In the end everybody is different. Your calorie intake requirement is a personal thing. All these charts are worked out on averages. Start with them but if you don't lose weight you may need to realise you need less calories to maintain weight. Then you might, in order to eat the things you want to eat, need to change some things in your life that can change your metabolism that will permit you to eat more. So you may hav eto do some weight training to build muscle mass, do some exercise to rev up your metabolism. YOu may like to experiment with more or less carbs to see what suits your body.
In the end its what is right for YOU! Your body will tell you, if only you will listen.
In my experience (as a runner), the charts are by and large a waste of time. Listening to your body and what it tells you and what the scales and the calipers say is most important.
Good luck.
__________________
Aileen
| 
HOW MANY CALORIES?PLease help 
