Lost in the clouds

lostintheclouds @ 2002-04-01T04:23:00

2002-04-01T09:23:51Z

Water and Weight
Water surpresses the appetite and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies show that a decrease in water will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.
Heres why: The kidneys can't function properly without enough water. When they don't work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the livers primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into useful energy for the body. But if the liver has to do some of the kidneys work, it can't operate at full throttle. As a result it metabolizes less fat, more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops.
Every person needs 8 -8 ounce glasses of water daily. The overweight person needs MORE water. Larger people have larger metabolic loads. the more overweight you are, the more water you need.
Retained water shows up as excess weight. To get rid of excess water, you must drink MORE water. How much water is enough?
An average person needs 8-8oz glasses daily. Thats about 2 quarts, however****the overweight person needs one additional glass for every 25lbs. of excess weight. Also this amount should be increased if you exercise regularly, or the weather is hot. COLD water is absorbed into the body more quickly.
There is some evidence that drinking COLD water actually helps to burn calories. To utilize water effectively for weight loss we reccomend this schedule:
Morning: 1 quart over a 30 minute period.
Noon: 1 quart over a 30 min period
Evening: 1 quart between 5 and 6 oclock
When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens you have reached the 'breakthrough point'. What does this mean?
Fluid retention is alleviated
Endocrine Gland function improves
More fat is used for fuel
Natural thirst returns**
There is a loss of hunger almost overnight**
If you stop drinking enough water, the symptoms will reverse, and you will have to attain another 'breakthrough'

lostintheclouds @ 2002-04-01T04:20:00

2002-04-01T09:20:58Z

Pro-Ana Commandments
1. If you aren't thin you aren't attractive.
2. Being thin is more important than being healthy.
3. You must buy clothes, cut your hair, take laxatives, starve yourself, do anything to make yourself look thinner.
4. Thou shalt not eat without feeling guilty.
5. Thou shall not eat fattening food without punishing oneself afterwards.
6. Thou shall count calories and restrict intake accordingly.
7. What the scale says is the most important thing.
8. Losing weight is good - gaining weight is bad.
9. You can never be too thin.
10.Being thin and not eating are signs of true will power and success.

lostintheclouds @ 2002-04-01T04:20:00

2002-04-01T09:20:43Z

Dear Ana,
I offer you my soul, my heart and my bodily functions. I give you all my earthly possessions. I seek your wisdom, your faith and your feather weight.
I pledge to obtain the ability to float, to lower my weight to the single digits, I pledge to stare into space, to fear food, and to see obese images in the mirror.
I will worship you and pledge to be a faithful servant until death does us part. If I cheat on you and procreate with Ronald McDonald, Dave Thomas, the colonel or that cute little dog. I will kneel over my toilet and thrust my fingers deep in my throat and pray for your forgiveness. Please Ana, dont' give up on me. I'm so weak, i know but only you with your strength inside me will I become a woman worthy of love and respect.
I'm begging for you not to give up, I'm pleading with my shallow breathes and my pale skin. I bleed for you, suffer leg pains, headaches and fainting spells. My love for you makes me dizzy and confused I dont' know whether I'm coming or going. Men run when they see the love I have for you and never return. But they aren't important to me all thats important is that you love me.
If you stay with me, I will worship you daily, I will run miles a day, come rain, snow, bitter cold or searing heat I will run from the pain and in fright. I will do 1,000 sit ups a day and lie to my family about what I eat and how I feel.
I will stop weeping when I feel your warm arms embrace my shivering body. I will numb the hunger pains with razor blades and your strength.
Today in the next few minutes the new year starts, 2001. I renew our friendship and resolve to be faithful to you year long, life long. I begin the year with a 3 day fast in honor of you. If you give me the strength to fade away I will love you and worship you forever.
When i'm finally faded to nothing, when you've given me the gift of ending this torturous life. I will float on to the next world and be thin and beautiful payment for my undying love for you in this world.
I ask only one more thing you, please ana, remove me from this hell, from this world ASAP. Please take away this hatred for my pain and allow me to be free and light.

