It depends on your activity level. If you are only lifting you could consider a low carb diet. But to keep energy levels up you should try a balanced diet. Weight? height? BF%? Without these there is no definate answer as to how many cals you should eat a day. If you post your weight, height, and waist measurment I will give you a balanced ratio of carbs, protein, fat and cals that you should eat to drop the gut.

i am 6" 220 w/ a 36in waist. i dont know my bodyfat but i am guessing around 25-28%.

Start eating 5- 6 times per day in small meals. To gauge your proportion sizes use your hand.
Protein servind/meal= size of the palm of your hand
Carb serving/meal= size of entire hand
Fat serving/meal= sparingly approx the size of the tip of your thumb
Try to eat less processed carbs and more complex, whole grain carbs. Try to avoid carbs toward the evenings.

here are a list of foods to help out on this diet
proteins- fish, eggs, turkey, chicken, lean beef
carbs-oatmeal, rice, potatoes
free foods-green beans, broccolli, onion, mushrooms, lettuce, asparagus, bell peppers
fats-olive oil, flax oil
***sugar is your enemy
*** 1 gallon of water a day
-cardio-3 times a week for 20 min. to start plus your workouts.
^if you want something more concrete just ask!!

well here is a few things i have been eating the last 2 weeks and ome stuff i got in the firdge.

2 cartons eggs
2 large packs chicken breasts
6 cans chicken salad
3 cans tuna salad
2 large bags apples
large back oranges
1 loaf wheat bread
1 load white bread
4 1lb packages lean ground beef
1 large package brocolli
1 large package cauliflour
2 large cans quaker oats

have some other stuff but it is all similar to this. i have no problem eating 6 meals a day i just have a problem with the size but thats all in my head. if i eat a little something when i am hungry it usually just makes me hungrier. ohh well guess i will have to get used to it.