Is too much protein bad for you?

softballqueen63

It seems like I'm always over on my protein. Can this be slowing down my weight loss?

erickirb

MFP defaults to 15% protein, A balance diet can consist of protein up to 30%, so you can double your protein and still have a balanced diet.

aanaya56

I dont think so... Protein is good to burn up fat and get you lean. I am always over mine and I continue to lose weight.

Goal_Seeker_1988

Protein is really good for you especially if you weight train. However, too much protein your body stores it as fat (I read that in shape magazine) But I wouldn't worry bout it bc chances are if you are within half your weight of protein in grams then it's nothin to worry about. Like I said it's needed for weight trainin. My goal is to consume my weight in protein a day. (Which is okay to do)

melsinct

MFP defaults the protein to be a very low number. However, eating lots of protein daily will make your kidneys and liver work harder, which isn't necessarily a good thing. Everything in moderation!

mamareese

Great question and I appreciate the responses. I've been noticing this on my tracker too. Not wayy over but always some what over so I'm glad to know it's not a terrible thing!

audjrey

The rule of thumb regarding protein is this: If you do a lot of resistance training you need extra protein. If you do a lot of cardio, you need more complex carbs.

According to my weight loss goals, myfitnesspal has pre-determined my protein needs. However, because I lift weights almost every day, quite vigorously, my needs actually exceed MFP by almost double.

As for too much protein slowing down your weight loss, sometimes the opposite is true. Yet most often it's usually a case of consuming too many calories and not burning enough off, but it can also be too many hidden sugars (make sure you add the sugar calculator to your food diary), OR your diet is not 'clean' enough, OR you eat too late at night (you shouldn't eat 3 hours before bed), OR your metabolism is slow, OR you are eating too few calories, OR you are not eating enough fat, OR you are eating too much fat, OR you are eating the same amount of calories each day and doing the same exercises day-after-day and your body has adjusted and so you are not losing (you should try to vary your daily calories and most definitely switch up your exercises each day to confuse your muscles for optimal weight loss).

I'm sure there are other reasons that might contribute but these are the ones that come to my mind. Hope this helps

thkelly

. However, too much protein your body stores it as fat (I read that in shape magazine)

i'd like to see this article because i've never heard this before. i don't believe this for a second

freerange

. However, too much protein your body stores it as fat (I read that in shape magazine)

i'd like to see this article because i've never heard this before. i don't believe this for a second

I theory yes, remember protien has calories, and if you're over your calories because you are eating "too much" protien it could get converted and stored as fat.

erickirb

all calories will be stored as fat if you take in more than you burn off. You would need to be in a caloric surplus though.

ngr1973

Bump

wriglucy

I've posted this article a couple of times, but it's written by a registerd dietitian. It shows how to figure out about how much protein you need on a daily basis, as well as talks about the dangers, and weight loss affect of protein. I know most people on here aren't going excessive on the protein, so some of the info in there doesn't really apply. But...it's good info in terms of protein.

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/wheres-the-beef-wheres-the-health-benefit

Good luck!

LittleBuddy13

I custom my goals on MFP, its 50% protien, 30% carbs and 20% fat...it seems to wok great for me, keeps me full and enrgized, I lift weights and do cardio, from what I know is protien is good for you and help restore your muscle after all those hard workouts. I have this girl at work that helps me out alot with what healthy things I should eat when doing certain exercises her man is a Beach Body coach and they both said this custome % goal was good.

wriglucy

Why does everyone think that when you work out to build muscle, you need more protein?
Here's a quote from Nancy Clark, a RD with a masters in nutrition and specializes in sports nutrition. This is taken from "Sports nutrition guidebook" forth edition from 2008, page 250-251.

"Most people who want to bulk up believe that the best way to gain weight is to lift weights (true) and eat a very high protein diet(false). Although you do wnt to eat adequate protein, your boday doesn't store excess protein as bulging muscles. The pound of steak just doesn't convert into bigger biceps. You need extra calories, and those calories should come primarily from extra carbohydrate rather than extra protein. Carbohydrate fuels your muscles so they can perform intense muscle-building exercise. By overloading the muscle not with protein but with weightlifting and other resistance exercises, the muscle fibers increase insize."

Ok, so I know a lot of people on here are not trying to bulk up a lot, but this is just showing that extra protein doesn't help with developing muscles, whether you want to get toned, or bulk up.

