I am confused. One website says a 150 pound woman should consume 2450 calories per day. In order to lose 2 pounds a week subtract 500 from that which is 1950 calories and burn 500 calories in exercise.

Another website says a 150 pound woman should consume 1950 calories and on workout days subtract 500 calories from the 1950 on non workout days, and subtract 200 calories from workout days.

For the past week I have been consuming 1950 calories every day and burning 500 calories every day... the first method.
So which one is correct?

I just realized that on the second method it depends on how many calories you burn... or not? Hmmm
By the way I don't plan on working out like this every single day. Probably just until I get at my goal weight. So I guess that means I can use the second method when I get to my weight goal...
But then I guess I would have to recalculate my calorie requirement as I lose the weight right?
I'm confusing myself (=

2450 calories is WAY too much if you plan on losing weight. Closer to 1200-1500... PLUS daily exercise.

Your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) will be somewhere between 1700 and 2000. You can find a calculator for this online. This is the rate of caloric burn you have daily just going about your average day.

In order to lose weight you must, in some combination of diet and exercise, shave 3500 calories per pound off this. SO... if your BMR is 2000 and you consume 1500 calories of food/day, you should lose roughly 1 pound a week. Add to this 500 calories of exercise on top of your daily life and that makes 2 pounds per week.

ALL weight loss depends on the number of calories you burn and the number you consume. The problem with diets is that you must continue to diet indefinitely, unless you change the way you live. Exercise and diet are not just a means to lose weight and once you get to your target weight you are done and you can go back to eating and doing what you were. If you do that, you will just put the weight back on. Healthy living is a lifestyle change that should be forever. Once you get to your target weight, you should temper your diet and exercise to right about where your BMR is. That will maintain your weight indefinitely.

K. I'm still thinking about what you have said and I am fully aware of everything that you said in paragraph three.

I never said 2450 is how many calories to consume in order to lose weight. I said a 150 pound woman should consume 2450 a day. In order to lose weight they must cut out 500 calories and burn 500 calories. I'm not saying this is correct, this is just what I am saying I said.

I never said 2450 is how many calories to consume in order to lose weight. I said a 150 pound woman should consume 2450 a day. In order to lose weight they must cut out 500 calories and burn 500 calories. I'm not saying this is correct, this is just what I am saying I said.

A 150 pound woman should consume 2450 calories a day if she is a marathon runner. Normal levels of activity, 2450 calories is going to GAIN you about a pound a week. The second method you listed is MUCH closer to correct.

I disagree with the second method's plan of weight loss though. Consume 500 less EVERY day. Then on your 'workout days' try to burn 500 calories and on your non-workout days, try to burn an extra 200 over what you used to do. Take the stairs, park far away from the door, just something extra.

Remember... this is a lifestyle change. So making small changes now will pay off forever.

I know this is old, but just wanted to say that you're totally correct, that's tooooo many calories!!