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The Daily Insight

Can you lose weight eating 1700 calories a day

Author

Andrew Mitchell

Published Apr 18, 2026

To achieve good results, you need to eat 1700 calories a day of healthy food and stick to the proper balance of carbs, proteins, and fats. However, do not count on rapid weight loss. The thing is, this diet works in the long term. So, you can expect a slow, gradual weight loss of a half a pound to 2 pounds per week.

Is eating 1700 calories a lot?

1700 calories is not much at all. The average daily ‘maintenance’ caloric consumption is between 2000 and 2500 calories per day for the average person. Eating anything less than your caloric maintenance is called a caloric or calorie deficit. If you’re in a caloric deficit, you WILL lose weight.

How many calories can I eat a day and still lose weight?

A calorie deficit of 500 calories per day is effective for healthy and sustainable weight loss. Eliminating sugary beverages, consuming mostly minimally processed foods like fruits and vegetables, and eating home-cooked meals can help you reach a calorie deficit without calorie counting.

Can I lose weight on 1800 calories a day?

Weight-Loss Basics If you eat 1,800 calories a day, you must burn at least 2,300 calories per day to lose 1 pound per week. If you burn fewer calories but still more than 1,800, weight loss will occur more slowly. Burning more calories a day while eating 1,800 calories results in a quicker weight loss.

Is 1800 calories too low for weight loss?

This usually means cutting 250 to 1,000 calories out of your daily diet. (If you cut 500 daily calories, you’ll lose about a pound per week.) For women, that means consuming about 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day. For men, it means a daily intake of about 1,500 to 1,800 calories.

How many calories do I need if I work out 5 days a week?

A general rule is to aim to burn 400 to 500 calories, five days a week during your workouts.

How many carbs should I eat on a 1700 calorie diet?

Here’s the math for your 1700 calories: Protein: 10 – 35% = 170 – 595 calories. At 4 calories/gram, you need 43 – 149 grams each day. Carbohydrates: 45 – 65% = 765 – 1105 calories.

Is 1600 calories too much for a woman?

According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, women are likely to need between 1,600 and 2,400 calories a day, and men from 2,000 to 3,000. However, this depends on their age, size, height, lifestyle, overall health, and activity level.

Is 1800 calories too much?

If you’re on weight loss diet, yes it is more. If not then it is not too much. A normal healthy person should consume 2000 calories per day to maintain. Men and women should aim for 1,800 calories a day, which is 2,500 more for men and 2,000 for women than the official guidelines.

What's the minimum calories needed to survive?

The number of calories you need to survive depends on your age, weight, activity level and gender. For long-term health, most people will need a minimum of 1,200 calories per day.

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How many calories should you eat to lose 5 pounds a week?

If you want to lose 5 pounds in a week, you will need to reduce your food intake by 17,500 calories, which is a huge calorie deficit. If you weigh 250-pound, you will need to reduce your daily calorie intake to about 1,250 calories per day, an amount that is too low amounting to starvation.

How many calories do I burn a day doing nothing?

The average person burns around 1800 calories a day doing absolutely nothing.

Can eating too little cause weight gain?

Eating too few calories can be the start of a vicious cycle that causes diet distress. When you cut your calories so low that your metabolism slows and you stop losing weight, you probably will become frustrated that your efforts are not paying off. This can lead you to overeat and ultimately gain weight.

Is 1800 calories a day good?

If you’re just starting off with weight loss, this 1,800-calorie level is a great place to start. 1,500 and 1,200 calories could be too low to start and can leave you feeling hungry at the end of the day, and this slightly higher calorie level can help ensure you’re able to stick to this plan.

What can I eat for 1800 calories a day?

  • Day 1. Breakfast: ½ cup plain instant oatmeal, 1 cup low-fat milk, ½ banana, ¼ cup chopped walnuts. …
  • Day 2. Breakfast: 1 egg, 1 whole wheat English muffin, 1 slice part-skim milk cheese, 2 oz. …
  • Day 3. Breakfast: (Omelet) 1 egg or ¼ cup egg substitute, ½ cup spinach, 1 Tbsp.

How can I eat 1700 calories?

The 1700 calorie diet includes foods such as vegetables, lean meats, fruits, low-fat dairy, whole grains, and fats. To extract all the benefits of this diet, you need to stick to the right balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats.

