How many calories to eat per day if your goal is to lose 20lbs by 4th of July?

ynarmous

I started decreasing my food intake last 2 days ago, and I saw the challenge of losing 20lbs by the 4th of July. I am 135lbs @ 5'3. And my goal per day is to consume 1200cals but they say it is too low especially if i will be working out 3-4times per week and for my young age I am 21. What do you suggest anyone? Thank you!

PeachyPlum

Why did you start a second thread about this? Did you not like the advice you were given in your first thread?

Nobody can predict exactly how fast someone will lose weight, but a basic rule of thumb is a 500 calorie deficit per day to lose a pound a week.

4legsRbetterthan2

I think you will find it very hard to lose 20 lbs by then without resorting to drastic measures to do so

try reading this post, it does a good job explaining weight loss, appropriate goals, and should be able to get you started on setting up a successful plan

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants#latest

ynarmous

PeachyPlum wrote: »

Why did you start a second thread about this? Did you not like the advice you were given in your first thread?

Nobody can predict exactly how fast someone will lose weight, but a basic rule of thumb is a 500 calorie deficit per day to lose a pound a week.

Im getting confused....

SherryTeach

Generally better not to set a date by which you will lose a specific amount of weight. Either you do it, often by unsustainable means, or you fail and then give up. Better to work out a plan for healthier eating and moving that you can keep up with forever.

arditarose

Sigh...Listen, it's not going to happen. You want to get in shape? Fine. You want to drop a few pounds? Fine. Plug your stats into a TDEE calculator (total daily expenditure=the amount of calories you need to maintain your current weight), subtract 250 calories from that to give you the amount of calories to lose .5 lbs a week.

PeachyPlum

arditarose wrote: »

Sigh...Listen, it's not going to happen. You want to get in shape? Fine. You want to drop a few pounds? Fine. Plug your stats into a TDEE calculator (total daily expenditure=the amount of calories you need to maintain your current weight), subtract 250 calories from that to give you the amount of calories to lose .5 lbs a week.

Or just tell MFP that you want to lose .5 lb a week and go from there.

Look, what everyone is trying to tell you is that it's not how many calories you eat, it's how many calories you burn minus the number you eat. We can't give you an exact number, or tell you exactly how much you'll lose. You need to determine that based on your calorie expenditure.

But 20lbs in 3 months is not going to happen, and it wouldn't be healthy to try. Just focus on getting some exercise and meeting your calorie goals for a .5/week loss.

arditarose

PeachyPlum wrote: »

arditarose wrote: »

Sigh...Listen, it's not going to happen. You want to get in shape? Fine. You want to drop a few pounds? Fine. Plug your stats into a TDEE calculator (total daily expenditure=the amount of calories you need to maintain your current weight), subtract 250 calories from that to give you the amount of calories to lose .5 lbs a week.

Or just tell MFP that you want to lose .5 lb a week and go from there.

Look, what everyone is trying to tell you is that it's not how many calories you eat, it's how many calories you burn minus the number you eat. We can't give you an exact number, or tell you exactly how much you'll lose. You need to determine that based on your calorie expenditure.

But 20lbs in 3 months is not going to happen, and it wouldn't be healthy to try. Just focus on getting some exercise and meeting your calorie goals for a .5/week loss.

Yeah. It's like I forgot how to my fitness pal.

PeachyPlum

arditarose wrote: »

PeachyPlum wrote: »

arditarose wrote: »

Sigh...Listen, it's not going to happen. You want to get in shape? Fine. You want to drop a few pounds? Fine. Plug your stats into a TDEE calculator (total daily expenditure=the amount of calories you need to maintain your current weight), subtract 250 calories from that to give you the amount of calories to lose .5 lbs a week.

Or just tell MFP that you want to lose .5 lb a week and go from there.

Look, what everyone is trying to tell you is that it's not how many calories you eat, it's how many calories you burn minus the number you eat. We can't give you an exact number, or tell you exactly how much you'll lose. You need to determine that based on your calorie expenditure.

But 20lbs in 3 months is not going to happen, and it wouldn't be healthy to try. Just focus on getting some exercise and meeting your calorie goals for a .5/week loss.

Yeah. It's like I forgot how to my fitness pal.

Yeah, I use TDEE as well, but we're on the bunny slope here. Basics first.