Macros for 240 lb Men (Maintenance, Sedentary)
Written and reviewed by
Andrew Menechian, Head of Fitness, FitCommit
PN1, PNC 1&2, Poliquin PICP 1&2 · Updated May 2026
Maintaining 240 lb as a sedentary male means 2,761 cal daily: 205g protein, 312g carbs, 77g fat. These numbers match your 2,759 TDEE exactly, with protein weighted to hold 197 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 230 lb man or a 250 lb man. Prefer a different goal? Try cutting macros at 240 lbs or bulking macros at 240 lbs. Or see the same macros for a 240 lb woman.
2,761
Calories
Maintenance calories
205g
Protein
820 cal (30%)
312g
Carbs
1248 cal (45%)
77g
Fat
693 cal (25%)
Eating at TDEE with zero deficit or surplus. These macros maintain your 240 lb body weight while optimizing protein for muscle retention.
How These Macros Were Calculated
| Body Weight | 240 lbs |
|---|---|
| Estimated Lean Mass | 197 lbs (82% of body weight) |
| Lean Mass (kg) | 89.3 kg |
| BMR (Katch-McArdle) | 2,299 cal/day |
| TDEE (BMR x 1.2) | 2,759 cal/day |
| Target Calories | 2,761 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 1.2 = desk job, little or no exercise. 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 | 205g | 820 | 30% |
| Carbohydrates | 312g | 1248 | 45% |
| Fat | 77g | 693 | 25% |
| Total | - | 2,761 | 100% |
Protein is set at 2.3g per kg of lean body mass (197 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 calories920 cal
- Per-meal protein68g
- Per-meal carbs104g
- Per-meal fat26g
4 Meals Per Day
- Per-meal calories690 cal
- Per-meal protein51g
- Per-meal carbs78g
- Per-meal fat19g
5 Meals Per Day
- Per-meal calories552 cal
- Per-meal protein41g
- Per-meal carbs62g
- Per-meal fat15g
Research shows muscle protein synthesis is maximized with 30-40g protein per meal. 68g per meal in 3 meals is within the optimal range.
What These Macros Look Like in Food
Protein: 205g
- 7 x 100g chicken breast (31g each)
- 34 large eggs (6g each)
- 12 cups whole-milk Greek yogurt (17g each)
- 8 cups cottage cheese (25g each)
Carbs: 312g
- 12 medium sweet potatoes (26g each)
- 6 cups dry oats (54g each)
- 8 cups cooked lentils (40g each)
- 7 cups cooked brown rice (45g each)
Fat: 77g
- 6 tbsp olive oil (14g each)
- 5 half avocados (15g each)
- 6 oz mixed nuts (14g each)
- 6 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.
How Macros Shift at Nearby Weights
Same male, maintenance goal, sedentary activity. Your row is highlighted.
| Weight | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat | TDEE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 220 lbs | 2,563 | 188g | 293g | 71g | 2,564 |
| 230 lbs | 2,662 | 197g | 302g | 74g | 2,660 |
| 240 lbs | 2,761 | 205g | 312g | 77g | 2,759 |
| 250 lbs | 2,855 | 214g | 322g | 79g | 2,855 |
| 260 lbs | 2,950 | 222g | 331g | 82g | 2,950 |
Each 10 lb change shifts TDEE by roughly 97 calories at sedentary activity. Recalculate at your new weight after every 10-15 lb change.
Sample Day of Eating
A representative day hitting 2,761 calories, 205g protein, 312g carbs, 77g fat. Adjust portions to match your food preferences.
Breakfast
~828 cal
- 10 large eggs
- 3 cups dry oats
- 1 medium banana
Lunch
~966 cal
- 231g chicken breast
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup cooked broccoli
Dinner
~967 cal
- 287g 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 920 calories, 68g protein, 104g carbs, and 26g fat, which is a third of your 2761 cal daily target.
Three-Egg Veggie Scramble
Balanced breakfast with whole eggs for fat, toast for carbs, lean protein.
Ingredients
- 3 whole eggs
- 272g egg whites
- 208g whole-grain toast (3 slices)
- 8g 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
- 234g deli turkey breast
- 242g whole-grain bread (about 4 slices)
- 173g 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
- 378g cod fillet
- 495g cooked quinoa
- 150g asparagus
- 52g 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 2761 cal precisely.
Plan 3 meals that total 2761 calories
Divide daily calories evenly: roughly 920 cal per meal for a 240 lb man. Each meal targets about 68g protein, 104g carbs, and 26g fat.
Hit 205g protein first
Protein is the lock, carbs and fat are the flex. 205g across 3 meals is 68g 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 78g of your 312g carbs in the meal 1-2 hours pre-workout and 94g 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 240 lb man holding 2761 cal can skip breakfast and eat two larger meals, or spread across 5 smaller ones. What matters is hitting 205g 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 240 lb man, train to preserve or slowly build lean mass. Pre-workout, 78g of your 312g daily carbs 60 to 90 min before lifting supports performance. Post-workout, 94g 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 205g protein target from becoming wasted at 2761 cal. Without resistance training, the body has no reason to preserve the lean mass these macros are built to protect, and your 2759 TDEE will drift down within a year.
Common pitfalls to avoid
At maintenance for a 240 lb man on 2761 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 12 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 240 lb set point. Second pitfall: dropping training once calorie pressure is off. Without progressive resistance training, muscle mass slowly declines, which lowers your 2759 TDEE, which turns 2761 into 2661+ effective cal within a year. Lift 3 times a week minimum at 205g protein daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 205g protein, 77g fat, and 312g 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 2761 calorie target?
Your Sedentary activity level uses a multiplier of 1.2, giving a TDEE of 2759 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 2761 calories?
If your weight trends up or down consistently over 2 weeks at 2761 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 2761 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.
Should I eat more on training days at 2761 calories?
Calorie cycling is not necessary for most people. Consistent daily targets outperform complex cycling protocols. If you want to try it, shift 10-15% of calories from rest days to training days while keeping the weekly total at 19327 calories.
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 1.2x estimate for sedentary 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 240 lbs.
Other Weights and Goals
Same Weight and Goal, Different Activity Levels
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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