Hard time eating my calculated "maintenance" calories

chloer314

Hey guys! So for some background info, I am 19 years old, 140 lbs, and weight train 5/6 days a week. I would consider myself rather muscular but still have some fat on top of the muscle. If I had to guess maybe like 22% body fat from looking at reference photos?

After calculating my "maintenance calories" it says I should be around 1800-2000 cal?? I think I eat around 1600 most days, so will eating 1800-2000 not make me gain weight, or will I gain weight?? I'm trying to do a "lean bulk" where I eat clean foods and focus on my protein intake. I'm kind of confused where to go from here!! Any advice would be much appreciated!

Also, I'm planning on "lean bulking" for the month of February and starting a 3 month cut March-May...is this realistic?

sardelsa

Did you use MFP to calculate or a calorie calculator? The only way to know for sure is to pick an amount, log and and see where your weight goes.

Also trying to gain for a month then lose is more of a way of maintaining vs. bulking.. so you can gain a few lbs then cut back down, but still end up in the same spot. So I would still call that recomp since overall you are maintaining your weight over time. It really depends on your overall goals and what you are trying to achieve with it.

If you are trying to build muscle and lose fat over time, eat around maintenance, progressive resistance training and get adequate protein (0.8-1g per lb bodyweight).

lynn_glenmont

chloer314 wrote: »

Hey guys! So for some background info, I am 19 years old, 140 lbs, and weight train 5/6 days a week. I would consider myself rather muscular but still have some fat on top of the muscle. If I had to guess maybe like 22% body fat from looking at reference photos?

After calculating my "maintenance calories" it says I should be around 1800-2000 cal?? I think I eat around 1600 most days, so will eating 1800-2000 not make me gain weight, or will I gain weight?? I'm trying to do a "lean bulk" where I eat clean foods and focus on my protein intake. I'm kind of confused where to go from here!! Any advice would be much appreciated!

Also, I'm planning on "lean bulking" for the month of February and starting a 3 month cut March-May...is this realistic?

If you're trying to bulk, why are you upset at being given a calorie goal that you believe would cause you to gain weight? By definition, gaining weight, hopefully mostly muscle, is exactly what you're supposed to do in a bulk.

Also, you say you "think" you eat around 1600 most days. Unless that means that on other, fairly frequent days, you're eating more than 1600, I don't think you're realistic about how much you're eating. A 140-lb 19 year-old working out 5 to 6 days a week is almost certainly going to lose weight on 1600 calories.

NovusDies

If you think you eat around 1600 you probably eat 1800 or higher. Most people underestimate their intake.

I share the confusion of why you are worried about gaining weight if you are intending on bulking.