lostintheclouds @ 2002-04-01T04:19:00

2002-04-01T09:20:22Z

One word: Strippers. (Guys always drool over their curvy in the right places, skinny in the right places bodies.)
You feel like SHIT after eating
Your thighs, ass and hips will be slimmer
Other girls will want to look like you
You'll look like a supermodel or actress
Your won?t get sweaty on hot days
You?ll rake in compliments
Your stomach bulges out when you eat
Starvation draws social energy into you
People will talk about how skinny you are
Clothes will look better on you
The longer you fast, the easier it is to continue w/ it
Self-starvation shows strong will power
It?s harder to work out with food in your stomach
You?ll feel light as a feather and pure
It proves you aren't addicted to food like everyone is
It will expose you to less carcinogens
People will be concerned about you
It?s more healthy and athletic
If you don't eat, you won't binge
You can run on sheer mind power alone
Vitamins will be rapidly absorbed
It sabotages your past, present and future efforts
It shows how well you can take care of yourself
Your skin will be taut and toned *yay no stretch marks!*
You won't get anxious over what you've eaten
You'll stop traffic

lostintheclouds @ 2002-04-01T04:18:00

2002-04-01T09:18:36Z

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you'll land among the stars."
"The greasy fry, it cannot lie, its truth is written on your thigh,"
~ Quinn [from Daria]
"Eat to live, but don't live to eat."
"Nothing tastes as good as thin feels."
"The idea came to her with a flash of excitement. Francesca was fat. Francesca was dead. She quickened her movements. One, two, slim, firm, three, four, well, done, and then, as if it came from the beat itself, the new girl was born, Kes-sa, Kes-sa. The name was brief, firm, and hard, just as Kessa would be. The name was born. The body would follow. The useless flesh and layers of revolting fat would fall away, and like her model, Madame, she would be pure strength and energy and movement. Fat Francesca was dead, had died giving birth to perfect Kessa."
~[taken from] The Best Little Girl In The World
Here's a quote that I found to be quite triggering...
"Freshman girls: Get 'em while they're thin!"
...to be appreciated you better be tall and thin and if you aren't tall you better at least be able to keep your weight below 100 lbs.

