back in 1990 i dieted on 1100 calories or less per day. i went from 241lbs. to a shredded 207. i suffered for 3 months.
in 1991 i dieted on 4000 calories per day. i went from 247lbs. to 226 on stage. (i could hardly cram down all the low fat carbs and protien, no powders either).
since then i have never counted calories.