So..take it or leave it. It may not apply to some, so just ignore it then. I just thought I'd share.

freerange

Why does everyone think that when you work out to build muscle, you need more protein?
Here's a quote from Nancy Clark, a RD with a masters in nutrition and specializes in sports nutrition. This is taken from "Sports nutrition guidebook" forth edition from 2008, page 250-251.

"Most people who want to bulk up believe that the best way to gain weight is to lift weights (true) and eat a very high protein diet(false). Although you do wnt to eat adequate protein, your boday doesn't store excess protein as bulging muscles. The pound of steak just doesn't convert into bigger biceps. You need extra calories, and those calories should come primarily from extra carbohydrate rather than extra protein. Carbohydrate fuels your muscles so they can perform intense muscle-building exercise. By overloading the muscle not with protein but with weightlifting and other resistance exercises, the muscle fibers increase insize."

Ok, so I know a lot of people on here are not trying to bulk up a lot, but this is just showing that extra protein doesn't help with developing muscles, whether you want to get toned, or bulk up.

So..take it or leave it. It may not apply to some, so just ignore it then. I just thought I'd share.

True but misleading, you're right "extra" protien does not translate into bigger muscles. But you do have to have adequate protein, which for a bodybuilder is “extra” compared to us “normal” people. Your quote is a bit misleading too. If you read it she said you need carbohydrates to perform work, which is true, but you posted that as proof you don’t need extra protein. Bottom line is, you need protein to build muscle, carbs (alone) won’t do it.

And the argument that people think extra protien get stored as muscle is a straw man argument, no one I know of thinks that way and you can bet your back side no body builder thinks such foolishness.

wriglucy

Why does everyone think that when you work out to build muscle, you need more protein?
Here's a quote from Nancy Clark, a RD with a masters in nutrition and specializes in sports nutrition. This is taken from "Sports nutrition guidebook" forth edition from 2008, page 250-251.

"Most people who want to bulk up believe that the best way to gain weight is to lift weights (true) and eat a very high protein diet(false). Although you do wnt to eat adequate protein, your boday doesn't store excess protein as bulging muscles. The pound of steak just doesn't convert into bigger biceps. You need extra calories, and those calories should come primarily from extra carbohydrate rather than extra protein. Carbohydrate fuels your muscles so they can perform intense muscle-building exercise. By overloading the muscle not with protein but with weightlifting and other resistance exercises, the muscle fibers increase insize."

Ok, so I know a lot of people on here are not trying to bulk up a lot, but this is just showing that extra protein doesn't help with developing muscles, whether you want to get toned, or bulk up.

So..take it or leave it. It may not apply to some, so just ignore it then. I just thought I'd share.

True but misleading, you're right "extra" protien does not translate into bigger muscles. But you do have to have adequate protein, which for a bodybuilder is “extra” compared to us “normal” people. Your quote is a bit misleading too. If you read it she said you need carbohydrates to perform work, which is true, but you posted that as proof you don’t need extra protein. Bottom line is, you need protein to build muscle, carbs (alone) won’t do it.

And the argument that people think extra protien get stored as muscle is a straw man argument, no one I know of thinks that way and you can bet your back side no body builder thinks such foolishness.

I'm just posting what I read. I'm not saying I know all...but this is from a professional. Do you by any chance have a source for your info? I'd love to read it too.
I know people need protein, and it is important. Here is chart from that link I posted earlier with the amount of protein people should get, and the dangers of not getting enough. I am still not buying that you need to up your protein for building muscle. It is important, and people do need to get enough, but until I read an article by a RD, I don't buy that you should up it for weight training. If someone has one..I'll gladly read it, and my opinion can be changed....I'm not stubborn on the issue. I just haven't seen anything.


"How Much Protein Do You Need?
When you don't get enough protein in your diet, all your organs are affected -- from the kidneys to the heart. The immune system also suffers greatly, so you are more likely to get sick and get infections.

So how much protein do you really need?

Protein Recommendations for Men
19-30 years old 0.8 gram per kg per day (about 56 grams per day)
31-50 years old 0.8 gram per kg per day (about 56 grams per day)
51-70 years old 0.8 gram per kg per day (about 56 grams per day)

Protein Recommendations for Women
19-30 years old 0.8 gram per kg per day (about 46 grams per day)
31-50 years old 0.8 gram per kg per day (about 46 grams per day)
51-70 years old 0.8 gram per kg per day (about 46 grams per day)
SOURCE: the Dietary Reference Intakes report by the Institute of Medicine, 2002


NOTE: The popular low-carb, high-protein diets can contain about 145 grams of protein or more."



Wow...sorry for all my typos. I have a fever today and I think a touch of the flu.