How much protein per day????

LaLaMicha

Is it true that we are supposed to be eating 1 gram of protein per lb of body weight per day? If so, why does MFP have my grams set at 58 per day??? How do I change this? And is that the right thing to do?

UponThisRock

This is one of the things MFP is wrong about. MFP forces you to set your macronutrients by percentages. I just ignore the preset limits, I know the numbers I want to hit in my head.

Tarah1218

This is one of the things MFP is wrong about. MFP forces you to set your macronutrients by percentages. I just ignore the preset limits, I know the numbers I want to hit in my head.

Same here, just ignore and do my thing. I know what my goals are and ignore MFP. What kind of exercising do you do? How much protien you need is subjective to your goals and what you do for activity. I tell most "normal" people to try to hit .8g per pd on workout days, .6 per pd on non-workout days. But most people I have come across don't eat much protien in the first place. If you are lifting weights and either dieting or building I would reccomend 1.5g per pd....when maintaining 1g per pd. But that is always what I was taught and what I have stuck with..... I know that the reccomended I have seen in countless places lately is 1g per pd of lean body mass, not weight. There is really no set right amount of protien for each person. If you get body comps you can play with it and see what works for you to build, maintain, and lose muscle. My minimum is 1g per pound of lean mass, anything less and i lose muscle while dieting.

Shredded2011

My trainers book goes into that its a bl**dy nightmare!

stylistchik

I thought it was 1 gram per kg of body weight which makes it much less...

Larius

1g/lb/day for building muscle works for me. It works out to about 35% of daily Calories. If muscle building is not your goal, 15% (MFP default) is probably adequate to prevent muscle loss during fat loss.

Warning: excess protein can be a problem for those with liver or kidney disease.

LeanMeanFitnessMachine

I thought it was 1 gram per kg of body weight which makes it much less...

Its 1g of protien per pound of LEAN body mass. Not body weight.

jenniet04

I try to aim for at least 120g of protein each day. I changed my MFP settings to 40/30/30 for carb/protein/fat. You can change them by going to the Goals page, click change goals and then customize. This new setting puts me around 130-150 grams of protein each day depending on my exercise levels.

taem

Can we agree that as babies, we need protein the most? The protein in mother's milk is about 5%. If you are planning on being a body builder, then you need more than most. If you want to be "normal," eating natural foods like potatoes will have enough protein.

Jorra

The US Government recommends about 50% of the typical diet to come from carbs, leaving the rest for fat and protein. That's why it's the default setting. You can change it though, most people do. Right now I'm at 30/35/35 C/F/P.

ElizabethRoad

Can we agree that as babies, we need protein the most? The protein in mother's milk is about 5%. If you are planning on being a body builder, then you need more than most. If you want to be "normal," eating natural foods like potatoes will have enough protein.

So you're recommending that as adults, we need less than 5% protein? No, I don't think we can agree to that.

Jorra

Can we agree that as babies, we need protein the most? The protein in mother's milk is about 5%. If you are planning on being a body builder, then you need more than most. If you want to be "normal," eating natural foods like potatoes will have enough protein.

Babies need more protein because they need a positive nitrogen balance. The rest of us need protein for the raw materials - amino acids.

And protein from potatoes? I realize that potatoes have a small amount of protein, but that's hardly the best example.

UponThisRock

Same here, just ignore and do my thing. I know what my goals are and ignore MFP. What kind of exercising do you do?

Lift weights for about 90 minutes 4x per week. I don't do any cardio

chubiD

It really depends on every person, the kind of activity you do and what your goals are. I keep my protein intake around 0.7 g per pound of lean body mass, and it's working nicely.

You can change your % in the "goals" section; go to "custom"

Tarah1218

My training book says you need this much:

Sedentary Adult: .36g per pd
Adult recreational exerciser: .95 per pd
Adult Competitive Athlete: 1.4g per pd
Adult Muscle Mass Building: 2g per pd
Dieting Athlete 1g per pd
Growing Teen Athlete: 1g per pd

Hope it helps a bit.

karinefitness

I get anywhere between 115g - 170g of protein daily, which is 1g or 1.5 x my total body weight since I don't know my current fat %, so I can't calculate my lean body mass. I only have access to a very unreliable scale.

I'm trying to gain, though.

BobbyClerici

No, some say 1 gm per pound of lean body mass - yada yada yada...
It all depends on your goals.

