Deepak Mehta Deepak Mehta Asked 8 months ago

How many calories per day for weight loss?

I've started going to the gym and my trainer said I need to eat less than I burn to lose weight. I'm a bit confused about how many calories I should be eating per day for effective weight loss. What's a realistic daily target?

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7 answers

Ridhi Kapoor Ridhi Kapoor Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago
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For most women, a daily budget of 1300 to 1500 calories is generally recommended for weight loss. But as someone managing PCOS, I know that hormone levels play a huge role in how we burn energy. It's always best to get your fasting insulin and thyroid levels checked rather than just blindly following a standard calorie limit.

Karan Johar Karan Johar Joined May 2026 6 months ago

If you want to lose weight, aiming for 1500 calories is great, but sticking to it when there is hot biryani in the house is the real challenge! Don't punish yourself too much with extreme calorie goals. A little consistency and avoiding late-night kitchen raids will get you there, haha.

Nisha Krishnan Nisha Krishnan Joined Apr 2026 7 months ago

While 1400-1600 calories is standard, please get your blood panel and metabolic rate evaluated by a medical professional first. Restricting calories too low without knowing your medical status can cause severe deficiencies and fatigue. A doctor can help you find a safe and healthy target.

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Amit Patel Amit Patel Joined Jan 2026 8 months ago

Most adults can lose weight safely by consuming 1500 to 1800 calories per day. Just ensure you are eating balanced, home-cooked meals.

Siddharth Sen Siddharth Sen Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago

I've been reading up on weight loss, and most calorie calculators suggest aiming for about 500 calories below your maintenance level, which is around 1600 for a moderately active guy. It sounds simple on paper, but tracking every single meal is quite a task! Is there any easy way to do this without getting obsessed?

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Rohan Deshmukh Rohan Deshmukh Joined Apr 2026 7 months ago

If you have a demanding job, aiming for around 1500 to 1700 calories is highly practical and sustainable. Anything lower will leave you with brain fog and zero energy for work meetings. Focus on preparing high-protein snacks to avoid buying office canteen samosas.

Manju Devi Manju Devi Joined May 2026 5 months ago

I can only speak from my own personal experience, but sticking to 1400 calories a day worked wonders for me. I managed to lose 8 kgs in four months without feeling too tired. I just focused on simple home food like dal, roti, and plenty of salads.

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