lostintheclouds @ 2002-04-01T04:17:00

2002-04-01T09:17:52Z

[The following from various sources]
Drink tons of water, the colder the better... not only does it fill you up but your body also burns extra calories to bring it up to body temperature.
Take one or two aspirin a day. It raises metabolism. (unconfirmed)
Throw away foods that you think you might be tempted to binge on
Make a Pro Anorexia Journal~ Cut out inspiring pictures, articles, etc... also make a daily list of what you eat and your activities and subtract the calories you ate from the calories you used to find out how many extra calories you have used.
Brush your mouth and teeth often. A fresh mouth helps keep you wanting to eat.
Sit up straight, you burn 10% more calories with a good posture.
Less than 6 hours sleep at nite stimulates your metabolism. (unconfirmed)
When dining out, no matter what the waiter says about the fat or calorie content of food assume everything is covered with butter, even the silverware!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
if you're madly thinking about eating and you're around other people, listen to them eating, it is the most repulsive sound and it will definately kill your appetite and make you glad you're pure. *shudder* yick, it echoes in your head.
I have a very good tip for cravings..well.. this is what i do.. whenever i want crackers, i go downstairs to pretend like i'm eating.. meanwhile i'm pouring milk down the drain and such.. i walk upstairs with some crackers in my hand, like i'm gonna snack on them in my room.. i crush them up in my hands over the trash can and just smell my hands.. it gets rid of my craving.. its great! getting rid of food and cravings in one! ~cassie
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
[The following from Virtue.nu/AnaPrincess]
Keep moving
On top of working out or dancing or whatever you do, increase your daily exercise other ways. Take stairs instead of elevators or escalators. Walk your dog. Walk to the corner store instead of driving. Choose the parking spot farthest from the store when you do drive. Sneak extra movement in wherever you can. Every little bit burns a few more calories.
Fiber supplements
Drink a big glass of sugar-free metamucil dissolved in diet juice before you eat or if you feel hungry. It has only about 20 cals, and makes you feel full, plus it has a laxative effect.
Exercise instead of eating
Make a rule about it, a set amount of crunches, squats, whatever, that you must do before you eat. Either the craving will pass, or you won't feel so bad about eating if you've exercised.
Think about it
Think about what you are eating. If it is meat, think about the animal it once was, if it is something else, imagine the process it went through before it reached your plate. If you really think about it, a lot of food is really disgusting. You may lose your appetite for it.
Make a stack of magazines that weighs the amount you want to lose. As you lose, take off the appropriate amount of magazines. Seeing the weight like that may help you realize what a difference it will make when it is all off.
Become vegetarian or vegan
Eat only organic foods. It is more expensive, but healthier and makes it easier to lose by eliminating a lot of foods.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
[The following from Rissy5d@aol.com on anorexiaforever@yahoogroups.com]
1) drink one glass of water every hour. set your watch alarm to go off every hour to remind yourself .
2) eat negative calorie foods at least 2 times a day. my favorite is celerey with mustard on it.
3) weigh yourslef before and AFTER every time you eat. not only will it eliminate unnecessary eating, but it will make you want to eat LESS when you see the numbers creep up.
4) exercise 2 times the amount of calories you eat....for example..if you eat 300 calories you must exercise 600 off. this will MAKE you keep your calories low (unless you want to spend all day exersising!) and let you loose weight SOO much faster.
5) diet coke is always in hand. if you get hungry reach for it and sit down with a magazine to read. (or for me, i enjoy cutting out the models and pasting them in my binder. i have tons of pages filled with models...very inspirational)
6) feel your hunger..dont try to suppress it. if your hungry that means your loosing weight. you WANT to be hungry. if your not your not doing it right. in time you will get a wonderful high off of being hungry and thoroughly enjoy the sensation. hunger is not your enemy! the sooner that is realised the sooner you will reach your goals :)
7) place a jump rope by your bed--somewhere your sure to see. every morning when you wake up grab the jupe rope and do just five minutes. get a big thing of water and start your day! ....i also find 5 minutes of jump roping and then a few reps of lifting light weights (should only take 10 minutes..this is not meant to be a workout session) really helps! remember...the more muscle you have, the better you will look, and the more CALORIES you will burn at rest!
8) eat 6 small meals a day spaced about 3 hours apart. at 50 calories 6 times a day that is only 300 calories. your body will thank you and so will your metabolism! give it a boost!!
9) let yourself binge once a week. and ONLY ONCE. ..if you do this you must use some form of purging ...you actually loose weight FASTER if you binge and purge once a week in addition to starving! ...if you have never purged before i dont recomend it. you will be stuck with food you dont want.
10) eat standing up. move around while you eat. burn a few more calories. they all add up. even if you only burn 10 calories more each time you eat that is 60 more than you would by sitting down/day
11) eat vicariously. watch other people eat..and feel superior!!! you dont need that food. they are feeding their fat bodys..and theyre getting fatter!!! you can see then growing!!! how repulsive.
12) this tip will only work if you live alone or live with someone who dieting (or just doesnt care!) ...find pictures of overweight people and put them in various places around your house...put some near the tv..to remind you to exercise...put some near the trigger foods (you know the ones..) to remind you that THAT is how you will look if you eat that. If you are living with someone on a diet they will most likely agree to this if you tell them its a proven fact that it helps weight loss (and it is!).
