How many calories per day?

[dfauteux]

I weigh about 188lbs right now and am about 5 foot 11 inches tall. I have recently bought a program to track my diet after all the reading about how important it is to grow.

I was wondering how many calories I should be eating in a day? The program I bought says 3100 calories to gain 0.5 lbs of bodyweight a week. Should I be aiming for more of a gain? Are the number of calories right? I am looking to bulk up over the winter and then cut in the spring.


Any advice would be appreciated,
Thanks in advance!

 

[overthepond]

People vary so much it is impossible to say "you need x-amount of calories." Start by eating how you are now, keep track of those calories. Have you just recently started lifting? If so keep your current diet for about two weeks and see if you gain anything. If you feel you aren't growing enough up the calories slowly, 200-500 a week until desired amount of weight is obtained.

Keep in mind that just because you are gaining weight doesn't mean it is muscle. About .5 pounds a week is a good number.