The key to losing weight through dieting, whether you’re trying to lose 10 pounds or 100 pounds, is creating a caloric deficit—that is, consuming fewer calories than your body needs to function each day. It’s that simple! To create this deficit, you can reduce your daily calorie intake by eating less food or by burning more calories through exercise, or preferably both at the same time. If you’re wondering how many calories you should consume each day for weight loss, read on for a further explanation.