Is 2k calories a day?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) use 2,000 calories per day as a standard for nutrition advice on food labels. However, the number of calories that someone needs may be higher or lower than 2,000 per day. Indeed, the number of calories a person needs will vary depending on their: age.
Generally, the recommended daily calorie intake is 2,000 calories a day for women and 2,500 for men. This is a commonly established calorie intake, making the 2000 calorie diet a standard as it hits the average intake for most adults.
Most women don't need to go much below 1400 to 1600 calories to lose weight. Men can usually lose weight on no less than 2000 calories a day. The higher you can go and still lose weight, the better.
Given the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations, it's unlikely that you'd gain weight if you're eating (and drinking) a standard 2,000 calorie per day diet. However, there are some exceptions to this. Older, sedentary men that are 61 years of age or older need about 2,000 calories per day.
However, burning an extra 2,000 calories — in addition to those you use for daily living — is not something the average person should attempt every day, because it requires the training and exertion levels usually reserved for athletes.
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.
A prolonged 1,500 calorie-per-day diet can slow metabolism, so it is best to only do it short-term. Risks to consuming too few calories may include: Inadequate nutrition. Fatigue/tiredness.
If you're not losing weight in a calorie deficit you may need to adjust your stress levels, diet, and sleep patterns. Other reasons for weight gain during a calorie deficit are hormonal changes, aging, and other health conditions.
Gender | Age (years)a | Moderately Activec |
---|---|---|
Child | 2-3 | 1,000-1,400 |
Female | 4-8 9-13 14-18 19-30 31-50 51+ | 1,400-1,600 1,600-2,000 2,000 2,000-2,200 2,000 1,800 |
Male | 4-8 9-13 14-18 19-30 31-50 51+ | 1,400-1,600 1,800-2,200 2,400-2,800 2,600-2,800 2,400-2,600 2,200-2,400 |
The recommended calorie intake for adult women ranges from 1,600 calories per day to 2,400 calories per day, according to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 2 For men, the amount is slightly higher, ranging from 2,200 to 3,200 calories per day.
How many pounds will I lose if I eat 2000 calories a day?
This simple 2,000-calorie meal plan is specially tailored to help you feel energized and satisfied, so you can lose a healthy 1 to 2 pounds per week. Featuring the best foods for weight loss, the high protein, high fiber foods in this plan will help with weight loss by keeping you feeling fuller for longer.
man could eat 2,000 calories a day, without exercise, and maintain his weight. If you are a woman, and eat 2,000 calories a day, without exercise, you would weigh approximately 200 lbs. To determine your daily caloric needs, men take your weight times 12 and women take your weight times 10.

Each gram of stored glycogen is stored along with three grams of water. If you eat a high carb meal, your body likely uses some of those carbs to replenish your glycogen stores. And since your body stores water along with glycogen, your weight may increase.
To break this down into a more realistic figure, it can be divided into a one-week span. For example, if you consume 2,000 calories per day, you can lose one pound of body fat each week by burning 2,500 calories per day.
Is 2000 calories enough to build muscle? You can certainly build some muscle on 2000 calories per day, especially if you're a beginner just getting started, or if your maintenance calorie requirements are relatively low. However, to build muscle as fast as your body will allow, chances are you'll need to eat more.
A 2500 calorie diet is enough for the body to perform at optimal levels. Moderately active men aged between 25 – 40 years, often opt for this diet to maintain a healthy body weight.
But there is a recommended range for most kids between 6 and 12 years old: 1,600 to 2,200 per day, depending on how active they are. When they reach puberty, girls need more calories than before, but they tend to need fewer calories than boys.