Do calories count? How to tell~

**nylon** · 10-06-2007, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cataylor

Hi. I have always counted points in the past and am wondering if anyone knows how many calories I should intake per day. I currently weigh 240-Yikes. Also, do I need to worry about all of the other numbers like fats and carbohydrates or just calories alone?

This is something that may help you. People are different and one person may only take in 1200 calories because that is what their body calls for that is something that **you** should not do since you are not them. Makes sense, no? Also note that as you lose weight you also **need to adjust* the number as your caloric intake will change as your weight changes.

(This formula may help you...but also changing up your caloric intake is called zig-zagging and it does seem to help many..the same for eating at different times.. )

But it all comes down to how much stuff goes between the lips and how much energy you expend Simple enough and simple math.. You put more stuff in your mouth and use less energy and lead a sedentary life (no exercise program) you're going to get fat. You eat less calories and burn more calories by doing something, anything you're going to lose..

I use this formual and update it when I lose to keep it up-to-date with my weight. Because as you lose your caloric intake will change as well and you need to make the appropriate changes needed.

What is your current calorie consumption?

1. Take your current weight in pounds and convert it to kilograms by dividing it by 2.2

2. Multiply that number by .9 for a new total

3. then multiply this total by 24

4. Take that number and apply one of the following to it:
A. Multiply it by 1.3 if you sit on your arse all day and do not exercise
B. Multiply is by 1.5 if you sit all day but you do exercise for 1 to 3 hrs. a week
C. Multipy it by 1.7 if you do a manual job or if you exercisse a lot.

(I do find the A.B.C explanations a bit vague as what constitues exercises a lot? I jog 3 miles a day and do 60 push up, and 100 crunches. Which takes me about an hour to complete. When I actively go to a gym (in the winder) I workout a minimum of 90 mintues with a trainer. So both are active but I will tell you the intensity is no where near the same. So with the above explantions you have to see where you fit best.)

So for example: mary is 145 lbs., that is 65.9 kilograms. she works in an office and does not exercise, so we then multiply her number (you get from the formula above) of 1423 by 1.3. So we know she eats 1850 calories a day to stay at 145.

She wants to lose a pound a week, sheneeds to cut 3500 calories a week from her diet. She cuts her calroie intake by 25% adn will not consume 1388 calories a day. In one week she will lose just under one pound. Now is she exercised 1 to 3 hours a week, she would need to consume 2082 calories to maintain that weight. She cuts that figure by 25% and now consumes 1562 calories a day to lose well over one pound in a week. With exercise, she eats more food and loses more weight..

HTH a bit..

Right now for me the weight that I am at I **should** be eating 1725 calories a day in order to lose a pound a week!!! Which I am finding extremely hard.

Using this formula instead of some random number as the number you get after doing the formula is suited for your weight..and alos keep in mind you need to know what body type you are (small, medium or large boned) MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Calculating body frame size and what is the percentage of your muscle vs. your fat (Home Body Fat Test and the BMI calculator (which I find the worst to go by personally..I am 138 and fit into size 2 and 4 jeans but I am still considered **overweight** that is because the BMI does not take into consideration your body frame and muscle mass vs. fat)Body Mass Index Chart.

There is a lot to consider and counting calories is just a small part in the BIG PICTURE. There are a lot of other variables that need to be put into one's equation when figuring out how much one should weigh.

**sahmof4** · 10-17-2007, 06:03 AM

Hey listen I just wanted to say thank you for such good information. That has got to help me some and alot of others.

**cmomof2kids** · 10-20-2007, 07:13 AM

I have a question... how could I lose more than 1 pd a week. Do I cut 7000 cals a week? Just wondering. Thanks.

**emmyizzy** · 10-20-2007, 12:17 PM

Odly enough I've just been working this out for myself as you and I weigh about the same I'm guessing you currently need about 2500 a day to maintain so by cutting down to 1500 a day you & I would loose 2lbs a week.

**cmomof2kids** · 10-20-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmyizzy

Odly enough I've just been working this out for myself as you and I weigh about the same I'm guessing you currently need about 2500 a day to maintain so by cutting down to 1500 a day you & I would loose 2lbs a week.

HEy thats a good idea. 1500. My that is not a whole lot. Are you taking any Phentermine? I start mine Thurs. I have an appt. I dont even have no idea how to eat 1500 cals. I wonder if thats right. How much is fruits and veggies in calories? Wonder where I could find that info.

**squeekie** · 10-20-2007, 05:55 PM

Try this site The Daily Plate.com
Also you are going to have to try and consider 1200-1500 calories a day as what you should be aiming for.

**emmyizzy** · 10-25-2007, 09:41 AM

Hiya Sqeekie,

I've been told to cut my calories in stages, so that once I loose say 25lbs I then take off another 150 cals a day and again after another 20lbs so that my metabolism reamins stable - do you think this is right? I don't know enough about metabolisms to know.

**squeekie** · 10-25-2007, 11:32 AM

I suppose that makes sense. I never really followed any formula like the one above (I had to read it twice to understand it.....sheesh) Here's my formula----eat as little as possible! No seriously, I stay under 1500 calories all the time (except for my one day a week cheat day) and occasionally I'll keep it around 1000.