How Many Calories are You Eating?

terizius
terizius Posts: 425 Member
in Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
After years and years of being 140lbs, I'm finally making a serious effort to bulk up to 165. I set a caloric goal of 3500 calories, and after 9 days of tracking, my average is just over 3400. Out of curiosity, how many calories were you consuming when you were bulking/gaining?? (Im a 31yr old male, active, 5'9")
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Replies

  • sonytomtp
    sonytomtp Posts: 38 Member
    My daily calorie intake varies quite a lot. I tend to try to overestimate on purpose so that I don't overeat too much.
    I don't want to lose any more weight and would actually like to gain some muscle.
    I have to estimate because my mum cooks my main meal of the day, that I don't know exactly what goes into.
    Generally though it'll vary anywhere between 2200 and 2600.
    Sometimes it'll be lower than 2000, and vary rarely it'll be closer to 3000.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    34, 6'3", 205lbs, sedentary except weight lifting days. Currently at 3250 with the goal to gain 3-4lbs a month. I seem to be pretty close, so far.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Between 2200 and 3000 depending on the day...
  • HarolDean
    HarolDean Posts: 8 Member
    6'-4" 181 about 3700 to 4200 a day depending on how much I can force it down. About to try and up that though since I've unintentionally lost 3 lbs this week.
  • Derp_Diggler
    Derp_Diggler Posts: 1,456 Member
    5'7" 45yrs old, 160lbs, about 2800 a day, fairly active lifestyle plus lifting approx four hours a week. I have bulking for about 12 weeks at this rate and have gained about 11lbs.
  • skipotronik
    skipotronik Posts: 9 Member
    i am 5-11" 185 lbs i eat 3500 calories a day, bulking for an extra 10 pounds for 8 weeks. 500 grams of protein 100 grams of fat and 200 g of carbs.
  • monty619
    monty619 Posts: 1,308 Member
    i am 5-11" 185 lbs i eat 3500 calories a day, bulking for an extra 10 pounds for 8 weeks. 500 grams of protein 100 grams of fat and 200 g of carbs.

    500g of protein??? why?
  • Walter__
    Walter__ Posts: 518 Member
    i am 5-11" 185 lbs i eat 3500 calories a day, bulking for an extra 10 pounds for 8 weeks. 500 grams of protein 100 grams of fat and 200 g of carbs.

    You are going way WAY WHEY overkill on the protein. You're eating as much as professional bodybuilders..who are a whole lot heavier than you and juiced to the gills. The most I usually see guys on the BB'ing forums do is 2g of protein per pound of bodyweight when bulking. Tone it down and put it into carbs or something.
  • GingerLolita
    GingerLolita Posts: 738 Member
    1570-2070. My goal is to lose .5 lb/week, so I should eat 1820, but I have a lower deficit when I can so I can allow myself to eat more on days that I'm hungry. :)
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    i am 5-11" 185 lbs i eat 3500 calories a day, bulking for an extra 10 pounds for 8 weeks. 500 grams of protein 100 grams of fat and 200 g of carbs.

    I would highly recommend putting at least 300g of that protein and putting it into your carb allocation.
  • mjudd1990
    mjudd1990 Posts: 219 Member
    6'3" 225lbs and shoot for 3900-4000 aka I'm pretty much eating constantly all day
  • steve0820
    steve0820 Posts: 510 Member
    After years and years of being 140lbs, I'm finally making a serious effort to bulk up to 165. I set a caloric goal of 3500 calories, and after 9 days of tracking, my average is just over 3400. Out of curiosity, how many calories were you consuming when you were bulking/gaining?? (Im a 31yr old male, active, 5'9")

    Same here!! 31, 5"9, 177lbs currently, and finally decided to take this bulking thing seriously haha, but I'm finding it very hard to hit around 3000 calories! I'm at around 2700, which is still telling me about 0.5lbs a week.
  • skipotronik
    skipotronik Posts: 9 Member
    To dopitup and walter:

    i did that for 10 weeks did not gain any muscle and gained 1% body fat
  • Jrk_fitness
    Jrk_fitness Posts: 16 Member
    Reverse Dieted from 2300 cal to 3100 Cal still at the same weight. 165lb with 8-10% bodyfat.
  • Chadomaniac
    Chadomaniac Posts: 1,785 Member
    Reverse Dieted from 2300 cal to 3100 Cal still at the same weight. 165lb with 8-10% bodyfat.

    Strong first post
    GJ


    Im at about 3000-3500 atm . Depends whats on schedule for the day
  • skipotronik
    skipotronik Posts: 9 Member
    i am 5-11" 185 lbs i eat 3500 calories a day, bulking for an extra 10 pounds for 8 weeks. 500 grams of protein 100 grams of fat and 200 g of carbs.

    500g of protein??? why?

    Protein converts into carbs but not carbs into protein.
    the body does not like to do it , its not efficient (quote from Leroy Colbert ) but if it needs the energy it will.
  • Kestrelwings
    Kestrelwings Posts: 238 Member
    From a female perspective, after several weeks of attempted bulk and managing to actually LOSE a kilo *facepalm* I am on 2000 + exercise, trying to get as much protein as possible and failing due to (a) liking my carbs way too much and (b) I get through over a litre of milk daily, which has a lot of carbs in it.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member

    Protein converts into carbs but not carbs into protein.
    the body does not like to do it , its not efficient (quote from Leroy Colbert ) but if it needs the energy it will.

    protein converts into carbs??

