Concerned I'm wasting my time, specific question about my nutritional rqmts?

[Lammerchops]

Stats: 32, 5'7", 130, ecto body type
I've read the stickies, as instructed, and calculated my daily total at 1,950 using the following rationale: 15cal/pound, involved in light to moderate activity 3-5 days/week with a moderately active lifestyle. I work a desk job Mon-Fri 9-5 and do cardio, weights, or both, 5 days/week.

I guess I would fall into the "body recomp" category, in that I'm seeking fat loss, while maintaining the muscle I have.

I lift as heavy as possible 4 days/week (chest & back, arms & shldrs, and 2 leg days), and after reading a lot on here, I have cut back on the cardio because I'm an ectomorph that seems to prefer being "skinny fat". I probably haven't helped things with years of distance running.

My daily cal goal is currently at 1,700 with macros at 40/30/30.

My questions are related to nutrition, because the workouts and cardio are under control.

I'm having issues sticking to the above-mentioned nutritional guidelines because I have no idea if they're right. I could get over my impatience if I could obtain some validation that this equation was correct, and that I just needed to give it time.

Am I eating too much for fat loss? Too little?

[KwayZee]

Those numbers actually look fairly correct. The best advice I could give would be to follow those numbers for 2-3 weeks and go from there. If you feel like it is too much, you can lower them and vice versa.

[kimm4]

If your goal is to recomp, your calories should be set at maintenance. I'd probably set calories around 2000 and only adjust if needed.

Good luck!

[oregonchick76]

In addition to the advice already given, I'd like to discourage you from thinking you have a particular body 'type'. Those terms generally aren't used anymore - we are not stuck in a body type box - it really depends on how we train and what we eat. If you have a tendency towards "skinny-fat", it's most likely because you did a lot of cardio and not enough weights. All cardio does is burn calories - it does nothing for muscle. And it's pretty easy to over-eat regardless of how much exercise you do. "You can't out-exercise a bad diet"!

Focus on lifting and get your diet dialed in. Any calculator is going to give you just a rough idea - then it's up to you after trial and error to make sure you are seeing the results you want. And accurate calorie tracking is critical - get and use a digital scale for everything.

[Lammerchops]

Thanks very much for all replies, a little affirmation that I'm on the right track makes a world of difference in terms of encouraging me to "keep the faith".

I want to eat as much as possible while still sticking to an intake amount that produces results.

I track and weigh everything and am confident that I am accurately recording cals, it's just the discipline that needs to be kept in check. Will give it a solid go for 2 straight weeks. I'm the type to give up after 4 days when I don't see results, and yes I know that's absurd. I'm newly motivated, now that you've confirmed that these calculations aren't way off, and are worth testing. Appreciate it.