Just used the calorie calculator. help?

[Bimmer325]

Im 22 male, I weigh 200 pounds. The calculator said I need 2062 calories to maintain my current weight. This seems incredibly low. I am jumping back into a full body workout 3 times a week with some interval cardio (20-30 min.) at the end.

I want to weigh around 185 and mostly be lean. I take a multivitamin, green tea, flax seed oil, and protein (not up to the whole 1gram per pound yet though).

2062 does not seem like enough to keep me energized for school and then go to the gym.

[cabezon]

you'd be surprised at how little calories that people require. a 9 mile run burned about 1200 calories. It also took me an hour and 22 minutes. so, if you do 20 minutes, divide that by four, 300 calories. Not a whole lot. If you want to get down to 185 you might have to stick to that figure.

[bellavus]

I also looked at mine and it seemed low as well (1521). Josh, is there a way to take into account height into that equation?

[Sportsmedjosh]

Keep in mind this is based on just maintaining your weight, this does not take into account exercise and activities that you are doing. I think your best bet is going to be adding and subtracting food choices until you find a good balance.

You said you also want to lose weight while gaining muscle it sounds. It's hard to do both you will prob want to focus on a low calorie intake while performing exercise to minimize lean muscle mass loss.

How long have you been doing what you are doing, i this a new program you are starting?

[Bimmer325]

Right now (for a couple weeks) its going to be a full body thing. Im using to ease back into the gym and where I left off a few months ago. So its new I suppose. Its only been a week.

Im also cutting out the crap food, which means alot of carbs. I eat them in the morning and through the afternoon, but control what Im eating (dont pig out on rolls)

Tonight we had (i live at school, I have to eat what I am given) a big salad first, some spaghetti, 3 meatballs, and a piece of bread (which i really should not have done). I try to control the portions when I am faced with a dinner such as this though.

[Truman325i]

I was always told a healthy young make should be eating around 3000 calories? I guess I was lied to. I know when I eat around 1900-2000 calories as a 20yr 180 , 6'1" male I always can cut weight.

[Sportsmedjosh]

truman it really depends a lot on your activity level. Some people need more than that and a lot only need 1400.

[ericajones80]

yeah...the more active you are the more cals you need. Just enough to fuel your body for workout purposes when trying to lose weight