How Many Calories to Lose Weight

You may be well aware by now, that whether you opt for a low fat, low carb, or simply a moderation diet, you have to decrease the number of calories you eat each day to actually lose weight. Studies show that after a period of about a year, subjects on low carb and low fat diets lost about the same amount of weight. So for now, we will drop the argument about which is the better type of diet, and focus on the fact that no matter what type of diet and exercise plan you choose, you will need to start by cutting back on calories. The amount of calories that a person needs to maintain or lose weight varies greatly depending on age, level of activity, and build.

Make sure that your calorie count includes all of the nutrients you need. Consider foods from all food groups. You may even want to work with your doctor or physician to come up with a diet and meal plan that will be most effective for your body type and personal health statistics. Drink lots of water while you reduce your calories. You don’t want to strain your body and cut too many calories, or stop eating altogether. This sets your body into a panic mode, and causes it to eat away at the muscle while storing fat for energy. This is not the kind of weight you want to lose! So how many calories are needed to lose weight? Again, it really depends on you and your individual needs!

When counting how many calories needed to lose weight, you should consider exercise as well. Through fitness routines, you can burn calories rather than having to limit your intake. When engaging in cardiovascular exercises, you continue to burn calories hours after you have stopped working out.