![Quote](https://startingstrength.com/resources/forum/images/misc/quote_icon.png)
Originally Posted by
Walleye
Thanks for the responses. I agree with Robert’s initial comment, that I am neither fat nor strong (yet). I have been eating between 3000-3300 calories per day with 215+ grams of protein. This is per MyFitnessPal and using a scale. This would be a slight calorie surplus. I eat almost the same foods at the same time each day. I’ve read and listened to enough to know that there is variability, hence the range rather than a precise number, but my diet (and ability to track it) is not the issue I am asking about. Admittedly my initial post was not clear about this. While I’m not claiming to be perfect with it, the point of my original post was to determine the appropriate target calorie intake if I was. (Sort of like “assuming a frictionless environment...”).
Maybe instead of asking for a number, I should have asked for a range, or maybe more generally, just a concept. Given my training status, current numbers (weight on scale and on bar), should I continue to eat at a slight calorie excess? Or am I carrying enough excess fluff that I should be training at a slight deficit until my lifts stall? Or should I go full hog 6000+ calories?
Judging from Robert’s first response—that I’m “not that overweight”—I take it that I’m not in the “use fluff to train” group and should eat up. Yet, clearly I’m not an underweight trainee I n the GOMAD group either. That leaves me to believe that I should eat at a slight surplus (3300ish) until the LP stalls. Because I’m no expert, I appreciate the advice and comments. Thanks.