Question: how many calories do you have to lose to lose 5 pounds?
Answer: Most weight loss plans will recommend getting 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day, which is generally a good range to aim for whether you plan on losing 5, 15, or 50 pounds. I'm more liberal on calorie amounts or exercise recommendations. To lose 5 pounds, it's more about cleaning up the diet than making a drastic overhaul.