We are all different and as long as he is making "quality gains" and he is happy with his progress, thats all that matters. Is it optimal? Thats hard to say without working with him. If his goal is to compete and be the best that he can be, I would suggest he pushed himself harder to see what his limits are. 210 lbs is a decent amount of muscle, if he is under 5'8 and lean. 2400 cals is very low for most people, even when dieting down, but it may work for someone with great genetics for bodybuilding. When I say he should push harder if his goal is to compete, I don't mean he should get fat or lose his shape, but he should find out just how much harder he can push the food without getting OVERLY fat. No one who is eating an optimal off season diet will be able to maintain the same level of sharpness, but as I mentioned in another recent conversation, it's all part of the game. If you want to be your best, you have to think of the bigger picture. A lot of guys that want to stay "shredded" year round have let their ego get in the way of making the best gains they can make. The mind set of a competitive bodybuilder is extreme and we are willing to sacrifice looking super hard, for a time, in order to improve our look. If he just wants to look good at the gym, thats another story. Its all about persective and goals.