How many calories do you need?

[Dave_L]

Here is a calorie counter for people wondering. You type in your age, sex, weight, height, level of activity and it tells you how much you should eat to maintain, lose, gain weight. I know it's probably not 100% accurate but it's pretty close.

http://www.hpathy.com/healthtools/calories-need.asp

I know I used to way undercut my calories. But I got down to about 172ish and realized that I needed to up my calories before I got way too skinny. I work out 5 days a week and figured that would be enough to still gain mass. I was way off! Lol. I now take in about 3000-3500 calories per day and I'm up to 186ish. Depending on your activity level, you might be surprised at how much you should eat in a day. Now keep in mind, eat good food. Not a double whopper with large fries to get your calories in for the day. Just thought it might help some people with gaining/losing weight.

[Terry]

What does the percentage mean next to it?

[Dave_L]

It's saying how much of each category should make up your total calorie intake. Like 15% should be coming from protein, etc.

[asianjkim]

3 parts carb, 2 parts protein and 1 part fat.

[transaxion]

Wow...apparently i'm undereating like crazy. makes me feel better when mess up and ruin my diet with a few beers or something. the biggest loser website said i should be eating around 1350 calories a day so I've been doing that...and with healthy food usually. turkey or fish. I've been losing weight though thats for sure. I lost 16 pounds in a month which is awesome. I'm gonna try to get down to my highschool weight then see if I want to build muscle or just enjoy my skinny body.

[Terry]

I'm up 1 and a half pounds after 3 days while on the cheeseburger diet.

[nicklk]

I should be eating around 3000 calories a day to try to gain weight, but that adds up to so much $$ its rediculous.

[Dillon]

Huh, interesting. It says I should be eating around 2800 calories to maintain current weight. If this is accurate, then I don't feel so bad about eating so much. :) I definitely don't want to lose weight...wouldn't mind being a bit more lean though, so I think I will try and cut my fat intake down to 600 calories (says 750 to maintain weight).

[M@]

I'm up 1 and a half pounds after 3 days while on the cheeseburger diet.

:spit: Typical Terrance logic.

[Dave_L]

I should be eating around 3000 calories a day to try to gain weight, but that adds up to so much $$ its rediculous.

If you eat out for every meal then it can get pretty ridiculous. But if you grocery shop and plan your meals ahead of time, it's not too bad.

[Terry]

King Soopers had a kick ass sale on pork chops .75 per pound.

[Brian]

Eating fast food or going out for food at all is about the worst thing you can do diet wise. If you actually look online at the nutrition information for your typical food chains it's pretty amazing that everyone doesn't weigh 400lbs. I've started cooking all of my own meals. I maybe eat out once or twice a week these days, and i've lost a good deal of body fat because of it. I wasn't big to begin with, but I can now see all of my abs instead of 4 of them lol.