Macros for 240 lb Women (Bulking, Extra Active)
Reviewed by Andrew Menechian, Head of Fitness at FitCommit
Exact macros for a 240 lb woman on a bulking diet. Calculated from estimated lean mass, Katch-McArdle BMR, and a extra active TDEE (very hard exercise and physical job).
4,457
Calories
~10% calorie surplus
188g
Protein
752 cal (17%)
591g
Carbs
2364 cal (53%)
149g
Fat
1341 cal (30%)
Running a 405 cal/day surplus (10% above TDEE). Expect ~0.81 lbs of weight gain per week, building on 180 lbs of lean mass.
4 weeks
243.2 lbs
8 weeks
246.5 lbs
12 weeks
249.7 lbs
How These Macros Were Calculated
| Body Weight | 240 lbs |
|---|---|
| Estimated Lean Mass | 180 lbs (75% of body weight) |
| Lean Mass (kg) | 81.6 kg |
| BMR (Katch-McArdle) | 2,133 cal/day |
| TDEE (BMR x 1.9) | 4,052 cal/day |
| Target Calories | 4,457 cal/day |
| Daily Surplus | 405 cal/day (10% surplus) |
| Expected Weekly Change | 0.81 lbs gain 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 25% average body fat for women. Activity multiplier 1.9 = very hard exercise and physical job.
Macro Breakdown
| Macro | Grams | Calories | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 188g | 752 | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 591g | 2364 | 53% |
| Fat | 149g | 1341 | 30% |
| Total | - | 4,457 | 100% |
Protein is set at 2.3g per kg of lean body mass (180 lbs lean mass for this woman). Fat targets 30% 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 calories1,486 cal
- Per-meal protein63g
- Per-meal carbs197g
- Per-meal fat50g
4 Meals Per Day
- Per-meal calories1,114 cal
- Per-meal protein47g
- Per-meal carbs148g
- Per-meal fat37g
5 Meals Per Day
- Per-meal calories891 cal
- Per-meal protein38g
- Per-meal carbs118g
- Per-meal fat30g
Research shows muscle protein synthesis is maximized with 30-40g protein per meal. 63g per meal in 3 meals is within the optimal range.
What These Macros Look Like in Food
Protein: 188g
- 8 scoops protein powder (22-25g each)
- 8 x 100g cooked salmon fillet (25g each)
- 6 x 100g chicken breast (31g each)
- 7 x 100g lean ground beef (26g each)
Carbs: 591g
- 13 cups cooked white rice (45g each)
- 84 rice cakes (7g each)
- 22 medium bananas (27g each)
- 33 Medjool dates (18g each)
Fat: 149g
- 11 tbsp olive oil (14g each)
- 17 tbsp almond butter (9g fat each)
- 7 oz macadamia nuts (21g each)
- 11 tbsp coconut oil (14g 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 25% 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 gain weight?
Yes. Recalculate every 10-15 lbs of weight gain. As your weight changes, lean mass, BMR, and TDEE all shift. For a 240 lb woman bulking to 255 lbs, the TDEE shifts by roughly 209 calories and macros should be recalculated.
What foods hit 188g protein, 149g fat, and 591g carbs?
Protein sources for 188g: roughly 6 x 100g portions of chicken breast (31g protein each), or 31 eggs (6g each), combined with Greek yogurt or protein powder. Fat sources for 149g: about 11 tablespoons of olive oil or peanut butter. Carb sources for 591g: roughly 13 cups of cooked rice (45g each) or 22 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 4457 calorie target?
Your Extra Active activity level uses a multiplier of 1.9, giving a TDEE of 4052 calories. If you were sedentary (1.2x), your TDEE would be approximately 2560 calories. If you were very active (1.725x), it would be approximately 3679 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 gaining weight at 4457 calories?
After 2 weeks with no movement, your actual TDEE likely differs from the estimate. Add 100-150 calories, prioritizing carbs. Gaining too fast (more than 1 lb/week)? Cut 100-150 calories. The target assumes extra active activity.
When to Recalculate These Macros
Not gaining weight after 2 consistent weeks
Add 100-150 cal/day from carbs. Your TDEE may be higher than the 1.9x estimate. Confirm you are tracking consistently before increasing further.
Gaining more than 1 lb per week
Reduce by 100-150 cal/day. Muscle growth rate is limited by biology. Excess surplus above that ceiling goes to fat. Target 0.25-0.5 lbs per week for a lean bulk.
Gained 10 or more lbs from this starting weight
Recalculate at your new weight. Higher mass means higher TDEE, so the same surplus percentage shrinks over time without adjustments.
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.
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