How can I get 1700 calories a day?

  1. Boost Blood Sugar With Breakfast. Start each day right with a healthy and filling breakfast. …
  2. Lean Proteins for Lunch. Focus on fiber-rich fruits, veggies and whole grains at lunch to stay satisfied all afternoon. …
  3. Eat Veggies for Dinner. …
  4. Pick Smart Snacks.

What foods help burn belly fat?

  • Beans. “Becoming a bean lover can help you lose weight and whittle your middle,” registered dietitian Cynthia Sass told Today. …
  • Swap your beef for salmon. …
  • Yogurt. …
  • Red bell peppers. …
  • Broccoli. …
  • Edamame. …
  • Diluted vinegar.

How much my body burns calories?

BMR varies based on age, sex, size, and genetics. To calculate BMR, a person uses inches for height, pounds for weight, and years for age in the following formulas: For men: 66 + (6.2 x weight) + (12.7 x height) – (6.76 x age) For women: 655.1 + (4.35 x weight) + (4.7 x height) – (4.7 x age)

What exercise burn the most calories?

Running is the winner for most calories burned per hour. Stationary bicycling, jogging, and swimming are excellent options as well. HIIT exercises are also great for burning calories. After a HIIT workout, your body will continue to burn calories for up to 24 hours.

What is a good amount of calories to burn in a day?

No matter what type of diet you follow, to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you take in each day. For most overweight people, cutting about 500 calories a day is a good place to start. If you can eat 500 fewer calories every day, you should lose about a pound (450 g) a week.

Is 1800 calories not enough?

Men and women should aim for 1,800 calories per day, which is considerably less than official guidelines of 2,500 for men, and 2,000 for women. PHE is issuing the advice because many people don’t account for calorific drinks when calculating their daily calorie intake, and go over the recommended guidelines.

How can I lose weight eating 1800 calories a day?

  1. Breakfast: 1 Protein + 1 Fruit (+ vegetables if desired)
  2. Snack: 1 Protein Snack.
  3. Lunch: 2 Protein + 2 Vegetable + Leafy Greens + 1 Starch/Grain + 1 Taste Enhancer + 1 Fruit.
  4. Snack: 1 Protein Snack + 1 Fruit or Vegetable.

How many calories should a woman eat a day to lose weight?

In order to lose at least a pound a week, try to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days, and reduce your daily calorie intake by at least 500 calories. However, calorie intake should not fall below 1,200 a day in women or 1,500 a day in men, except under the supervision of a health professional.

Can you lose weight eating 1500 calories a day without exercise?

A week long 1500-calorie meal plan can help you with weight loss by creating a calorie deficit, without making you feel starved. The number of calories that you need to eat in a day is not just dependent on your diet but also on the level of your physical activity. … Calorie deficit can be achieved by losing body fat.

Can I lose weight on 1500 calories a day?

Medical studies have proven that if a person reduces their calorie intake by 500-1000 calories per day, they are likely to lose 1-2 pounds of weight per week (3). For most women, this comes down to an intake of 1200-1500 calories per day and for men, 1500-1800 calories per day to promote weight loss at a healthy pace.

How many calories should I burn if I eat 1600 calories?

Think about it this way: If you eat a 1,600-calorie diet that’s rich in simple sugars, Palinski-Wade says your body will need to burn about 100 calories during digestion. But if those same 1,600 calories come from fiber and protein-rich foods, then you’ll burn closer to 300 calories while you digest.

How calories should I eat to maintain my weight?

Though it differs depending on age and activity level, adult males generally require 2,000-3000 calories per day to maintain weight while adult females need around 1,600-2,400 according to the U.S Department of Health.

How much water should I drink to lose weight?

According to the studies, 1–2 liters of water per day is enough to assist with weight loss, especially when consumed before meals.

What is starvation mode symptoms?

You often feel cold. It has been shown that your body temperature lowers when you don’t consume enough calories. You feel lethargic. Without enough calories, you will quickly experience feelings of fatigue because your body doesn’t have enough calories to burn and generate energy.

What happens when your body goes in starvation mode?

The body puts energy (calories) into its fat tissues, storing it for later use. … When this happens, the number of calories leaving your fat tissue (calories out) becomes greater than the number of calories entering it (calories in). Thus, you lose fat, which your body views as the beginning of starvation.