Daily Calorie Allowance

[fionah]

The formula for a person's daily calorie allowance must be some sort of industry secret, because I can't find it anywhere!! I know that a person's basic calorie allowance (ie what we actually need to make sure that everything ticks over) is calculated with your current weight, height, age and sex in mind, but I'm not sure what that formula is - can anyone help?

[paulz]

Fionah - I'm sure it's 1500 for a lady & 2000 for a bloke. Get one of those slimming mags that does a free guide to all foods [branded & non-branded], a notebook of some sort, then [this is the painful bit] write down everything that you eat - even down to the odd biccy or two including tea/coffe [with milk]. My missus does this - and uses spare/left-over calories for the weekend - roast dinner or booze! But it does work. I think the mag is called slimming world [not 100% sure] will post you later today/tomorrow with right details.

[paulz]

Fionah - definative answer from mrs P. The mag to buy is "Slimming" ignore the others [she says] Every so often they do a free booklet [as mentioned earlier] Called Your Greatest Guide to Calorie Counting. I think it's usually the January/Spring issue. They also sell it if you want a copy. As for cals to lose less than a stone then 1,000 per day, 1 - 3 stone 1,250 a day and 3 stone + then it's 1,500 per day. You must have three meals perday tho, sensible & sustainable weight loss should be 2 - 3 lbs a week. Weigh your self Once a week maximum, at the same time etc Good luck

[incitatus]

any calculated value will be wrong- op at least just an estimate. It depends upon your base metbolic rate and metabolic efficiency. for example I am technically allowed 2000 calories a day. however work with a dietician has shown that if i eat more than 900 i put on weight. This is because my family all have very efficient metabolisms (which tends to porkiness). the best way is to find out for yourself. slowly reduce your calorie intake until you lose weight.

[nykkieberry]

Try Realslimmers - loads of calculators including your calorie intake: Body Mass Index Waist to height Waist to hip Calorie burner Exercise timer Calorie counter Daily calorie needs Heart rate

[Gef]

"if i eat more than 900 i put on weight. This is because my family all have very efficient metabolisms (which tends to porkiness)". Quite the opposite I would think - a high metabolic rate "burns off" the calories more quickly.

[incitatus]

then you would think wrong. I dint say fast i said efficient. in other words 100 calories ingested= 100 calories digested. which is not often the case.

[violaine]

The average is 2000 for women and 2500 for men. This is sometimes listed on the back of some supermarket products, along with recommendations for things such as daily fat intake (40g for women).

[violaine]

I just remembered that I read a magazine article recently that used a method of calculating the exact calorie intakes for women. I haven't got the article to hand right now, but I'll try and look it out for you within a few days.

[fionah]

That's exactly what I'm talking about, excellent!! If you can find the formula you remember I would really appreciate it! I know the basic guidelines that everyone has been discussing, but as I'm losing weight I'm aware of the changing needs of my body and therefore my basic calorie allowance, so if you could find the article you refer to that would be great!!