13) find a buddy. compete. this works so very fast and effectively. you have to be the best. you have to loose weight faster..become better..skinnier. hurry hurry hurry! ...there is such a rush when you are competing ..you dont have time to think about the bad foods!
14) once a week treat yourself. and i dont mean with food! (the weekley binge does not count.) ...take a bubble bath..listen to relaxing music, get a massage, give yourself a manicure, a facial..etc. anything to pamper yourself...to relax ...as a destresser..and to reward yourslef for your good work for the week.
15.) if you didnt have a good week the above does not apply. you will begin to look forward to the little treats and be good simply so you can have them!
16) scrub a dub dub. did you know that there are 2 pounds of dead skin on you right now!!?! thats right! 2 POUNDS! ...if your underweight or in starvation mode your body does not "shed" its skin the way it should. it holds on to it. use an exfoliator for your face, and a loofa brush or scrub for your body. ..you will feel muuuch better. and who knows! you could just loose a pound or 2 ;)
17) use symbols. this may sound funny to some of you...or even most of you. but it wokrs for me. i have an anorexia ring. its like any other ring but when i wear it i cant be bad. ...i wear it all the time now except for that one binge. if im about to eat something bad i just look at the ring and think...NO! i cant. (hint..get a ring a little too small for your fingers...push it on...youll have a hard time getting it back off and while trying youll realise you dont really want the food.)
18.) spend a little time each day (even if its just 5-10 minutes) at pro anorexia sites..or reading your e-mails for motivation. youll come away and want to be GOOD GOOD GOOD! :)
19.) untill you reach your goal (or people start worrying about you) you want to wear tight jeans. baggy tops are great..but make sure your jeans are tight. its a constant reminder that you need to loose weight. ....if your problem is that people are starting to worry about you, or are commenting in a negative way...wear baggy jeans with stretch pants underneath...it gives you a little extra bulk. layering your clothing works, and then come short season....shock them! ;)
20) get in touch with your inner child. ever notice how (most anyway) little kids are skinny? they are always running around!!! take their example...invest in a trampoline (do you know how much you can sweat with those!? i love em!) go rollerblading, climb on the monkey bars....anything thats fun and active. you will be amazed how many more calories you can burn when your active.
21) i am not saying not to sleep. everyone needs to. but try to stay up a few more hours here and there....you burn more calories when your awake...even if your just watching tv!
22) exercise at night. after everyone is asleep you go down to exercise. not only will they have no clue your getting all that exercise and wonder how you can loose weight so easily (this is great for compulsive exercisers!...they wont know you have a problem!!!!) but you will start to feel superior. there they are sleeping...and your here burning off hundreds of calories ;).
23.) this is not a tip just a reminder. anorexia is always with you. it can be your best friend. its your "seceret weapon", it makes you better... embrace it..dont fight it. wheather you are here because you want to be anorexic or because you already are, were all one in the same. wanting it is the disease already started. dont be afraid of it. just go with it ;)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Plan your day~ Try to decide what you will eat and when, so you don't have to discover after the fact that you have gone over your calorie limit.
Put up inspirational photos in the cupboards, in the fridge, near the scale, anywhere that you need encouragement. Put pictures depicting obesity near foods you are likely to binge on.
Read the nutritional information Remember, fat-free does not mean calorie-free. Also keep an eye on fiber content. Get as much fiber into your diet as you can, while cutting fat and calories.
Get more exercise On top of working out or dancing or whatever you do, increase your daily exercise other ways. Take stairs instead of elevators or escalators. Walk your dog. Walk to the corner store instead of driving. Choose the parking spot farthest from the store when you do drive. Sneak extra movement in wherever you can. Every little bit burns a few more calories.
Clean something. Cleaning something dirty can make you lose your appetite. The toilet, the litter box, under the kitchen sink, scrubbing out the garbage bin, anything grimy or smelly. The mess, along with the smell of the cleaner, can put you off food for a while.
When you feel hungry, exercise before you give in to the hunger. Make a rule about it, a set amount of crunches, squats, whatever, that you must do before you eat. Either the craving will pass, or you won't feel so bad about eating if you've exercised.
Think about what you are eating. If it is meat, think about the animal it once was, if it is something else, imagine the process it went through before it reached your plate. If you really think about it, a lot of food is really disgusting. You may lose your appetite for it.
Make a stack of magazines that weighs the amount you want to lose. As you lose, take off the appropriate amount of magazines. Seeing the weight like that may help you realize what a difference it will make when it is all off.
Become vegetarian or vegan. Eat only organic foods. It is more expensive, but healthier and makes it easier to lose by eliminating a lot of foods.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
[Miscellaneous Tips Of My Own]
Work somewhere food related. It may help you become disgusted with food.
Try not to eat until you absolutely have to. If you eat all your allowed calories right away during the day, you aren't leaving room for any possible slip ups later on.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