I am on a very high protein diet; my goals are fat loss, weight loss and muscle retention.
MFP settings are based on traditional attitudes toward macro-nutrition, and people need to stick to that barring any valid, educated decision to changes the recommended macro balance.

Much of what we experiment with is pure junk science where some is more objective.
Study up and go for it.

I know my diet is working wonders - exceeding all expectations.
I've lost 4% body fat in 3 weeks - 2 inches off my waist but only 4 lbs.

That works for me!

Silverkittycat

I thought it was 1 gram per kg of body weight which makes it much less...

Yes, I usually see the amounts given in kg, not pounds. Who knows...

Amerka

I was told by my Nutritionist that I should get 80 grams of protein a day. More once I start excerising on a reqular basis. It also depends on weather your body is getting 100% of the protein you consume. I drink protien shakes called Bariatric Advantage (No I have not had the surgery) because of the Whey Protien Isolate (not concentrate) and the way it is formulated. My body is absorbing 100% of the protein. She also told me studies showed that people do better throughout the day when they consumed 30 grams of protein at breakfast. To be safe I suggest you consult a Nutritionist. Most health insurance policies will cover the appointment minus a co-pay. This way they can meet you, get a better idea of your activities and what your body needs as opposed to a bunch of hear-say. No Offence intended to ANYONE!!

taem

Can we agree that as babies, we need protein the most? The protein in mother's milk is about 5%. If you are planning on being a body builder, then you need more than most. If you want to be "normal," eating natural foods like potatoes will have enough protein.

So you're recommending that as adults, we need less than 5% protein? No, I don't think we can agree to that.

I am saying that we don't need more than 5%, unless you are body building or if you have other special reasons. And we don't have to agree!

beckystahnke

I just posted this on another thread:

This is a plan a dietician recommended for me.

1200-1500 calorie range for weight loss
60 grams protein
50-150 grams carbs
50 grams fat
25-30 grams fiber

If you're trying to build muscle, up your protein to 50% of your daily intake and reduce either fat or carbs. You'll have to compensate somewhat, since protein is 4 calories per gram, carbohydrates are 4 calories per gram, and fat is 9 calories per gram.

You don't need a gram of protein per pound of body weight. Just do what feels best. I personally feel better when I eat meat and vegetables, but that can be a little boring.

CMmrsfloyd

Can we agree that as babies, we need protein the most? The protein in mother's milk is about 5%. If you are planning on being a body builder, then you need more than most. If you want to be "normal," eating natural foods like potatoes will have enough protein.

So you're recommending that as adults, we need less than 5% protein? No, I don't think we can agree to that.

I am saying that we don't need more than 5%, unless you are body building or if you have other special reasons.

Babies that are exclusively breastfed also take in an average of 500 calories per day, I think we can agree that an adult human body needs significantly more than that for sustained health whether they are bodybuilding or not. And babies are not, you know, propelling their bodies around all day long. The wriggle and roll over at best.

taem

Can we agree that as babies, we need protein the most? The protein in mother's milk is about 5%. If you are planning on being a body builder, then you need more than most. If you want to be "normal," eating natural foods like potatoes will have enough protein.

So you're recommending that as adults, we need less than 5% protein? No, I don't think we can agree to that.

I am saying that we don't need more than 5%, unless you are body building or if you have other special reasons.

Babies that are exclusively breastfed also take in an average of 500 calories per day, I think we can agree that an adult human body needs significantly more than that for sustained health whether they are bodybuilding or not. And babies are not, you know, propelling their bodies around all day long. The wriggle and roll over at best.

I don't know any of my friends who propel their bodies all day long. I mention babies as an example because they need protein for a growing body, the most important period of our lives. As adults, our protein requirements vary, this is why I said "normal." Normally, I don't want to gain muscle mass to be a body builder, but I know a lot here do body build, they have their own requirements. Some adults just want to do cardio and not lose muscle, the OP didn't mention her requirements. So, depending on where you are coming from, you are going to state your own protein requirements. So the wriggle and roll example is not completely accurate as you don't mention their other requirement, which is to grow to become children then to adults.

CMmrsfloyd

Can we agree that as babies, we need protein the most? The protein in mother's milk is about 5%. If you are planning on being a body builder, then you need more than most. If you want to be "normal," eating natural foods like potatoes will have enough protein.

So you're recommending that as adults, we need less than 5% protein? No, I don't think we can agree to that.

I am saying that we don't need more than 5%, unless you are body building or if you have other special reasons.

