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Calorie information

Confused about cutting or bulking

zain1221
zain1221 g zain sharif
37 Post(s)
37 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: November 11, 2016
Posted

Hey Scott I watched your bulking or cutting video and im a little confused. Firstly when I use the calculator on this website (Muscular Strength) it states my BMR at rest is 1800  calories is that my Maintenance calories? when I use another calculator for example this one https://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm  it states my Maintaince calories is 2500 , so which number shoud I use? Also im confused as to if I should cut or bulk. I weigh 78KG and I am 5 foot 8 and I go to the gym 4 times a week and play a sport once a week. Been lifting for around a year but not taking my diet seriously and now I want to focus more on my diet.

jmboiardi
jmboiardi p John M Boiardi
2.6K Post(s)
2.6K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: October 10, 2013
Posted
Posted By: zain1221

Hey Scott I watched your bulking or cutting video and im a little confused. Firstly when I use the calculator on this website (Muscular Strength) it states my BMR at rest is 1800  calories is that my Maintenance calories? when I use another calculator for example this one https://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm  it states my Maintaince calories is 2500 , so which number shoud I use? Also im confused as to if I should cut or bulk. I weigh 78KG and I am 5 foot 8 and I go to the gym 4 times a week and play a sport once a week. Been lifting for around a year but not taking my diet seriously and now I want to focus more on my diet.

There is maintenance calories (BMR) and calories in motion (TDEE - Total Daily Energy Expenditure). You want to calculate a calorie surplus or deficit off of your TDEE not your BMR. BMR is the lowest amount of calories you need just to function and live. TDEE accounts for calories for BMR and movement/exercise. If you do a deficit off of BMR, you will lose substantial muscle mass unless you use drugs.

 

There are tons of TDEE calculators if you search the internet. It takes into account, age, height, weight, sex, activity levels to determine how many calories you need each day for maintenance and movement.

 

 

John

34 years of lifting and nutritional experience and resident "old man" :-) MS Athlete and past Super Hermanite since 2013.
Scott_Herman
Scott_Herman a Scott Herman
7.1K Post(s)
7.1K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: August 8, 2008
Posted
Posted By: zain1221

Hey Scott I watched your bulking or cutting video and im a little confused. Firstly when I use the calculator on this website (Muscular Strength) it states my BMR at rest is 1800  calories is that my Maintenance calories? when I use another calculator for example this one https://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm  it states my Maintaince calories is 2500 , so which number shoud I use? Also im confused as to if I should cut or bulk. I weigh 78KG and I am 5 foot 8 and I go to the gym 4 times a week and play a sport once a week. Been lifting for around a year but not taking my diet seriously and now I want to focus more on my diet.

John has your answer for the BMR question. As for if you should cut or bulk.. it depends on how much bodyfat you have and how old you are. If you're a teen, no need to cut unless you're WAY over 20%. If you're a bit older, then it would be ideal to be around 15% bodyfat before you start lean bulking.

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zain1221
zain1221 g zain sharif
37 Post(s)
37 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: November 11, 2016
Posted

Thanks for the advice John and Scott and I'm 19 by the way

Scott_Herman
Scott_Herman a Scott Herman
7.1K Post(s)
7.1K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: August 8, 2008
Posted
Posted By: zain1221

Thanks for the advice John and Scott and I'm 19 by the way

OK. Still a teenager and heading towards the end of the newbie stages. If you are 15-20% bodyfat and class yourself as skinny fat, lean bulking is OK because the muscle to fat ratio should mean your bf % goes down. If you're well above 20% bf, cut down just a little bit first.

Need 1 on 1 coaching? Send me a direct message to learn more!
zain1221
zain1221 g zain sharif
37 Post(s)
37 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: November 11, 2016
Posted

Again Thanks for the help guys

Scott_Herman
Scott_Herman a Scott Herman
7.1K Post(s)
7.1K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: August 8, 2008
Posted
Posted By: zain1221

Again Thanks for the help guys

You're welcome @zain1221!

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