I've long thought the suggested calorie guidelines are nonsense. Are you plowing a field, or tapping at a keyboard? We wouldn't think that leaving a car to idle in the driveway or driving 100 miles would use the same amount of fuel. I would guess my daily intake is around 1200 calories, sometimes more, sometimes less. If I were eating 2000 calories per day, I would start putting on weight. If I kept it up for a year, I'd probably be overweight. Also, I am sure that 2000 calories of steak isn't the same as 2000 calories of rice, or 2000 calories of soda. Rather than caloric guidelines, I think the focus should be on weight. If you are over your ideal weight, you are eating more than you need for your lifestyle.The average adult man in America needs about 2000 to 3000 calories daily; people following calorie restriction may limit themselves to as few as 1200 calories.