Wondering just how many calories you should consume per day in order to lose weight? It is know that consuming 500 less calories per day will lead to a one pound weight loss per week. But, what’s the correct amount of calories for you to consume daily in order to create that deficit? Here’s how to figure it out.
1. Weigh yourself on an accurate scale in the morning. You will need to know your weight (in pounds) to calculate calories needed for weight loss.
2. Multiply the number on the scale by a range of 10-12 calories per pound. I often give my clients a range. This allows for a little more flexibility in eating plans. Example: If you weight 200 pounds, your calorie range would be 2000-2400 calories per day.
3. Cross check these numbers at www.mypyramid.gov. This site will also give you excellent information on appropriate food portions as well.
1. Diet soda or pop.
2. Artificial sweeteners such as splenda, sweet n low, equal and stevia.
3. Juice
4. Butter
5. White bread
This tool will allow you to instantly calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI), a number used by overnment agencies to help determine how far you are from a healthy weight. Calculating your own BMI requires a complex equation, but we make it simple: Just plug in your height and current weight. Then use our guide to see if you’re overweight, underweight, or normal. Go to the Eat Smart tab and click Healthy Weight. You enter your height and weight and it will tell you your BMI.
Another helpful tool in the Eat Smart category is the Body Fat Calculator.
Knowing your body-fat percentage is a vital part of setting diet and fitness goals, as well as for tracking the success of your workout program. As you become more fit, you may gain lean muscle while you lose fat, so a lower body-fat reading can be a more important measure of progress than your weight on the scale. Use this tool (along with a body-fat tester for more accurate results), and you’ll see how far you need to go to reach an ideal percentage for your age and gender.
Need a body fat tester? Snag one here!
For men under 40, the healthy body-fat range is 8%-19%; for women under 40, it’s 21%-33%. (When you get older, it usually goes up a few points.) Above the top of this range, you’re considered overweight, and you definitely need to work on losing excess fat. Extremely fit people may measure below the bottom of the range and be just fine, but in that case it’s a good idea to consult a doctor and make sure you aren’t compromising your health.
In planning your long-term diet and fitness program, your goal should be losing fat, rather than bringing down your overall weight. You can estimate your current body fat percentage by using the body fat calculator to plug in your height, weight, and waist measurements, or you can test it with a body fat caliper. Local gyms and hospitals often have body-fat testing facilities as well. You should use the same testing method every time you check your body fat to be sure you’re getting the most accurate results.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] and together we can work through these tools and help you develop the most effective weight loss plan!