First, you should be looking at the whole picture, which includes three numbers: calories, fat calories and carbohydrates.

Calories will vary depending on your height and weight, but as a general rule 1000 to 1200 is a good target daily calorie intake if you

are a woman trying to lose weight. Less than 800 calories per day is never a good idea.

Second, total fat grams should equal no more than 30% of your total daily calories – so for a 1200 calorie a day program, fat grams should be 30g or less.

Third, carbs should be complex in nature, and provide no more than 40% or 120 grams of your total 1200 calories for the day.