    My husband is trying to put on a bit of weight, he is 6ft2 and 157lbs and eats about 3000 cals
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    From a female perspective, after several weeks of attempted bulk and managing to actually LOSE a kilo *facepalm* I am on 2000 + exercise, trying to get as much protein as possible and failing due to (a) liking my carbs way too much and (b) I get through over a litre of milk daily, which has a lot of carbs in it.

    i dont know what your stats are but i am 5ft5 and 135lbs and i maintain on 2000cals plus exercise cals, its really not that much!... try peanut butter!
  • Kestrelwings
    Kestrelwings Posts: 238 Member
    yep - your body can break down protein into a form of carbohydrate to burn, but cannot do the reverse. It is a survival mechanism as your body requires glucose/carbs to burn for fuel and so will make them from whatever is available. The body 'can' run on the products of fat breakdown (ketones) but does not like it very much and prefers carbs if given the choice.

    Oh - and my stats are:
    36yr, 166cm/about 5'6", 52.5kg/about 114lbs
  • moya_rargh
    moya_rargh Posts: 1,473 Member
    My TDEE (calculated by Scooby's site - I miss his youtube vids) is 2904 for a 'clean bulk' based on 3-5 hours a week of moderate exercise. I do a full body 3x a week and run 2x a week. Each session is approx 60-70 minutes.

    I've been averaging about 2800 this week (I'm scared to go over incase I get fat) and I lost 1lb last week. My next weigh-in is on Sunday. If I've lost any more, should I up my intake to 3000-3200?

    Also, with it being post-holiday season, I'm mindful that the weight loss over the last week could simply be down to laying off the Christmas binge. Should I monitor my weight for another few weeks before deciding whether or not I need to adjust my calories?

    My diary is up for all to see - and to rip to shreds (constructively, of course!) if need be.
  • Kestrelwings
    Kestrelwings Posts: 238 Member
    If you lose again on sunday, I would suggest take it to 3000 if you feel you can?
  • terizius
    terizius Posts: 425 Member
    Moya - The good thing about tracking calories is that you can adjust accordingly. And since you are mindful and conscientious enough to actually track them in the first place, I wouldn't worry too much about if you go a pound or two in the wrong direction - you've got the info right in front of you as to what caused it and can adjust in the following weeks.

    DrNadya - I agree with Tavistock; 2000 calories plus exercise really isn't that much. Just like with Moya, if you are tracking calories regularly, then you can easily adjust your intake based on what results you see.
  • moya_rargh
    moya_rargh Posts: 1,473 Member
    Moya - The good thing about tracking calories is that you can adjust accordingly. And since you are mindful and conscientious enough to actually track them in the first place, I wouldn't worry too much about if you go a pound or two in the wrong direction - you've got the info right in front of you as to what caused it and can adjust in the following weeks.

    DrNadya - I agree with Tavistock; 2000 calories plus exercise really isn't that much. Just like with Moya, if you are tracking calories regularly, then you can easily adjust your intake based on what results you see.

    Thanks! :)
  • monty619
    monty619 Posts: 1,308 Member
    i am 5-11" 185 lbs i eat 3500 calories a day, bulking for an extra 10 pounds for 8 weeks. 500 grams of protein 100 grams of fat and 200 g of carbs.

    500g of protein??? why?

    Protein converts into carbs but not carbs into protein.
    the body does not like to do it , its not efficient (quote from Leroy Colbert ) but if it needs the energy it will.
    yea but that's expensive as f-ck if all you need to eat is rice instead of chicken
  • skipotronik
    skipotronik Posts: 9 Member
    i dont get either why you eat doble the carbs as protein ??? you are young your body transforms froot loops into muscles
  • RhineDHP
    RhineDHP Posts: 1,025 Member
    I feel like that much protein would kill your liver over time.
  • grantdumas7
    grantdumas7 Posts: 802 Member
    I am 5'7" 156 and I eat anywhere from 2500 to 2800 cals per day.
    As far as the whole carb/protein. I do believe carbs are more important while bulking as protein is more thermogenic than carbs.
  • creativerick
    creativerick Posts: 270 Member
    6'2" 28 years old 212 lbs. Currently cutting at 3400 calories.

    I lift 6 days a week.

    I play basketball 2 or 3 times a week for an hour to two.

    I do cardio - run - less than 20 minutes 3 times a week.
  • grantdumas7
    grantdumas7 Posts: 802 Member
    i am 5-11" 185 lbs i eat 3500 calories a day, bulking for an extra 10 pounds for 8 weeks. 500 grams of protein 100 grams of fat and 200 g of carbs.
    500 grams of protein would be alot for an IFBB pro. Your body does use more calories to digest and absorb protein than carbs, so it would make sense to focus more on carbs while bulking. There is not any benefit form consuming 2 or 2 1/2 grams of protein per. LB of bw.

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