Losing weight is not easy. We all know it is a basic formula of eating less and expending more. How do we figure our how many calories needed to lose weight for our own body? If you have chose to count calories to lose weight there are ways to determine how many calories you can eat for weight loss.

First, you may want to figure out what your BMR (Basel Metabolic Rate) is. Your BMR is the amount of calories it takes your body just to breathe and perform other bodily functions, such as digestion. You need to determine how active you are now to calculate your BMR.

In most BMR formulas your level of exercise is given a number. If you do not exercise at all you will be sedentary. If you exercise a couple times a week you will be moderate and if you exercise a lot you will very active. The amount you exercise is given a number in the formula to calculate your BMR.

The Harris Benedict formula to calculate your BMR has been around for 100 years. Scientists have determined certain multipliers to calculate your BMR. For men your BMR= 66 +13,75(weight in pounds) + 5.0(height in inches) 6.7( age). For women the numbers are a little different, your BMR= 655+9.56(weight in pounds)+1.85(height in inches) 4.68(age). It does not sound that simple does it?

There are other formulas out there that also take into account your frame and percentage of body fat. I bet you are thinking, there must be an easier way. There is, there are BMR calculators to figure it out for you.

So you have your BMR, which is the minunum calories your body needs to function. So how many calories for weight loss should you eat?

You take your BMR number and multiply it by your activity level a number derived from the Harris Benedict Formula. A sedentary lifestyle is given 1.55, a moderate amount is 1.9 and a very physically active person is given 40. There are various numbers in between. A special calculator can figure that our too.

If you do not like math or calculators, count your calories for an average day. We all know that if you eat 3500 calories less in one week you will lose a pound. That would be eating 500 calories less each day. Account for your activity level and eat 250 to 500 calories less per day. Do not go less than 1200 calories or turn to any fad diet. Incorporate some kind of exercise at least three times a week.

Losing one to two pounds per week will take some time but it will keep the weight off. Eat from all the food groups and vary your meals so you do not get bored. Allow treats, just estimate how many calories they are. The end result will be a slimmer, fitter and wiser you. You have learned a new lifestyle to keep your weight off for good.