Having trouble finding my maintenance calories, am I eating enough?

I started lean bulking around 3 weeks ago, at 165 lbs. On day 1 I started taking creatine and I jumped to 170 practically overnight from the water weight. Since then I’ve been eating 2500 calories a day (about +300 over maintenance) with heavy lifting 3 days a week (completely sedentary other than that). My problem is, it’s pretty much impossible to track my maintenance calories because water weight fluctuates my weight anywhere from 168lbs to 174lbs day to day. So does 2500 seem like generally a good number for a 5’11 male of my weight? Or should I try increasing it?

[QUOTE=Lirwin3;1214595821]I started lean bulking around 3 weeks ago, at 165 lbs. On day 1 I started taking creatine and I jumped to 170 practically overnight from the water weight. Since then I’ve been eating 2500 calories a day (about +300 over maintenance) with heavy lifting 3 days a week (completely sedentary other than that). My problem is, it’s pretty much impossible to track my maintenance calories because water weight fluctuates my weight anywhere from 168lbs to 174lbs day to day. So does 2500 seem like generally a good number for a 5’11 male of my weight? Or should I try increasing it?[/QUOTE]

You look for general trends, new highs and new lows.

That being said, I'm 5'7" 145 and I eat 3500 calories a day. I'd say bump it.

Weigh yourself under the same conditions like Sunday morning after coffee and taking a piss/****, naked.

And no 2500 calories seems borderline maintenance.

Thanks guys, my problem has been that when using the TDEE calculators online I'm not sure if lifting should count as activity. I've heard so many different answers to this question, that I just decided I'd go +300 over my "sedentary" number, and then adjust week-to-week. But the water weight jumps are really killing that plan. But I guess eating too much until I find maintenance is better than eating too little at this point though, so I'll bump it up to 2800 or so and see what happens.

[QUOTE=Lirwin3;1214601421]Thanks guys, my problem has been that when using the TDEE calculators online I'm not sure if lifting should count as activity. I've heard so many different answers to this question, that I just decided I'd go +300 over my "sedentary" number, and then adjust week-to-week. But the water weight jumps are really killing that plan. But I guess eating too much until I find maintenance is better than eating too little at this point though, so I'll bump it up to 2800 or so and see what happens.[/QUOTE]

If you can't go by numbers, then stop. Go by the mirror and what you're lifting in the gym. You're stressing yourself over the water weight. And yes, you eat back what you burn from lifting.

[QUOTE=Lirwin3;1214601421]Thanks guys, my problem has been that when using the TDEE calculators online I'm not sure if lifting should count as activity. I've heard so many different answers to this question, that I just decided I'd go +300 over my "sedentary" number, and then adjust week-to-week. But the water weight jumps are really killing that plan. But I guess eating too much until I find maintenance is better than eating too little at this point though, so I'll bump it up to 2800 or so and see what happens.[/QUOTE]

At only 3 weeks in, you haven't given things a chance to settle down yet, but even at that, 2500 is probably a little low. If you want to move up to 2800, go ahead, but then stick with that for at least another 3-4 weeks before considering any more changes.

[QUOTE=aitchfourex;1214606151]You're stressing yourself over the water weight. [/QUOTE]

Yeah, I know. I lost a lot of weight very recently (over 130lbs) after being fat all my life, and bulking has been taking an unexpected mental toll. The thought of getting fat again has me worrying over every little thing.