Maintenance Calories to Start a Bulk

Hey guys, I didn’t know where else to post this… so here is goes:

As of right now, I weigh 170lbs @~14-15% bodyfat

I train 4x a week (Wendler’s 531 bodybuilding template) but the rest of the time I am not doing much physical activity.

How would I go about calculating my maintenance calories?

My guess would be 2200-2300 calories for maintenance… What do you guys think? I really don’t have anyone to ask about nutrition, so why not a forum? lol

Thanks

Step 1 take a guess on calorie level
Step 2 hit those calories every day for at least 2 weeks
Step 3 weigh in the every morning, naked, after the bathroom
Step 4 calculate average weigh In from start date and see how it changed
Step 5 adjust from there

[quote]GrindOverMatter wrote:
Step 1 take a guess on calorie level
Step 2 hit those calories every day for at least 2 weeks
Step 3 weigh in the every morning, naked, after the bathroom
Step 4 calculate average weigh In from start date and see how it changed
Step 5 adjust from there[/quote]

/thread

Although for step 1 just start with 15 cals/pound if you are totally lost. For a 200 pounds guy this is 3000 cals.

For step 5 use 300 calorie increments (ie gaining weight too fast, drop to 2700, not gaining weight or even losing weight, add 300 cals)

Everyone’s maintenance level is different. Do what GrindOverMatter says, guess, and go from there. As long as you aren’t eating junk, then appetite will go a long way to telling you what your maintenance level is.