[Makenzie15]

Hi! I am new! I am Makenzie. I am 23 years old and weigh 165 pounds. My goal weight is 120 pounds. I want to lose about 2 lbs. a week. How many calories should I eat??

[hockeyfan7]

How tall are you? How active are you during the week?

If you search on Google or another search engine for a BMR calculator, that will give you a rough idea.

[Heather]

I actually started answering this post earlier today but just don't have time. Suffice it to say that it is not just so easy to give an answer and lots of issues need to be taken into account.

However, at 165, I don't think it's smart for you to necessarily set a goal of losing 2 pounds/week. At your weight that sounds like a lot...

I hope others will say more, but I don't have time for a long answer!

Bet you never knew it was complicated, right?

[GreenT]

Hi Makenzie! I used to weigh 165. I'm 5'6" and 29 years old. I weigh 139 now. I recommend eating 1200-1800 calories per day depending on how much you exercise and whether or not you have a desk job or a more active job.

[chick_in_the_hat]

Originally Posted by GreenT

Hi Makenzie! I used to weigh 165. I'm 5'6" and 29 years old. I weigh 139 now. I recommend eating 1200-1800 calories per week depending on how much you exercise and whether or not you have a desk job or a more active job.

I think GreenT means per day....I'd be hecka hungry on 1200-1800 for a whole week. I agree with the numbers more or less - it is hard to say without knowing more about you. Do you know how many calories you were eating before you started trying to lose weight? That might give you some idea of how many calories were too much...assuming you have been gaining weight...or if you haven't been gaining lately - it will give you what probably will be something like your maintenance calories.

One thing I do know from experience is that you can eat more if you exercise and burn it off. Exercise is good for you on other points as well.

[GreenT]

Oops - yeah, I meant 1200-1800 per day!