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How many calories should a 35-year-old female (lightly active) eat to gain muscle?

Answer
2,192 calories/day
BMR: 1,376 cal/dayTDEE (Lightly Active): 1,892 cal/dayGoal: Gain Muscle — TDEE + 300 cal surplus for lean muscle gainBased on 5'5", 150 lbs

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How We Calculated This

BMR = (10 × weight_kg) + (6.25 × height_cm) - (5 × age) - 161

BMR = (10 × 68.0) + (6.25 × 165.1) - (5 × 35) - 161 = 1376. TDEE = 1376 × 1.375 = 1892. Target = 1892 + 300 = 2192

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Calculated using verified formulas. Last updated March 2026.