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Daily Calories Based on Age & Sex (Gender)

Weight Loss & The Diet Food Pyramid

Safe weight loss prescribes decreasing calories while increasing activity.  Although activity is vital to over all health and longevity, the amount of calories consumed by the body has a greater impact on weight than activity levels.

Example: Betty enjoys a dozen donuts throughout the day with calories totaling 2,400.   She decides to skip her meals because she has let loose on the donuts today.   She decides to grab a tall glass of milk to enjoy with her last two donuts of the day.   Her milk calories total 320 for two cups. Betty has consumed 2,720 calories today.

Betty is an older adult and doesn't get much exercise. Her recommended calorie consumption by the USDA is 1,600. In order for Betty not to gain weight, she will need to burn off more than 1,000 calories. It's just about impossible - and if she were to do such, would the donut splurge really be worth it?

Here are some more calorie consumption recommendations from the USDA:

• Seniors - 1,600 calories per day

• Children - 1,600 calories per day

• Inactive women - 1,600 calories per day

• Inactive men - 2,200 calories per day

• Moderately active women - 2,200 calories per day

• Teenage Girls - 2,200 calories per day

• Teenage Boys - 2,800 calories per day

• Active men - 2,800 calories per day

• Active women - 2,800 calories per day

• Pregnant & lactating women - 2,200 to 2,800 calories per day

If you are trying to lose weight, keep in mind that you will need to burn 3,500 calories per day in order to lose one pound. Trimming 500 calories per day from your daily diet will create about a 1 pound per week weight loss.

Diet Bites Three Day Diet, An Example of the Food Pyramid Diet