Macros for a 170 lb Man: 2,386 Cal Maintenance Plan
Written and reviewed by
Andrew Menechian, Head of Fitness, FitCommit
PN1, PNC 1&2, Poliquin PICP 1&2 · Updated May 2026
Maintaining 170 lb as a lightly active male means 2,386 cal daily: 145g protein, 303g carbs, 66g fat. These numbers match your 2,386 TDEE exactly, with protein weighted to hold 139 lbs of lean mass and a minor surplus capacity for muscle repair. Weekly weigh-ins matter more than daily, since food volume and water swings show up as 2 to 3 lbs of scale noise. Maintenance only works long term when paired with progressive resistance training. Without it, the body has no reason to preserve the lean tissue these macros are built to protect. Hit protein every day. Let carbs and fat flex by about 20g as training load varies.
Comparing weights? See the same plan for a 160 lb man or a 180 lb man. Prefer a different goal? Try cutting macros at 170 lbs or bulking macros at 170 lbs. Or see the same macros for a 170 lb woman.
2,386
Calories
Maintenance calories
145g
Protein
580 cal (24%)
303g
Carbs
1212 cal (51%)
66g
Fat
594 cal (25%)
Eating at TDEE with zero deficit or surplus. These macros maintain your 170 lb body weight while optimizing protein for muscle retention.
How These Macros Were Calculated
| Body Weight | 170 lbs |
|---|---|
| Estimated Lean Mass | 139 lbs (82% of body weight) |
| Lean Mass (kg) | 63.2 kg |
| BMR (Katch-McArdle) | 1,735 cal/day |
| TDEE (BMR x 1.375) | 2,386 cal/day |
| Target Calories | 2,386 cal/day |
| Calorie Change | None (maintenance) |
| Expected Weekly Change | Stable weight |
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 1.375 = light exercise 1-3 days per week. These static macro guide pages use one combined activity level for readable comparisons. The interactive macro calculator separates daily movement from training for a more precise target.
Macro Breakdown
| Macro | Grams | Calories | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 145g | 580 | 24% |
| Carbohydrates | 303g | 1212 | 51% |
| Fat | 66g | 594 | 25% |
| Total | - | 2,386 | 100% |
Protein is set at 2.3g per kg of lean body mass (139 lbs lean mass for this man). Fat targets 25% of target calories with a unisex floor of max(0.5g per kg body weight, 20% of calories) applied if the percentage drops below it. Carbs fill the remaining calories, with a 50g minimum for brain function.
Meal Split Examples
3 Meals Per Day
- Per-meal calories795 cal
- Per-meal protein48g
- Per-meal carbs101g
- Per-meal fat22g
4 Meals Per Day
- Per-meal calories597 cal
- Per-meal protein36g
- Per-meal carbs76g
- Per-meal fat17g
5 Meals Per Day
- Per-meal calories477 cal
- Per-meal protein29g
- Per-meal carbs61g
- Per-meal fat13g
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)
- 6 x 100g canned tuna (25g each)
- 9 cups whole-milk Greek yogurt (17g each)
Carbs: 303g
- 7 cups cooked rice (45g each)
- 6 cups dry oats (54g each)
- 12 medium sweet potatoes (26g each)
- 11 medium bananas (27g each)
Fat: 66g
- 5 tbsp olive oil (14g each)
- 4 half avocados (15g each)
- 8 tbsp peanut butter (8g fat each)
- 5 oz almonds (14g each)
These are rough equivalents. Most meals contain a mix of all three macros. Use a food tracking app for precise logging.
How Macros Shift at Nearby Weights
Same male, maintenance goal, lightly active activity. Your row is highlighted.
| Weight | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat | TDEE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 lbs | 2,168 | 128g | 279g | 60g | 2,166 |
| 160 lbs | 2,275 | 137g | 290g | 63g | 2,276 |
| 170 lbs | 2,386 | 145g | 303g | 66g | 2,386 |
| 180 lbs | 2,497 | 154g | 315g | 69g | 2,496 |
| 190 lbs | 2,608 | 163g | 327g | 72g | 2,609 |
Each 10 lb change shifts TDEE by roughly 111 calories at lightly active activity. Recalculate at your new weight after every 10-15 lb change.
Sample Day of Eating
A representative day hitting 2,386 calories, 145g protein, 303g carbs, 66g fat. Adjust portions to match your food preferences.