lostintheclouds @ 2002-02-23T00:39:00

2002-02-23T05:41:34Z

i've gotten fatter, even my mother says so. i forgot all about my diet. shame on me.

time to start the regiment again, in order to be thin, you have to think thin,

nothing like those figure skaters to remind you.

xenadrine

2001-12-30T01:02:53Z

i took one xenadrine today. this is a god send. if i keep taking one xenadrine a day i can totally loose weight.

i'm going on 130 calories and i'm so full of energy.

i'm going to eat something worth about 300 calories soon so then i'll be set for today.

xena is my new best friend. i like her better then mia. my teeth already suck because of past mia experiences. i don't want to loose them all together.

i'm working on some art work. i'm doing so well today. i'm so proud of myself. let me go drink some water before i get dehydrated.
oh and i have to take my centrum. don't want to get sick now.

i can do this.
i have control.
i will be thin.

mia. are you my friend too?

2001-12-29T08:19:56Z

i promised myself i wouldn't but i ate. i fucking ate like a pig eating two fucking slices of pizza and like 3 glasses of soda.

so i decided to try to purge it when i was at the sink feeling really big and full. i stuck my fingers down my throat and after the third or fourth time like a bit came up. i tried it again but only like about 2 bites worth came up. i used to be so good at this! what the hell, i need to remember what i used to do that would make this work so well. if i can get this whole purging thing down then i think it won't be so bad on those rare occasions when i binge. (like now) but for two fucking bites. its not worth it.
i need to find some sites on mia tips.

oh well. tomorrow is a new day.
perhaps i should try fasting like many others seem to, but i don't know how i can escape my parents for that long.

i need to get better at this. if i do i can loose weight i know i can.
and exercise i need to do more exercise.

lostintheclouds @ 2001-12-29T03:05:00

2001-12-29T08:00:59Z

i'm eating
is this victory?
or defeat?

they insisted i eat
now i'm eating
they win :(

god i suck

2001-12-29T04:24:48Z

i can't even starve myself like a decent person.

what the hell CAN i get right?!

a good day

2001-12-29T02:11:24Z

all i had to eat all day:
a peanut butter jelly sandwich with skim milk.

i can do this. no one can tell me otherwise.

fat girls...

2001-12-29T01:58:34Z

this fat girl deserves to die.
this fat girl deserves to die.
this fat girl deserves to die.
this fat girl deserves to die.
this fat girl deserves to die.
this fat girl deserves to die.
this fat girl deserves to die.
this fat girl deserves to die.
this fat girl deserves to die.
this fat girl deserves to die.
this fat girl deserves to die.

lostintheclouds @ 2001-12-28T19:13:00

2001-12-29T00:10:27Z

i found this community of big women who post naked pictures of themselves and i keep looking at them thinking "if this is what i look like naked, i am incredibly gross and fat"

i was really craving some fatty food or something. but now i really need to get back on this self-made self-proclaimed self-abusive lifestyle.

the need to be thin, is more long term then the need to eat a hot dog.

lostintheclouds @ 2001-12-25T20:11:00

2001-12-26T01:08:02Z

i want to buy 3 books:

1 copy of "Stick Figure : A Diary of My Former Self"
Lori Gottlieb; Paperback; @ $9.60

1 copy of "The Best Little Girl in the World"
Steven Levenkron; Mass Market Paperback; @ $6.99

1 copy of "She's Come Undone (Oprah's Book Club)"
Wally Lamb; Mass Market Paperback; @ $7.99

those three. i want to see if they're at barnes and noble before i order them from amazon because i want them as soon as possible. i need to read them. over and over and over.

i need help. i need to be thin.
thin is perfection.
i need to be perfect.

I don't take the first little bite; I don't begin. I have no problem.

2001-12-25T01:25:58Z

must be thin

blah

2001-12-13T23:48:54Z

i would be lying if i said i didn't let my diet go to complete shit over the last few days. i did and i have. i'm feeling quite shitty about the whole thing myself. actually i'm feeling quite shitty in general. so i'm deciding to starve again. starting tomorrow. i think the thing that got me throwing my diet out the window was not taking the xenadrine. so i'm going to start taking it again. a pill a day. it curves my appetite so much so i need to stick to it.

also down to 706 calories a day again. i also haven't been exercising. god i'm just a fat cow. *hangs her head in shame*

how am i ever going to make my man proud to be with me? not looking like this i ain't.
blah.

lostintheclouds @ 2001-12-08T16:51:00

2001-12-08T21:57:52Z

I'm doing wonderful today. its 4:56 PM and all i had were 206 calories. although now i have a huge stomach ache. but i'm really doing good. i'm not jittery from the xenadrine. i think cause i ate a cup of honey nut cheerios afterwards but i do have a headache and stomach ache now i think from not eating or what not. anyhow i want to look like liv tyler. her figure is SO nice. i'm going to have a very similar figure. just wait.

