Calories: How many?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Calories: How many?
7
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 12:03pm

An interesting article I cam across about calorie consumption and what we "should" be doing.


Calories - How Many Are Enough?


By Mike Dunne -- Bee Food Editor


Counting calories is critical to managing weight. But how does a person know how many calories per day are sufficient to remain healthy and how many are excessive?


It comes down to body composition and physical activity, according to authorities at the Center for Human Nutrition in Omaha, Neb., who have devised this method to estimate how many calories a person burns in a day.


Multiply your weight by the figure below that best describes your activity level for most of your waking hours:


Sitting, standing and driving are very light activities. Walking, bowling and golfing are light. Cycling, dancing and jogging are moderate. Rock climbing, basketball and soccer are heavy.


Thus, a 130-pound woman who spends much of her day at a keyboard and doesn't exercise likely would need no more than 1,755 calories a day if she wants to avoid gaining weight.


There's another way to calculate your calorie needs: Weigh yourself. Changes in your weight over several weeks will tell you whether you are consuming too many or too few calories.

Kerstin

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Fear

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2004
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 12:30pm
I did this, and I was surprised to find out, that my body only needs between 1200 - 1600 calories per day. Anything over this, I gain weight. I found this out tracking my calories on fitday.com.

I always fooled myself into thinking I needed more, because I was muscular, and 6 feet tall, but truth be told, I felt at my best at this calorie level. I just make sure I eat nutrient rich foods, and high fiber foods.

And too, it was clincally proven that the less calories you eat, meaning, that you do not over eat, historically speaking, the healthier, and longer you live. Because I feel so much better at this level, with moderate exerise, I think this is true. I lost all the weight on my gut, just abiding the 5-9 serving vegee rule.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 12:38pm
That's so good to hear.

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Fear

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2003
Tue, 08-31-2004 - 9:46am

Did I miss the number that you're supposed to multiply by?


I don't see it in your post, but I get 13.50 for the sedentary number (just based on 1,755 / 130).... I've read it twice now.

~~ Steffy ~~
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2004
Wed, 09-01-2004 - 7:15pm
I don't see it either....

-Michelle
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 11:18am

OK,I'm a dork..I didn't look to make sure the chart was in there, and now can't find it.

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Fear

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2003
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 1:27pm

WOW ~ 2,592 calories to maintain!!

~~ Steffy ~~
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-27-2003
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 4:55pm
Thanks Kerstin - for putting in the numbers we needed...LOL I was thinking 'man I must be dumb! I have no idea what she is telling me to do here'

Trisha