Breakfast
~716 cal
- 7 large eggs
- 3 cups dry oats
- 1 medium banana
Lunch
~835 cal
- 164g chicken breast
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup cooked broccoli
Dinner
~835 cal
- 203g salmon
- 4 medium sweet potatos
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup cooked spinach
These are approximate servings. Exact macro hits require a food tracking app. Use this as a starting template and adjust portions to match your targets.
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.
3 Sample Meals Hitting These Macros
Each meal delivers roughly 795 calories, 48g protein, 101g carbs, and 22g fat, which is a third of your 2386 cal daily target.
Three-Egg Veggie Scramble
Balanced breakfast with whole eggs for fat, toast for carbs, lean protein.
Ingredients
- 3 whole eggs
- 192g egg whites
- 202g whole-grain toast (3 slices)
- 7g butter
- 100g spinach, mushrooms, tomato
Instructions (10 min)
- Whisk eggs and egg whites with salt and pepper.
- Sauté vegetables in butter 3 min.
- Pour egg mixture in, scramble on medium heat, 4-5 min.
- Serve with toast.
Turkey and Avocado Sandwich
Quick, balanced, and travels well. A go-to maintenance lunch.
Ingredients
- 166g deli turkey breast
- 235g whole-grain bread (about 4 slices)
- 147g avocado
- 2 slices tomato, lettuce, mustard
- Salt, pepper to taste
Instructions (7 min)
- Toast bread lightly.
- Mash avocado onto one slice.
- Layer turkey, tomato, lettuce.
- Add mustard, salt, pepper. Close and slice diagonally.
Baked Cod with Quinoa
White fish, ancient grain, and a green vegetable. Clean maintenance dinner.
Ingredients
- 267g cod fillet
- 481g cooked quinoa
- 150g asparagus
- 44g olive oil
- Lemon, dill, salt, pepper
Instructions (25 min)
- Preheat oven to 200C (400F). Place cod on parchment, drizzle with olive oil, lemon, dill.
- Bake 12-15 min until flaky.
- Cook quinoa to package directions.
- Roast asparagus 10 min at same temperature as cod.
How to Hit These Macros Daily
Buy a digital food scale
A food scale eliminates the single biggest source of calorie miscalculation: eyeballed portions. A $15 scale pays for itself the first week by surfacing hidden 200 to 400 cal overshoots. Required for hitting 2386 cal precisely.
Plan 3 meals that total 2386 calories
Divide daily calories evenly: roughly 795 cal per meal for a 170 lb man. Each meal targets about 48g protein, 101g carbs, and 22g fat.
Hit 145g protein first
Protein is the lock, carbs and fat are the flex. 145g across 3 meals is 48g each. Pick one anchor protein source per meal (chicken, beef, fish, Greek yogurt, eggs) and portion it before adding anything else. If you fall short on calories by bedtime, top up with carbs or fat, not extra protein.
Split carbs and fat around training
Put 76g of your 303g carbs in the meal 1-2 hours pre-workout and 91g in the post-workout meal. Spread fat evenly across remaining meals. Carb timing matters for training quality on a target.
Track every input for 14 days
Log every meal, snack, drink, and cooking oil for 14 days using any tracking app. No eyeballing. The calibration period surfaces blind spots: dressings, condiments, weekend drift. After 14 days, tracking becomes automatic.
Adjust by 100 cal weekly based on the scale trend
Step on the scale 5 mornings a week, average the readings. Compare to last week. If the weekly average drifts more than 1.5 lbs in either direction, adjust 100 cal opposite the drift. Never adjust on a single day's reading.
What This Looks Like In Practice
Meal timing and structure
At maintenance, meal timing is flexible because total calories are the main lever. 3 to 4 meals works for most schedules. A 170 lb man holding 2386 cal can skip breakfast and eat two larger meals, or spread across 5 smaller ones. What matters is hitting 145g of protein total and staying within ±100 cal of target on a weekly average. Consistency at the week level beats precision at the meal level.
Training day nutrition
At maintenance for a 170 lb man, train to preserve or slowly build lean mass. Pre-workout, 76g of your 303g daily carbs 60 to 90 min before lifting supports performance. Post-workout, 91g of carbs plus 30g to 40g protein replenishes glycogen and triggers synthesis. Lifting 3 to 4 times per week with progressive overload is what keeps the 145g protein target from becoming wasted at 2386 cal. Without resistance training, the body has no reason to preserve the lean mass these macros are built to protect, and your 2386 TDEE will drift down within a year.
