exercise thing of my own making and it seems to work. I eat 1200 to 1400 calories a day and try to do at least 30 minutes of exercise at least twice a week. The exercise part is really important as it not only tones you up but it increases your metabolism, enabling you to digest food better and more quickly. Additionally, I give myself two days off a week together to indulge and eat the stuff I wouldn't normally let myself eat, though I'll try and make sure I don't eat much more than 2000 calories on each of these days off. Doing this, I've lost about a pound or two a week. There is so much advice out there that it's important to find what works best for you. Sometimes, it's a matter of a trial and error. Just make sure you don't lose too much weight

Rae

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