Calories

[babboon]

I read that you should eat no more than 12 X your body weight in calories if you are a body builder. Is this correct information?

[5kgLifter]

Originally Posted by babboon

I read that you should eat no more than 12 X your body weight in calories if you are a body builder. Is this correct information?

Do you mean such as 200 lbs x 12...if so, no, that's too simple and doesn't work.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by babboon

I read that you should eat no more than 12 X your body weight in calories if you are a body builder. Is this correct information?

No. For most people who aren't 250 pounds or more that's probably not enough calories.

[bamazav]

That number is sometimes used to figure a starting point when trying to figure out how many calories you need to cut or gain. It is meant to be a starting point in the figuring, usually low for gaining and a bit high for cutting, unless you are, as Steve pointed out, already pretty big.

12*188 (my BW) puts me below my maintenance level, but does give me a starting point for figuring that level out. None of the formulas are 100% accurate, though some come closer than others. The best way is to get a starting point (use 12*BW if that turns your crank) and then log meticulously for two weeks. If you lose weight, add calories, if you gain weight, subtract until you find the level where you neither lose or gain. From that point you plan your cut or mass attack. It takes a little longer, but is far more accurate than using a paper formula.