Can You Lose Weight on 1500 Calories Per Day?

Do you feel like you have tried every diet and are now ready to try counting calories? Maybe you heard that 1500 calories were a good number to lose weight at? This article answers the question, “Can you lose weight on 1500 calories per day?”

Now, the simple answer is – Yes. You can absolutely lose weight on 1500 calories per day. In fact, you can lose weight on more calories than this.

However, more things need to be taken into account to say whether or not you WILL lose weight on 1500 calories per day. For example, do you, specifically, burn more than 1500 calories throughout the day? Unfortunately, you won’t start shedding pounds if you don’t burn at least 1500. But there are a few ways you can burn those calories down!

However, suppose you are eating 1500 calories and not losing weight. In that case, you need to be looking for ways to increase your calorie or energy expenditure each day, not looking for ways to lower your calories.

Minimum Calories Per Day And Weight Loss

With any diet, you should consider a few things. Is it healthy? Is it maintainable? Will it work with my current lifestyle? You should reconsider that diet if it does not meet these criteria.

What I want to address here is whether or not a 1500-calorie-per-day diet is healthy. The other two questions only you can answer!

Generally, women should consume at least 1,200 calories per day to stay healthy, and men should consume 1,400. However, you need more if you work out regularly or have an active job or lifestyle. If you fail to consume enough calories, you will be hurting your body in addition to losing weight.

Is eating 1500 calories a day too much? Probably not. It’s unlikely that you will gain weight at this low of a caloric intake if that is your concern. If you do gain weight, consider looking at how many calories you burn throughout the day, see if you are tracking properly, or talk to a doctor.

“The big picture is to consume enough calories with a balance of nutrients and engage in physical activity for good health management to achieve one’s weight goals. Consuming less than 1,200 calories per day may make it difficult to meet vitamin and mineral needs via food,” says nutrition therapist Andrea Spivack, MA, RD, LDN, with Penn Behavioral Health at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

So, is it healthy eating 1500 calories per day? In general, 1500 calories is enough to stay healthy for most people.

How Many Calories Should I Eat in a Day to Lose Weight?

This is a better question than “Can you lose weight on 1500 calories per day?” It is far healthier to learn how many calories you should eat rather than picking an arbitrary number goal. Now, I could give you all the formulas to figure this out yourself, but below is a tool that will figure it out for you!

Calorie Calculator

Now, if your number is too low (you can’t imagine eating that little, or it is less than a healthy amount), there is another way. Burning calories can get you in just as deep of a calorie deficit as eating less food can!

I would highly recommend picking up a workout routine that works with your lifestyle and burns some extra calories, so you don’t end up having to starve yourself to hit your goals. Plus, working out comes with loads of other benefits.

Are You Eating 1500 Calories a Day and Not Losing Weight?

If you have been consistently eating this many calories every day and you are not losing weight there are really only two reasons. Either you are eating more than you think or you aren’t burning enough calories throughout the day. Here is why:

Eating More Than You Think

Whether or not you lose weight depends on your food intake and your calorie requirements. If your energy intake is higher than you require, then you won’t create a calorie deficit. Weight loss is only achieved in this state.

Don’t worry. Over 60% of people track their diet inaccurately. It is actually pretty much unavoidable. But there are a couple of major factors that will pump your calories way up:

• Not counting sauces, dips, and drinks
• Eating over 1500 calories on one or more days weekly – bringing your average daily intake up
• Not accurately weighing and measuring food

This isn’t the only possible culprit, but in some way or another, it’s likely you are consuming more than you think. However, there is another possible option!

Burning Less Than You Need to

Depending on your age, daily activity level, weight, and health, your daily caloric expenditure could be drastically different from what you think it is. If that is the case, then you can start to see results by increasing your calorie burn each day!

Here are some easy ways to do that:

• Pick a daily physical activity to perform for at least 20 minutes
• Get more of your total calories from lean proteins
• Try to get at least 5 minutes of activity for every hour of sitting still

Although these are the two reasons you could be eating 1500 calories a day and not losing weight- there are healthier ways to get the body you want. Regular strength training will increase your daily caloric burn, even on days that you don’t work out. Additionally, eating a whole food based diet will increase your chances of achieving a long-term healthy weight even if you don’t track calories!

1,500 Calorie Diet

At this point, if you are still paying attention, you probably want to know more about a 1500-calorie diet. That is what brought you here, after all.

It is extremely important, regardless of your health level, that your diet includes the necessary micro and macronutrients to keep your body healthy. For this reason, below is an exact meal plan for 1500 calories.

Diet Plan for 1500 Calories

This 1,500 calorie diet plan was created for Eating Well by Victoria Seaver, M.S., RD. It provides a daily menu with 1500 calories per day.

As long as your total daily energy expenditure is above this number, you will absolutely lose weight on this low-calorie meal plan. If you feel that you need fewer calories, I would suggest consulting a weight loss coach or doctor.

You may also like How To Calculate Macros to Lose Weight Fast

How to Meal Prep Your Week of Meals:

1. Make a batch of Baked Banana-Nut Oatmeal Cups to have for breakfast on Days 1 through 3. Freeze any leftovers.
2. Meal prep a batch of Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls to have for lunch on Days 2 through 5.
3. Hard boil 4 eggs to have for snacks on Days 2, 4, 5, and 6.

