# Diet and calories

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-and-calories/341811>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 27, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-and-calories/341811 "2006-01-27T04:41:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Regardie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Regardie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regardie)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-and-calories/341811/1 "2006-01-27T04:41:40Z")

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I am embarking on a diet (again). What is the optimal numberof calories I can have a day without eating too much nor putting my body in starvation mode?

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**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-and-calories/341811/2 "2006-01-27T04:46:18Z")

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What do you weigh? What’s your body fat level? What’s your gender? How are your testosterone levels? What’s your non-exercise physical activity level? What’s your VO2[sub]max[/sub]? What’s your exercise program like? What’s your training age?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-and-calories/341811/3 "2006-01-27T04:48:35Z")

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In other words, only a qualified professional can tell you.

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**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-and-calories/341811/4 "2006-01-27T10:03:12Z")

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As suggested it is always wise to consult your doctor before embarking on a diet but this [link](http://www.hpathy.com/healthtools/caloriesneed.asp) should give you a pretty good guide to follow.

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**Author:** ![Regardie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Regardie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regardie)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-and-calories/341811/5 "2006-01-27T18:36:04Z")

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Thank you.