How many calories do I really need?

jaycecameron1
jaycecameron1 Posts: 9 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hey everyone I've been on fitness pal for quite a while and I was honestly close to 1,100 calories a day, which I'm sure is far to low for me(5'10" 155 lb male). I'm trying to put on lean muscle. I'm usually hitting 1500-1600 a day now and feel like I'm gaining more fat them muscle. Any advice?

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    It's VERY unlikely you're gaining anything on 1600 cals. I lose on that amount and I'm 5ft5 and 139lbs.

    If the scales are showing an increase then it's water.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    edited May 2016
    Plug your stats into MFP and eat what it tells you.

    If your not already, start using a food scale. You are probably eating a few hundred more than you think if you aren't.

    That said 1100 is way to low for a guy. It's actually below the minimum for women (1200 minimum for women for weight loss and 1500 minimum for men for weight loss).

    You don't mention how old you are. So here's a few numbers with guessing at your age:
    • Sedentary, no exercise
      20 yrs : 1979 to maintain
      30 yrs : 1922 to maintain
      40 yrs : 1864 to maintain
    • Sedentary, 3x60 mins exercise, moderate exercise difficulty
      20 yrs : 2172 to maintain
      30 yrs : 2115 to maintain
      40 yrs : 2057 to maintain
    • Sedentary, 4x60 mins exercise, moderate exercise difficulty
      20 yrs : 2236 to maintain
      30 yrs : 2179 to maintain
      40 yrs : 2121 to maintain

    calculator used to calculate the numbers:
    http://www.iifym.com/iifym-calculator/
  • positivepowers
    positivepowers Posts: 902 Member
    Either use the TDEE + exercise calculator on MFP, or, if you prefer, use a TDEE calculator. I've used a couple of them:

    http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

    IIFYM has one too but you have to give them your email address: http://www.iifym.com/tdee-calculator/
  • jaycecameron1
    jaycecameron1 Posts: 9 Member
    I use a food scale but I'll be honest the things I'm not counting probably don't make that much of a difference (mustard and other spices etc) I'm 20 and eating very little was before I knew anything about nutrition and what my numbers should be.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    jaycecameron1 wrote: »
    I use a food scale but I'll be honest the things I'm not counting probably don't make that much of a difference (mustard and other spices etc) I'm 20 and eating very little was before I knew anything about nutrition and what my numbers should be.

    Do you eat protein bars? If so, do you weigh them?
    If not, I would start. I had a whole box that weighed more than it should (some were 10+ grams over the serving size weight).
  • jaycecameron1
    jaycecameron1 Posts: 9 Member
    shadow2soul wrote: »
    jaycecameron1 wrote: »
    I use a food scale but I'll be honest the things I'm not counting probably don't make that much of a difference (mustard and other spices etc) I'm 20 and eating very little was before I knew anything about nutrition and what my numbers should be.

    Do you eat protein bars? If so, do you weigh them?
    If not, I would start. I had a whole box that weighed more than it should (some were 10+ grams over the serving size weight).

    I weigh everything except low calorie condiments (10> and iceberg lettuce occasionally)

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