Cutting, but 2400 calories seems like too much?

[DylanBohbot]

Hey, Im on a cut right now and I decided this is going to be the year I get super lean. I have always been happy with my body, but now I want to have a visible 6 pack, and look leaner and stay that way. Im usually around 15-18 percent, but I want to get to around ten.
My strength goals are always in progress and im happy with what I hit on my bulk last year ( 430 deadlift, 275 bench, 340 squat @ 5'11 206 lbs) Im at 190 right now and I've been stuck here for about 2 months. My TDEE calculator says for my size, age (just turned 26) I should eat around 2400 calories a day. Honestly though during my bulk I was around 2800-3000 max. I don't need a whole lot of food for some reason ( even though I can put a lot away ) and trying to follow the 2400 makes me feel a bit too full and bloated. and example of my meal plan will be as follows.
Breakfast
1 cup nonfat greek yogurt, 6 raspberries and blueberries each, tablespoon and a half of chopped walnuts, tablespoon hemp hearts, half cup oats. 3 eggs cooked with butter or cooking spray. sometimes ill add two slices of smoked salmon to the eggs.
Lunch
Baked hella seasoned chicken breast ( if you can't cook , you suck ) half cup of rice, half cup roasted potatoes, half cup of peas and a banana.
Snack
Vegan protein (1 scoop ) water, kale, spinach, banana, peanut butter ( no sugar ) 1 tablespoon
Dinner
Fish, or chicken, (maybe beef on occasion) about 4 ounces, with veggies, rice (1 cup )
And im pretty good with my meal plan. I do eat less during the day on Friday so I can eat more at the dinner I go to at my family's house every Friday night, but my workouts are good and challenging and I do about a half hour of cardio everyday. Im going to start incorporating HITT workouts once a week and then add it on to twice a week eventually.
I just want to know If I am doing this right? I know it gets harder to lean out with the less fat you have, I've never been fat but I did go from my bulk weight of 206 to 190 in about 6 months.
If anyone can help me out and give me the best advice it would be super appreciated! Thanks!

[Darkius]

18% body fat is well within th 1% per week max speed. It is possible for sleep loss to turn that to muscle loss. 1 pound a week sounds safe for you

We each have individual metabolisms. Published values are just averages. The scale will fluctuate with meals and water. 2400 is just a starting value. You can go lower if you want. Just spread your protein intake throughout the day.


I'm guessing you are physically active, based on the high number. Nothing wrong with getting micronutrients from all that food.

[DylanBohbot]

Yeah, I workout about 5-6 days a week and I do obviously eat pizza, or **** like that once a week on the weekend usually, but sometimes I do tend to overindulge myself a little bit, but recently have been better about it.
I think the one lb per week loss is what my goal is but generally im not sure if im doing enough cardio or eating too much or too little which seems to be the issue. My strength is coming back ( I had to take 2 months off due to a move, no gym access and an injury that was recovering ) but so far everything is going well, just want to hear from the community what would be best!

18% body fat is well within th 1% per week max speed. It is possible for sleep loss to turn that to muscle loss. 1 pound a week sounds safe for you

We each have individual metabolisms. Published values are just averages. The scale will fluctuate with meals and water. 2400 is just a starting value. You can go lower if you want. Just spread your protein intake throughout the day.


I'm guessing you are physically active, based on the high number. Nothing wrong with getting micronutrients from all that food.

[faithbrah]

Yeah, I workout about 5-6 days a week and I do obviously eat pizza, or **** like that once a week on the weekend usually, but sometimes I do tend to overindulge myself a little bit, but recently have been better about it.
I think the one lb per week loss is what my goal is but generally im not sure if im doing enough cardio or eating too much or too little which seems to be the issue. My strength is coming back ( I had to take 2 months off due to a move, no gym access and an injury that was recovering ) but so far everything is going well, just want to hear from the community what would be best!

the issue is eating too much and/or moving too little. i'd lower your calories to like 2000 if you're not losing anything on 2400

[xsquid99]

the issue is eating too much and/or moving too little. i'd lower your calories to like 2000 if you're not losing anything on 2400

This….

I would have lowered my calories after 3 weeks of no weight loss instead of letting it drag out for 2 months.

[TolerantLactose]

Im at 190 right now and I've been stuck here for about 2 months. My TDEE calculator says for my size, age (just turned 26) I should eat around 2400 calories a day. Honestly though during my bulk I was around 2800-3000 max.

You have real life data from your bulk. Why did you go with a generic calculator instead?

[tamerz]

Lower you calories and see how your body react to it, i would reduce it to 2200 then 2000.