The answer to "How many calories do I need to eat every day to lose weight?"

[BIG H]

The fast answer:
If you don't want to read the long version of the answer - go off to www.myfitnesspal.com and that site will work it out for you!

Note that MFP.com gives you NET calorie intake per day - you are encouraged to eat whatever calories you burn through exercise BACK if you use that number.

More-In-Depth Guide - the longer answer:

1.Work out your BMI here

2. Work out your BMR here

Your BMR (Basic Metabolic Rate) is basically how many calories your body burns by just existing - by doing basically, nothing. If you lay in bed all day and did not move, this is how many calories your body would burn. If you ate this many calories, and did not move all day, you would maintain your current weight.

3. Remember this figure and use it in the Harris-Benedict Equation. This equation works out how many calories you specifically, according to your activity level, burn every day. The more active you are, the more calories you burn (obviously), and therefore the equation is different for a guy who sits at a desk all day and does no exercise, than for the guy who runs a 5k 6 times a week. The number you get at the end of the Harris Benedict Equation is the number of calories you need to eat daily to maintain your weight, at this lifestyle.

4. To lose a pound, you need to shave off 3500 calories from somewhere, this equates to reducing by 500 calories a day, to lose 1lb in a week, reducing by 1000 cals per day to lose 2lbs etc etc.

Here are the recommended daily deficits, depending on BMI
Generally someone with a BMI over 32 can do a 1000 calorie a day (2 lbs a week) deficit
With a BMI of 30 to 32 a deficit of 750 calories is generally correct (about 1.5 lbs a week)
With a BMI of 28 to 30 a deficit of 500 calories is about right (about 1 lb a week)
With a BMI of 26 to 28 a deficit of about 300 calories is perfect (about 1/2 lb a week).

So, if you had a BMI of 32, and the Harris Benedict Equation gives you 3000 calories a day to maintain, you'd make your deficit of 1000 calories a day, and consume 2000 calories daily / 14000 a week(and wouldn't consume your exercise calories on top of it - they're accounted for in the Equation!). You should, in theory then lose 2lbs per week

Simples

Could be bollox, but I am working on these principles