Calorie Needs Index Based on Weight

How many calories do you need per day based on your current or your goal weight?

If you're starting a brand new weight loss plan one of the things that you decided on first and foremost was more likely than not - what you want to weigh at the end of your diet plan.

If you set the number too low, then you may be digging the perfect pit for a failed diet plan. If you set the number too high, then you can always adjust the number once you reach that goal.

Any way that we view the situation, that little number on the bathroom scales is simply a number or a record. Numbers and records were made to be broken.

If you're wanting to set your goal number at a higher standard - then the following Diet Bites data charts can assist you in doing exactly that. Here is the article containing this information: What Should I Weigh?

From this starting point, you'll start to venture a few yards ahead upon the Old Diet Trail as you continue your journey. Soon, you'll reach a fork in the road - and no, not a dinner fork - rather a 'V-shape' which can take you in two entirely different directions. If you take one path, you'll soon reach multiple back roads that again, go in a multitude of directions.

Confusing Paths On the Way to Losing Pounds, Calculating Energy Needs

For this circumstance, let's choose the path that lead only one direction. This is the point where you'll be losing weight based on your goal number of pounds. Rather than going on a severely restricted weight loss plan, you're going to see how many calories that your body requires to shrink down to your goal number.

Also, while you're here it would be a great idea to view the amount of calories that your body requires to maintain your current weight. That way, when you view the number of calories required to sustain your goal weight - you can easily calculate the difference. This will provide you with an example of how many calories you are currently over-consuming in your daily diet.

For example, Pam reviewed the data charts (links below based on pounds) and discovered that her current weight requires 2,600 calories to maintain. Her goal weight requires 1,600 calories to maintain. Therefore, Pam is currently over-eating about 1,000 calories per day. That's quite a few calories; if she were to decrease that amount - then she would save 7,000 calories per week. That would equal a rate of weight loss of about 2 pounds per week, which is quite impressive.

Let's use another example for Pam. Let's assume that she currently requires 3,600 calories to support her weight. In this event, she would be shaving 2,000 calories per day from her daily diet for a total of 14,000 calories per week. This would equal about four pounds of weight lost per week.

Simply put: the more weight that the individual needs to lose - or has to lose, the quicker the rate of weight loss when based on a lower calorie standard goal number. If Pam's friend Debbie was also consuming 3,600 calories per week but her new ideal weight required 1,800 calories per day, then she would lose weight at a slightly less rate than her friend Pam.

Now - let's assume that Pam has less weight to lose than her friend Debbie. Let's also assume that their goal numbers are identical. At some point both dieters would need to have their caloric intake at the same values. The closer that the dieter gets to that goal number, the less calories their body requires. Losing weight is a constant adjustment of daily calories but once the goal weight is reached, the daily caloric intake will remain steady.

There will be other things that happenstance in life that will require a tweaking of daily calories in order for the individual to maintain their perfect or ideal weight. But those times will be few and far between. An adjustment might be needed if they splurge too keenly during the holidays or while on vacation. As the body naturally ages, it requires fewer calories - so an adjustment in daily calories would need to be decreased or the activity level increased. There will be times of illness when calories will need to be adjusted. But again - these times are minimal.

Energy Values

Essential Food Groups

From this point you'll need to plan your daily diet menus based on the Food Groups housed with the Official Food Pyramid as well as add a healthy dose of activity to your daily routine. You're on your way to a healthier you - and if you need more weight loss support, tips and ideas for losing those pounds, visit the Diet Bites Article Archives below.

Picture of Food Pyramid Maximum Daily Servings

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