in 2006 i lost 70 lbs by calorie counting, running and riding. i was obsessed with the counting and reading food labels. point is i ended the year averaging 2800 calories. fast forward and the weight is still off. i would say i am around 2500 when inactive and 3000 when active. fyi i am 6'3'' 175 lbs and 34 yrs old. later.