How many calories should I eat a day to lose weight?
When it comes to losing weight, a general rule of thumb is to consume 500 fewer calories than needed to maintain your present weight. Doing this every day can help you lose about 1 pound per week.
Is a diet of 1200 calories healthy?
A 1,200-calorie diet is much too low for most people and can result in negative side effects like dizziness, extreme hunger, nausea, micronutrient deficiencies, fatigue, headaches, and gallstones ( 23 ). Furthermore, a 1,200-calorie diet can set you up for failure if long-term weight loss is your goal.