How Low Can You Go?

As you read this, you are burning calories. You're burning calories when you sleep. Yes, we expend calories simply by breathing, by being. Before you get too excited and run for that pint of Haagen Dazs, you should understand that the number of calories needed to sustain yourself is quite minimal and this number decreases as you age. When dieting, keep your basal metabolic rate in mind. Your caloric intake while dieting should not be drastically lower than what your body requires for maintenance. As many people who have tried crash diets have learned, if you deprive yourself of calories (and often nutrients) for an extended period of time, you can slow down your metabolism which will cause you to gain back weight quickly when you adopt healthier eating habits. The bottom line is drastically restricting your caloric intake alone can cause you to lose some weight, but lasting, long term weight loss is the result of healthy lifestyle changes: a balanced diet with controlled portions and daily exercise.
Calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate here.