The 4000 calorie vs 2000 calorie argument...:)

Oo_BrookeNicole_oO

I was talking to a friend about fitness, and he argued me up and down that 4000 calories is the "right" number of calories to eat in a day. I told him I believed a healthy amount for someone not trying to lose weight is around 2000. He acted like I was crazy, and said that eating 2000 would be starving yourself.

Now I agree that if you're highly active you can get by with eating 4000, but I believe for most people that is just to much.

He'd probably have a cow if he found out I was eating 1400. :P What do you think about this "factual information?"

TheNewDodge

Everybody is different.

Actually_Mike

The only time I've seen 4000 + calorie diet is in professional athletes, I read somewhere on NBA website once about diets that some players burn up to 5 lbs in just one game, that's why they consume so many calories, I guess it depends on what they're doing. I'm pretty sure Michael Phelps eats like 12,000 a day!

UponThisRock

Of course, there's no such thing as the "right" amount of calories, you're much closer to being right than he is.

MikeSEA

Umm...my 15 year old nephew who's 6'3", 225lbs, and trains for sports 5 days/week probably eats 4k+ calories in a day. *I* on the other hand only burn about 3k calories, and that's only if I'm working out that day. So 2k doesn't sound unreasonable to me

engineman312

Of course, there's no such thing as the "right" amount of calories, you're much closer to being right than he is.

so you're saying she is a unique and beautiful snowflake??

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

there is a range of "right" and varies by person, bf%, activity level, age, etc.

IronSmasher

Well they're equally right/wrong.

Centuries of study and research undone by people plucking figures out of thin air and applying them to 7 billion individuals with different bodies, lives and goals.

Oo_BrookeNicole_oO

Well they're equally right/wrong.

Centuries of study and research undone by people plucking figures out of thin air and applying them to 7 billion individuals with different bodies, lives and goals.

Oh yes, I know that no certain amount of calories is right for everyone. I understand some people really do need to have 4000 plus calories a day for various reasons. I just think for sedentary- lightly active people the 4000 range would be to much if sustained over a long period of time.

stubbysticks

for sedentary- lightly active people the 4000 range would be to much if sustained over a long period of time.

Depends on your starting weight. If you're over 400 lbs for example, you could conceivably lose weight at 4k calories a day for quite a long period of time.

IronSmasher

Well 2k would be too much for the majority of people, taking into account the elderly, children and assuming 50% are female.

I think it's just best you don't talk to him about fitness or diet anymore.

treetop57

Nutrition labels on American food products are designed for a 2,000 calorie diet. While everyone is a unique snowflake, the average adult American snowflake has a daily food requirement of about 2,000 calories.

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs: . . .

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodLabelingNutrition/ucm063113.htm

umachanxo

I eat 1350, he'd probably have a stroke if he knew that. But I can see someone who is a pro athlete needing that many a day. Depends on the person and their body.

AeolianHarp

Both of you are wrong.

Oo_BrookeNicole_oO

Of course, there's no such thing as the "right" amount of calories, you're much closer to being right than he is.

so you're saying she is a unique and beautiful snowflake??

Nope, I'm not at all. I'm just an ordinary kind of girl with a measly opinion. One that may be right or wrong!

aippolito1

2000 is considered for an athlete maintaining their weight. So yeah, 4000 is ridiculous. My maintenance will probably be close to 2000 since when I workout, I eat about 1800-1900 calories. But that's before exercise calories (the 2000 for maintenance).

My base is 1530 and then I typically burn about 400-450 calories per day. Hope this helps you win your argument, lol!

BrettPGH

I spent a long time eating 4000 calories. I had to come here to fix that.

Oo_BrookeNicole_oO

for sedentary- lightly active people the 4000 range would be to much if sustained over a long period of time.

Depends on your starting weight. If you're over 400 lbs for example, you could conceivably lose weight at 4k calories a day for quite a long period of time.

True! I didn't think about that! Thanks.

ajwade123

Everybody is different, but 2000 is the average. I don't think there is any way for someone to eat 4000 cal a day without gaining weight. All food labeling is based on a 2000 cal/day diet.

thelovelyLIZ

I would gain weight like crazy if I ate 4000 a day. I'm a small person, so on a day when I don't work out even 2000 is pushing it (1800 is better for me I think).

Sure, if you're bigger, have a lot of muscle, or are really active 4000 is fine, but for most people that's way too much. It seems like he just arbitrarily picked a number.

ChitownFoodie

Depends on the person. Personally, I eat about 2,100 calories a day, but I am sure there are people out there that need more calories.