minimum calories

[jr4949]

What is the minimum number of calories a 5ft 6 woman should have every day while dieting? Is 600 too low?

[Barb135]

Not eating enough calories can be just as bad as eating too many.  If you don't eat enough, your body knows there isn't enough food to maintain itself and your metabolism will actually slow down to preserve fat stores.

As courtney suggested, you can calculate your BMR, which is Basis Metabolic Rate and is the number of calories needed to maintain your current body weight.  The calculation is based on current weight, height, age and activity level.

One pound is 3500 calories, so once you know what your BMR is, you would need to reduce the calories by about 500/day (or reduce by 250 and burn an extra 250), in order to lose 1 pound/week (7 days X 500 calories = 3500).  

MedHelp's food diary will help you do this.  

[jr4949]

Nope I don't have any medical conditions. I weigh 8st 4Ib at the moment and would like to weigh 7st 13Ib but even at 600 calories seem to still maintain the same weight or lose a bit of weight vert slowly. I'm not very active as I have a desk job but walk quite a lot. Thanks

[courtney48]

Yes, its really too low.  Do you have any medical conditions?  How much do you currently weigh and how much would you like to weigh?  What level of activity would you consider yourself?  

You can use an online calculator to figure your BMR which is roughly your basic caloric needs just to maintain body function before lifting a finger.  That number might be helpful for you.

[pgeorge9500]

Yes it’s too low. Every person have to take minimum 1200 calories

that is way too low...my dietitian told me the minimum calorie intake should be no less than 1200. more if you exercise.