Common pitfalls to avoid
At maintenance for a 170 lb man on 2386 cal, the biggest pitfall is drift. Weight creeps up 2 to 3 lbs over a month, scale moves feel noisy, and six months later the baseline is 9 lbs heavier. Fix this with a weekly average: step on the scale 5 mornings a week, take the 7-day average, compare week-over-week against your 170 lb set point. Second pitfall: dropping training once calorie pressure is off. Without progressive resistance training, muscle mass slowly declines, which lowers your 2386 TDEE, which turns 2386 into 2286+ effective cal within a year. Lift 3 times a week minimum at 145g protein daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are 303g of carbs used for in a maintenance diet?
The 303g of carbs provides 1212 calories for workouts and brain function. Carbohydrates replenish muscle glycogen after training, supporting performance and recovery. At maintenance, 303g of carbs fuels daily activity at a sustainable level without gain or loss.
Should I recalculate my macros as I track weight?
At maintenance, recalculate your TDEE every 4-8 weeks if your weight shifts more than 5 lbs consistently. Lean mass changes affect calorie needs.
What foods hit 145g protein, 66g fat, and 303g carbs?
Protein: chicken breast (31g per 100g), eggs (6g each), Greek yogurt, or protein powder. Fat: olive oil or peanut butter (14g per tablespoon). Carbs: cooked rice (45g per cup) or oats (27g per cup). A food tracking app is the most reliable way to hit exact targets.
How does my activity level affect my 2386 calorie target?
Your Lightly Active activity level uses a multiplier of 1.375, giving a TDEE of 2386 calories. Activity multiplier is the single biggest variable in your calorie target — getting it right matters more than fine-tuning macro splits. If your weight doesn't respond in 2 weeks, your activity level is likely misestimated.
What should I do if I'm not maintaining weight at 2386 calories?
If your weight trends up or down consistently over 2 weeks at 2386 calories, your actual TDEE differs from the estimate. Adjust by 100 calories in the direction that corrects the trend. Recalculate every time you change activity level significantly.
How long should I stay in a maintenance phase at 2386 calories?
Maintenance phases should last 4-8 weeks between a cut and a bulk. They reset hunger hormones, establish a new weight set point, and give your body a break from the stress of a deficit or surplus.
When to Recalculate These Macros
Weight trending upward over 2 weeks
Reduce by 100-150 cal/day from carbs. Your actual TDEE is slightly below the 1.375x estimate for lightly active activity.
Weight trending downward over 2 weeks
Add 100-150 cal/day from carbs or fat. You may be more active than the multiplier accounts for, or your metabolism has adapted upward.
Activity level has changed significantly
Switch to the matching activity level using the selector above. The difference between sedentary and moderately active can be 300-500 cal/day at 170 lbs.
Other Weights and Goals
Previous Weight
160 lbs male maintenance lightly active
Next Weight
180 lbs male maintenance lightly active
Same Weight and Goal, Different Activity Levels
Sedentary
170 lbs, male, maintenance
Lightly Active
170 lbs, male, maintenance
Moderately Active
170 lbs, male, maintenance
Very Active
170 lbs, male, maintenance
Extra Active
170 lbs, male, maintenance
Macro targets on this page use the energy-balance framework described in our body weight methodology.
References
Primary sources behind the protein, fat, and calorie targets on this page. Reviewed by Andrew Menechian, Head of Fitness, FitCommit.
- Phillips SM, Van Loon LJ. Dietary protein for athletes: from requirements to optimum adaptation. J Sports Sci. 2011.Protein targets for lean mass retention during cuts (2.3-2.6g/kg LBM).
- Helms ER, Aragon AA, Fitschen PJ. Evidence-based recommendations for natural bodybuilding contest preparation: nutrition and supplementation. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2014.Cutting deficits, protein intake, and fat minimums for hormone protection.
- Aragon AA, et al. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: diets and body composition. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017.ISSN position on macro distribution for body-composition goals.
- Morton RW, et al. A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults. Br J Sports Med. 2018.Evidence ceiling on protein intake for muscle gain (~1.6g/kg body weight).
- National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Protein and Amino Acids (Dietary Reference Intakes).Baseline RDAs for protein, carbohydrate, and fat across adult populations.
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.
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