"An imperfect body reflects an imperfect person"

2001-12-08T10:59:31Z

I am imperfect.

i found some more pro ana sites, there's not enough out there. maybe i should make one so people can have another place to go. i know there's so many people out there who just want to loose weight, and this is probably a REALLY good bet for people who have no self control. like me. i have none. i suck that way.

in other news, i got deleted off a friends list in my other journal cause the girl couldn't deal with my weight loss posts. well its not my fault she's a big fat cow and wants to stay that way. i'm going to do something about my weight or else i'll become gigundo like her.

she's huge. i won't be huge anymore. THIN IS IN!

"Nothing tastes as good as thin feels."

2001-12-08T10:43:21Z

lostintheclouds @ 2001-12-07T22:53:00

2001-12-08T03:54:30Z

so i discover that the whole negative food thing is bullshit.

goddamn it.

but anyhow i found some awesome sites with the coolest tips and links and such.
i needed that right now.

i can't eat with brad anymore. i end up eating too much.

i just got this program called dietlog for my visor so i can keep track of all the calories and stuff i eat. according to it, in order to loose 2.5 pounds a week i need to eat only 906 calories a day. i can do that if i don't eat with brad.

no more eating more then one meal with brad. or with anyone else.
i will not be a big fat cow anymore.

being fat. big fat hoe bag me.

2001-12-08T03:38:46Z

fuck.

i ate too much today.

WAY TOO MUCH.
i gave the boyfriend this journal name. he's the only one i know in real life who would accept my desicion to do things MY WAY.

yeah but then i was thinking, what if i can't control my need to eat? what if i'm destined to be fat for the rest of my life...

then?
then what? is he going to leave me for a skinny girl?

dear sweetie: if you read this, tell me you won't leave me for a skinny girl please?

anyhow since i ate too much today, eating less tomorrow will be a cinch.

maybe i can start a pattern. 500 calories one day double the next half the next. etc.
fasting won't work for me.
then again, i haven't really tried, but i don't think it would.
when i'm craving food i get cranky and everyone knows then that i haven't eaten.

all through today i kept thinking about being fat, and others being fat. and how if i keep doing what i'm doing i'm going to be fat.

there was this really skinny girl that my best friend was talking to during lunch. all i kept thinking when i was looking at her was, no wonder he's talking to her, look at how pretty she is! look at how wonderfully skinny she is!

*sigh*

i'm a big fat sea cow.

lostintheclouds @ 2001-12-07T14:42:00

2001-12-07T19:41:55Z

i know i said i'd stop taking xenadrine but it helps my appetite so much.

so i'll cut down.

1 tablet a day 2 if i'm really loosing control.

and i read on some of the pro ana sites that eating one meal a day helps satisfy cravings. so i'll do that too.

and i'll eat in front of brad so he can stop bitching at me about how i'm destroying myself.

fuck you, i'm not gonna be fat anymore!

now if only i could learn to love to exercise.
thats' my goal for tomorrow.

lostintheclouds @ 2001-12-07T14:37:00

2001-12-07T19:36:27Z

The Thin Commandments

1.If you aren't thin you aren't attractive.

2.Being thin is more important than being healthy.

3.You must buy clothes, cut your hair, take laxatives, starve yourself, do anything to make yourself look thinner.

4.Thou shall not eat without feeling guilty.

5.Thou shall not eat fattening food without punishing oneself afterwards.

6. Thou shall count calories and restrict intake accordingly.

7.What the scale says is the most important thing.

8.Losing weight is good/gaining weight is bad.

9.You can never be too thin.

10.Being thin and not eating are signs of true will power and success.</font>

from www.bluedragonfly.org

2001-12-07T18:35:37Z

Calorie Info:
It takes 3500 calories extra or less to gain or lose a pound of fat. You must take in 3500 calories more than you put out to gain a pound and you must take in or burn off 3500 calories less than your body needs to lose a pound. It takes 13 calories per pound of body weight per day just to keep you alive, so say you weigh 100lbs, it takes 1300 calories a day just to keep you alive even if you just lay in bed all day. On the dark side, if you've been restricting like mad (under 1000 cal. a day or so) then your metabolism has slowed down and it may take you only 2000 or so cal. to gain a pound, but it may take as many as 4000 you would need to burn to lose that same pound cause your body thinks there is a famine going on and it fights like hell to keep you alive. That is why it is good to stop dieting once in a while, eat a little more (at least 1500 cal) and just maintain your current weight for a few weeks to let your metabolism even itself out. Then you'll be able to lose again even better and with less risk of messing yourself up.