Skip to content
  • Register
    • We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

    How many calories do I really need?

    Posts: 9 Member
    edited December 2024 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?

    Welcome!

    It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.
    Sign In
    Register

    Replies

    • 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.
    • 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/
    • 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/
    • 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.
    • 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).
    • Posts: 9 Member
      shadow2soul wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      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)
    This discussion has been closed.

    Welcome!

    It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.
    Sign In
    Register

    Quick Links

    Categories