Diet

Calories Needed to Reach Your Goal Weight and When

No one should obsess over calories, but it is important to understand the concept of input versus output if one wishes to maintain a healthy weight. Our bodies require a certain amount of calories and nutrients on a daily basis just to perform its basic functions. For instance, our Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the amount of calories our bodies burn even if we were to stay in bed all day. That's because our heart needs calories just to pump, for it is, after all, a muscle, and muscles burn more calories than fat -- which means they need more calories to stay strong. That's why unfortunately when people starve themselves, they often don't understand the detriment they are causing to their bodies. If any of you are familiar with Karen Carpenter, the famous singer who suffered from Anorexia Nervosa, then you know that she died at the tender age of 32 because of heart failure associated with her illness.

Losing weight means cutting calories, but not to a devastating degree. We must ensure that we are properly nourishing ourselves so that our bodies can work efficiently at burning fat. Women in general should never consume less than 1,200 calories per day, and men should not consume below 1,500 calories per day. If you visit Calorie Count, there you'll find a calculator that will help you compute the number of calories your body needs in order to lose weight. All you have to do is input your current weight, age, and height, and the rest will be done for you. In addition, the calculator will also tell you by what date you should be able to safely reach your goal. For more information, visit Calories Needed for Goal Weight today and start your journey toward a healthier, slimmer you!