Day 1

Breakfast (387 calories)

• 2 servings Baked Banana-Nut Oatmeal Cups
• 1 clementine

A.M. Snack (190 calories)

• 1 medium apple, sliced
• 1 Tbsp. peanut butter

Lunch (325 calories)

• 1 serving Veggie & Hummus Sandwich

P.M. Snack (105 calories)

• 1 medium banana

Dinner (507 calories)

• 1 serving Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajita Bowls with 1/3 cup cooked brown rice

Daily Totals: 1,514 calories, 76 g protein, 215 g carbohydrate, 38 g fiber, 47 g fat, 1,355 mg sodium

Day 2

Breakfast (387 calories)

• 2 servings Baked Banana-Nut Oatmeal Cups
• 1 clementine

A.M. Snack (192 calories)

• 1 oz. Cheddar cheese
• 1 hard-boiled egg

Lunch (344 calories)

• 1 serving Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls

P.M. Snack (95 calories)

• 1 medium apple

Dinner (495 calories)

• 1 serving Zucchini-Chickpea Veggie Burgers with Tahini-Ranch Sauce
• 1 serving Oven Sweet-Potato Fries

Daily Totals: 1,513 calories, 53 g protein, 203 g carbohydrate, 36 g fiber, 61 g fat, 1,976 mg sodium

Day 3

Breakfast (387 calories)

• 2 servings Baked Banana-Nut Oatmeal Cups
• 1 clementine

A.M. Snack (95 calories)

• 1 medium apple

Lunch (344 calories)

• 1 serving Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls

P.M. Snack (201 calories)

• 1 medium banana
• 1 Tbsp. peanut butter

Dinner (475 calories)

• 1 serving Easy Salmon Cakes over 2 cups of baby spinach
• 1 (2-inch) piece whole-wheat baguette

Daily Totals: 1,502 calories, 70 g protein, 212 g carbohydrate, 38 g fiber, 51 g fat, 1,851 mg sodium

Day 4

Breakfast (393 calories)

• 1 serving of Muesli with Raspberries
• 1 medium banana

A.M. Snack (78 calories)

• 1 hard-boiled egg sprinkled with a pinch each of salt and pepper

Lunch (344 calories)

• 1 serving Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls

P.M. Snack (188 calories)

• 1/2 cup raspberries
• 1 oz. dark chocolate

Dinner (521 calories)

• 1 serving Chicken & Cucumber Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce

Daily Totals: 1,523 calories, 70 g protein, 194 g carbohydrate, 46 g fiber, 61 g fat, 1,324 mg sodium

Day 5

Breakfast (287 calories)

• 1 serving of Muesli with Raspberries

A.M. Snack (192 calories)

• 1 oz. Cheddar cheese
• 1 hard-boiled egg

Lunch (344 calories)

• 1 serving Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls

P.M. Snack (210 calories)

• 1 medium banana
• 1 Tbsp. peanut butter

Dinner (454 calories)

• 1 serving of Mediterranean Ravioli with Artichokes & Olives

Daily Totals: 1,488 calories, 59 g protein, 191 g carbohydrate, 43 g fiber, 62 g fat, 1,624 mg sodium

Day 6

Breakfast (393 calories)

• 1 serving of Muesli with Raspberries
• 1 medium banana

A.M. Snack (200 calories)

• 1 medium apple
• 1 Tbsp. peanut butter

Lunch (360 calories)

• 1 serving Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
• 1 clementine

P.M. Snack (78 calories)

• 1 hard-boiled egg sprinkled with a pinch each salt and pepper

Dinner (465 calories)

• 1 serving of Curried Sweet Potato & Peanut Soup
• 1 (2-in.) slice whole-wheat baguette

Daily Totals: 1,495 calories, 55 g protein, 220 g carbohydrate, 45 g fiber, 55 g fat, 1,616 mg sodium

Day 7

Breakfast (285 calories)

• 1 serving “Egg in a Hole” Peppers with Avocado Salsa

A.M. Snack (95 calories)

• 1 medium apple

Lunch (345 calories)

• 1 serving of Curried Sweet Potato & Peanut Soup

P.M. Snack (220 calories)

• 1 cup raspberries
• 1 oz. dark chocolate

Dinner (556 calories)

• 1 1/2 serving Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta

Daily Totals: 1,501 calories, 56 g protein, 193 g carbohydrate, 41 g fiber, 63 g fat, 2,018 mg sodium

What Does 1500 Calories Look Like?

If you were to break down 1500 calories into 3 simple meals, this is what it would look like.

You could also eat:

• Meal 1- protein shake with milk and banana: 300 calories.
• Meal 2- turkey, cheese, and bacon sub + chocolate: 750 calories.
• Meal 3- 1 slice pizza + salad: 450 calories.

You may also like this 1,500 calorie diet reddit board!

Can You Lose Weight on 1500 Calories per Day?

Yes you can. And most likely it is safe for you to do so. But is that the best way for you to lose the weight? Only you can decide.

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