Question about Calorie Intake

Bigger Stronger Leaner
1

Ok, I have lifted on and off for years but never got serious about it until recently.

Over the years, I have heard that you need to eat more calories than you burn to build muscle. I have also seen that surplus amount vary greatly from 500 a day and up to almost 2000 extra a day.

I now use Fitness Pal to track exactly how many calories I take in and what my macros are. It also tracks how many calories are burned for exercise.

Here is my question (fake numbers used to make it easier)

If my baseline daily calorie amount is 2500, and I lift and burn let’s say 500 calories. I would need 3000 to make up the difference of what I burned through lifting and to meet my daily requirements. Is that 500 surplus I ate to cover the exercising all I need, or do I need an ADDITIONAL 500 calories and need to eat 3500 calories a day?

Thoughts?

2

People on here may disagree, but every metabolism is different, and calorie types and sources are different. Figure out a rough estimate of what you need and eat a little above that, while focusing on nutrition surrounding your workouts. Then honestly look at yourself in the mirror, and if you aren’t gaining muscle, eat more. If you are gaining too much fat, eat a little less. If you aren’t recovering well, up your carbs and protein around workouts. People over complicate calories and at the same time try to simplify it to a point of being wrong. Eat good food, plenty of protein, and fuel your body.

3

What he said