Don't cut calories too drastically. A lot of dieters make the big mistake of thinking that the less they eat the more weight they will lose. The problem is that it doesn't work that way! If you eat less than you require just to tick over, your body will go into starvation mode. We are designed to hoard fat for lean times, so when you shock your system by reducing your calorie intake drastically it will hold on to all it can cause it doesn't know when you're going to start eating again. You have to trick ur body into thinking that it isn't on a diet. A great way to do this is to zig zag your calorie intake so that your body doesn't catch on to what you are doing!
The most accurate way to know how many calories you should be eating per day to lose, gain or maintain your weight, is by use of an online calorie calculator. Then get yourself a calorie counter book or just use and online calorie counter website and work out a menu plan for yourself. It might seem a bit restrictive at first, but once you get into a few healthy habits and learn how to judge portions visually, it will become second nature. It is always good to educate yourself about the nutritional value of the foods you eat on a regular basis.
