Cutting back on calories is a simple way to shed pounds. However, your body needs a certain number of calories in order to function properly. Cutting back too many calories and not only will you lose weight, you'll endanger your body's ability to complete its most basic operations.
Minimum Calories
According to MedlinePlus and the National Institutes of Health, the lowest recommended daily caloric intake for women is 1,200 calories and 1,500 calories for men. The exception is extreme diets that are under strict medical supervision for health reasons.
Weight Loss
For healthy, consistent weight loss consider cutting back calories on a daily basis without going below your daily limit. There are 3,500 calories in 1 lb. of fat. For weight loss of 1 lb. per week, cut 500 calories a day from your caloric intake, as long as it does not conflict with your daily minimum limit.
Figuring Caloric Needs
Your daily caloric needs are a combination of any exercise or activities that you engage in and your basal metabolic rate, or BMR. Your BMR is the basic number of calories your body needs to function and maintain your current weight. Any exercise you do burns extra calories. Combine your BMR and your calories burned with exercise to find the number of calories you should eat in a day to maintain your current weight, reducing your caloric needs to achieve your weight-loss goals.
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