What calorie:weight ratios do you use to calculate daily caloric totals for bulking and cutting? I just started cutting at 197 (12%) and not sure if i should eat 1800 or more like 2000. Also, what macronutrient breakdowns do you aim for?

i think you could eat more than 2000 calories. you need to focus your macros on cause and effect.

you consume certain macros when you need them.

i'll see if i can make an example.

wake up: carb/protein
meal 2: pro/fat
meal 3 pre workout: small carb/pro meal
pwo shake : carb/pro
pwo meal: carb/pro
last meal: pro/fat

your pwo meal and shake should have a good amount of carbs and protein. your metabolism is reved to the max and is ready to be turned into an anabolic mode.

and of course you make sure your carbs are all low GI with the exception of your PWO shake which should contain dextrose.

your body is more sensative first thing in the morning, so your body will handle carbs very effectivly in the morning. and those carbs will continue to be used up throughout the day. so you may not need to consume as many carb/pro meals.

again, you really only need to consume carbs when you do an activity that requires as such nutrient

Thanks, i pretty much do that already. See the link in my sig :) In the end of the day though, aren't you still supposed to have a certain percent breakdown? More or less anyway, right? Anyway, that doesn't worry me that much - the daily caloric total does. I need to know if i'm eating too much, cuz right now i'm at 2000.