From the <a href="http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/Pubs/DG2000/DietGuidBrochure.pdf" target="_blank">USDA</a>...

Recommended number of servings depends on your calorie needs:

• 1600 calories is about right for children ages 2 to 6 years, many sedentary women, and some older adults.

• 2200 calories is about right for most children over 6, teen girls, active women, and many sedentary men.

• 2800 calories is about right for teen boys and active men.

I keep hearing 1200 calories and I was wondering where that was coming from?

[ 11-19-2001: Message edited by: John ]</p>

John,<br /> I know, personally, in order to lose weight, I must NOT eat more than a 1200 calorie diet a day. If I do I will gain weight!<br /> I think those figures you have are for people who want to maintain their weight. Right? Well, that is not what I need to do, sadly to say. <br /> <img src="graemlins/cry.gif" border="0" alt="[cry]" /> <img src="graemlins/cry.gif" border="0" alt="[cry]" /> <img src="graemlins/cry.gif" border="0" alt="[cry]" />

John, thats a good question, and I think that maybe its different for everyone. As JoAnne just said she can only lose weight at 1200 calories, if I go to 1200 calories I don't lose weight because it is too low for me. I need to hover around 1600 to maintain a 1-2 pound loss. This also depend on exercise intensity too...but thats another story I guess.<br />Lindasue

Emily you are making such good points..you are right you should figure your fat grams on a percentage of your calories..anything under 30% is considered low fat..dont drop your fat below 10% of your calories...maybe shoot for 20% then if some extra creeps in you will still be under 30%...some fat carries your fat soluable viamins and makes you feel fuller longer..just make it the healthier kind of fat..and remember that most food has some fat in it too..a gram of fat has 9 calories and a gram of protein or carbs has 4 calories..so you can see by cutting down on fat, you can eat MORE of other healthier things lol... <img src="graemlins/star.gif" border="0" alt="[star]" /> <img src="graemlins/star.gif" border="0" alt="[star]" />