Macros for 150 lb Men (Cutting, Sedentary)
Reviewed by Andrew Menechian, Head of Fitness at FitCommit
Exact macros for a 150 lb man on a cutting diet. Calculated from estimated lean mass, Katch-McArdle BMR, and a sedentary TDEE (desk job, little or no exercise).
1,513
Calories
~20% calorie deficit
145g
Protein
580 cal (38%)
96g
Carbs
384 cal (26%)
61g
Fat
549 cal (36%)
Running a 377 cal/day deficit (20% below TDEE). Expect ~0.75 lbs of fat loss per week while protecting 123 lbs of lean mass.
4 weeks
147 lbs
8 weeks
144 lbs
12 weeks
141 lbs
How These Macros Were Calculated
| Body Weight | 150 lbs |
|---|---|
| Estimated Lean Mass | 123 lbs (82% of body weight) |
| Lean Mass (kg) | 55.8 kg |
| BMR (Katch-McArdle) | 1,575 cal/day |
| TDEE (BMR x 1.2) | 1,890 cal/day |
| Target Calories | 1,513 cal/day |
| Daily Deficit | 377 cal/day (20% deficit) |
| Expected Weekly Change | 0.75 lbs loss per week |
BMR uses the Katch-McArdle formula (370 + 21.6 x lean mass kg), which accounts for lean mass and outperforms Harris-Benedict for accuracy across different body compositions. Lean mass estimated at 18% average body fat for men. Activity multiplier 1.2 = desk job, little or no exercise.
Macro Breakdown
| Macro | Grams | Calories | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 145g | 580 | 38% |
| Carbohydrates | 96g | 384 | 26% |
| Fat | 61g | 549 | 36% |
| Total | - | 1,513 | 100% |
Protein is set at 2.6g per kg of lean body mass (123 lbs lean mass for this man). Fat targets 35% of target calories with a minimum safety floor applied if needed; carbs fill remaining calories, with a 50g minimum for brain function.
Meal Split Examples
3 Meals Per Day
- Per-meal calories504 cal
- Per-meal protein48g
- Per-meal carbs32g
- Per-meal fat20g
4 Meals Per Day
- Per-meal calories378 cal
- Per-meal protein36g
- Per-meal carbs24g
- Per-meal fat15g
5 Meals Per Day
- Per-meal calories303 cal
- Per-meal protein29g
- Per-meal carbs19g
- Per-meal fat12g
Research shows muscle protein synthesis is maximized with 30-40g protein per meal. 48g per meal in 3 meals is within the optimal range.
What These Macros Look Like in Food
Protein: 145g
- 5 x 100g chicken breast (31g each)
- 24 large eggs (6g each)
- 9 cups whole-milk Greek yogurt (17g each)
- 6 cups cottage cheese (25g each)
Carbs: 96g
- 4 medium sweet potatoes (26g each)
- 2 cups dry oats (54g each)
- 2 cups cooked lentils (40g each)
- 2 cups cooked brown rice (45g each)
Fat: 61g
- 4 tbsp olive oil (14g each)
- 4 half avocados (15g each)
- 4 oz mixed nuts (14g each)
- 5 x 100g salmon fillet (13g each)
These are rough equivalents. Most meals contain a mix of all three macros. Use a food tracking app for precise logging.
These numbers use an estimated 18% body fat.
FitCommit measures your actual lean mass with an AI body scan from your phone camera, so your macros reflect your real body composition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I recalculate my macros as I lose weight?
Yes. Recalculate every 10-15 lbs of weight loss. As your weight changes, lean mass, BMR, and TDEE all shift. For a 150 lb man cutting to 135 lbs, the TDEE shifts by roughly 145 calories and macros should be recalculated.
What foods hit 145g protein, 61g fat, and 96g carbs?
Protein sources for 145g: roughly 5 x 100g portions of chicken breast (31g protein each), or 24 eggs (6g each), combined with Greek yogurt or protein powder. Fat sources for 61g: about 4 tablespoons of olive oil or peanut butter. Carb sources for 96g: roughly 2 cups of cooked rice (45g each) or 4 cups of oats (27g each). A food tracking app is the most accurate way to hit these targets.
How does my activity level affect my 1513 calorie target?
Your Sedentary activity level uses a multiplier of 1.2, giving a TDEE of 1890 calories. If you were sedentary (1.2x), your TDEE would be approximately 1890 calories. If you were very active (1.725x), it would be approximately 2717 calories. The activity multiplier is the single biggest variable in your calorie target. Getting it right matters more than small differences in the macro split.
What should I do if I'm not losing weight at 1513 calories?
After 2 weeks with no movement, your actual TDEE likely differs from the estimate. Try reducing by 100-150 calories first. If energy drops significantly, check your protein intake before cutting calories further. Common issue: overestimating activity level.
When to Recalculate These Macros
Not losing weight after 2 consistent weeks
Reduce by 100-150 cal/day, pulling from carbs first. Your actual TDEE may be slightly below the 1.2x estimate. Confirm tracking accuracy before cutting further.
Losing more than 1.5 lbs per week
Add 100-200 cal/day from carbs. At 150 lbs, faster loss increases muscle loss risk and energy crashes. The target rate is 0.5-1 lb per week on a cut.
Lost 10 or more lbs from this starting weight
Recalculate at your new weight. BMR and TDEE drop as you lose mass. Eating the macros for 150 lbs when you weigh less will slow progress.
Other Weights and Goals
Same Weight and Goal, Different Activity Levels
Related Resources
Get Your Exact Macros with FitCommit
These numbers use average body fat estimates. FitCommit's AI body scan measures your actual lean mass from your phone camera.
Precise lean mass = precise TDEE = macros that actually match your body, not an average.
Try FitCommit Free