Macros for 260 lb Men (Maintenance, Lightly Active)
Reviewed by Andrew Menechian, Head of Fitness at FitCommit
Exact macros for a 260 lb man on a maintenance diet. Calculated from estimated lean mass, Katch-McArdle BMR, and a lightly active TDEE (light exercise 1-3 days per week).
3,381
Calories
Maintenance calories
222g
Protein
888 cal (26%)
369g
Carbs
1476 cal (44%)
113g
Fat
1017 cal (30%)
Eating at TDEE with zero deficit or surplus. These macros maintain your 260 lb body weight while optimizing protein for muscle retention.
How These Macros Were Calculated
| Body Weight | 260 lbs |
|---|---|
| Estimated Lean Mass | 213 lbs (82% of body weight) |
| Lean Mass (kg) | 96.7 kg |
| BMR (Katch-McArdle) | 2,459 cal/day |
| TDEE (BMR x 1.375) | 3,381 cal/day |
| Target Calories | 3,381 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.
Macro Breakdown
| Macro | Grams | Calories | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 222g | 888 | 26% |
| Carbohydrates | 369g | 1476 | 44% |
| Fat | 113g | 1017 | 30% |
| Total | - | 3,381 | 100% |
Protein is set at 2.3g per kg of lean body mass (213 lbs lean mass for this man). 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 calories1,127 cal
- Per-meal protein74g
- Per-meal carbs123g
- Per-meal fat38g
4 Meals Per Day
- Per-meal calories845 cal
- Per-meal protein56g
- Per-meal carbs92g
- Per-meal fat28g
5 Meals Per Day
- Per-meal calories676 cal
- Per-meal protein44g
- Per-meal carbs74g
- Per-meal fat23g
Research shows muscle protein synthesis is maximized with 30-40g protein per meal. 74g per meal in 3 meals is within the optimal range.
What These Macros Look Like in Food
Protein: 222g
- 7 x 100g chicken breast (31g each)
- 37 large eggs (6g each)
- 13 cups whole-milk Greek yogurt (17g each)
- 10 scoops protein powder (22-25g each)
Carbs: 369g
- 8 cups cooked rice (45g each)
- 7 cups dry oats (54g each)
- 14 medium sweet potatoes (26g each)
- 14 medium bananas (27g each)
Fat: 113g
- 8 tbsp olive oil (14g each)
- 8 half avocados (15g each)
- 14 tbsp peanut butter (8g fat each)
- 8 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.
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
What foods hit 222g protein, 113g fat, and 369g carbs?
Protein sources for 222g: roughly 7 x 100g portions of chicken breast (31g protein each), or 37 eggs (6g each), combined with Greek yogurt or protein powder. Fat sources for 113g: about 8 tablespoons of olive oil or peanut butter. Carb sources for 369g: roughly 8 cups of cooked rice (45g each) or 14 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 3381 calorie target?
Your Lightly Active activity level uses a multiplier of 1.375, giving a TDEE of 3381 calories. If you were sedentary (1.2x), your TDEE would be approximately 2951 calories. If you were very active (1.725x), it would be approximately 4242 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 maintaining weight at 3381 calories?
If your weight trends up or down consistently over 2 weeks at 3381 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 3381 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 260 lbs.
Other Weights and Goals
Same Weight and Goal, Different Activity Levels
Sedentary
260 lbs, male, maintenance
Lightly Active
260 lbs, male, maintenance
Moderately Active
260 lbs, male, maintenance
Very Active
260 lbs, male, maintenance
Extra Active
260 lbs, male, maintenance
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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