Is it that bad to go over on protien?

NikkiL0v3L1f3

MFP set my stuff, and im just curious if its bad to go over on protien than what it tells me?

tonynguyen75

Change your goals to increase your protein. The set macros that MFP has are extremely outdated. Alternatively, you can just leave it and not worry about going over your protein as long as your caloric intake is below your goal.

drenergy

I constantly go over for protein. Everything I've read says that if you're working out, you're probably not getting too much. As long as your not some crazy person downing protein shakes 24/7, I don't think you can get too much just from food.

MFP is weird like that where it does the whole red/green system. It's like, I *need* protein to build muscle, so wouldn't it make more sense for that to be red until you HIT the minimum? But I never changed mine and I just ignore the red color.

bmskid

If you want to change your macro nutrient percentages, click "Goals" then "Change Goals" then "custom" then change the percentages (a very common and well balanced one is 40% carbs, 30% fat, 30% protein). They set the protein at 15% I think, which is super low.

padams2359

My boss is been into fitness since I have known him, 20 years. I specifically called him about this when I started the program because I was always over. He told me, don't worry about proteins going over. Your body needs them, but does not store them. As long as you are drinking lots of water, as we all should, the excess gets flushed out. If you are exercising, or increasing your exercise regimen, you may need more proteins, so put them in. The extra will work their way out.

Ready2Rock206

Protein & Fiber should be considered a minimum if you are using MFPs #s

lynn_glenmont

My boss is been into fitness since I have known him, 20 years. I specifically called him about this when I started the program because I was always over. He told me, don't worry about proteins going over. Your body needs them, but does not store them. As long as you are drinking lots of water, as we all should, the excess gets flushed out. If you are exercising, or increasing your exercise regimen, you may need more proteins, so put them in. The extra will work their way out.

Perhaps you misunderstood him, or I'm misunderstanding you, but this is essentially saying that you can consume thousands of calories above your goal every day, and as long as the excess is all protein, you won't gain weight?
Your body is not going to "flush out" excess protein. It will break it down into amino acids, and what it doesn't need immediately it stores for future use, such as repairing muscle, manufacturing new blood cells, etc., or for converting to energy as needed.
That said, the MFP percentage for protein seems to be pretty minimal, and I haven't heard any good reason you can't "steal" calories/grams from your carb allotment if you want to have some more protein. At some point you might increase your risk of kidney stones.
This National Academies Press reference work (http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10490&page=589 & http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10490&page=769) on dietary reference intakes for macronutrients suggests that 10% to 35% of calories from protein are "acceptable" for adults (you can change you percentage goals by clicking on "My Home," then "Goals," then "Edit Goals").

padams2359

You may have misunderstood. I did not say I went over my calories. I said I was going over my proteins. My father has kidney issues, and is check frequently for his protein levels. I wanted an explanation from someone I figured would know, and it was explained easily. So many things we use here are percentages of percentages. When you first join, you are trying to do everything you can to get things right. I was trying to give a simple answer to a simple question.

Google is about as helpful as weighing yourself with rocks in your pockets. There are pros and cons to everything.