Babies that are exclusively breastfed also take in an average of 500 calories per day, I think we can agree that an adult human body needs significantly more than that for sustained health whether they are bodybuilding or not. And babies are not, you know, propelling their bodies around all day long. The wriggle and roll over at best.

I don't know any of my friends who propel their bodies all day long. I mention babies as an example because they need protein for a growing body, the most important period of our lives. As adults, our protein requirements vary, this is why I said "normal." Normally, I don't want to gain muscle mass to be a body builder, but I know a lot here do body build, they have their own requirements. Some adults just want want cardio and not lose muscle, the OP didn't mention her requirements. So, depending on where you are coming from, you are going to state your own protein requirements. So the wriggle and roll example is not completely accurate as you don't mention their other requirement, which is to grow to become children then to adults.

Your friends don't walk in order to get from place to place? Even a person in a wheel chair who can't walk generally uses their arm muscles to propel the chair forward. I'm just saying you can't compare a baby's needs to an adult who's body does much more physical work in a standard day, not even accounting for added exercise.

erickirb

1g/lb/day for building muscle works for me. It works out to about 35% of daily Calories. If muscle building is not your goal, 15% (MFP default) is probably adequate to prevent muscle loss during fat loss.

Warning: excess protein can be a problem for those with liver or kidney disease.

I would suggest a minimum of 20-30% for retaining muscle as you lose weight as a minimum, as 20-25% of your reduced calorie diet would be close to 15% of maintenance calorie protein. And 1 gram/lb of lean mass is what is normally suggested, but 0.8 to 1.0 is more than enough when bulking.

In contrast to the responder, I would say it is actually more important to get more protein when cutting weight in order to retain muscle mass, as a % of total calories, then it is when bulking.

Justjoshin

I weigh 190 (10% BF) and I aim for 1.5 -1.75 grams per lb of lean bodymass per day.
Granted, I am also insane.

TrainingWithTonya

Okay, based on both of my nutrition certifications and all of the classes I've taken for my nutrition minor in college (which was basically the RD program without the internship to get the RD), protein requirements are set in grams per kilogram of body weight, not pounds. Anywhere you see pounds, it has been converted from what the research has shown and may or may not be an accurate conversion. For example, the standard recommendation is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. If you divide 0.8 by the conversion factor of 2.2046 to get pounds, you get the 0.36 grams per pound recommended above. But if you divide the 2 grams per kilogram of body weight for body builders or extreme endurance athletes by the 2.2046 conversion factor, then you get 0.9 grams per pound, not the 1 gram per pound popularly quoted. In fact, if you carry it out even further, and divide the 2.4 grams per kilogram that has been shown to damage the kidneys of some study participants by the 2.2046 conversion factor, then you get 1.09 grams per pound. Since that is a max limit, I would worry about someone trying to hit 1 gram per pound of body weight because they are potentially risking their kidneys if they are prone to kidney issues. So, stick with the standard recommendation of 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight unless you are an athlete (standard exercise programs don't qualify) or suffer from a disease that causes you to need to increase (IE: Cancer) or decrease (IE: Kidney issues, including stones) your protein intake.

JDMPWR

1.1.5grams per lb on average. I recommend 1 gram per lb for the standard. If you are trying to build some good mass I say 1.5 or more.

taem

Can we agree that as babies, we need protein the most? The protein in mother's milk is about 5%. If you are planning on being a body builder, then you need more than most. If you want to be "normal," eating natural foods like potatoes will have enough protein.

So you're recommending that as adults, we need less than 5% protein? No, I don't think we can agree to that.

I am saying that we don't need more than 5%, unless you are body building or if you have other special reasons.

Babies that are exclusively breastfed also take in an average of 500 calories per day, I think we can agree that an adult human body needs significantly more than that for sustained health whether they are bodybuilding or not. And babies are not, you know, propelling their bodies around all day long. The wriggle and roll over at best.

I don't know any of my friends who propel their bodies all day long. I mention babies as an example because they need protein for a growing body, the most important period of our lives. As adults, our protein requirements vary, this is why I said "normal." Normally, I don't want to gain muscle mass to be a body builder, but I know a lot here do body build, they have their own requirements. Some adults just want want cardio and not lose muscle, the OP didn't mention her requirements. So, depending on where you are coming from, you are going to state your own protein requirements. So the wriggle and roll example is not completely accurate as you don't mention their other requirement, which is to grow to become children then to adults.

Your friends don't walk in order to get from place to place? Even a person in a wheel chair who can't walk generally uses their arm muscles to propel the chair forward. I'm just saying you can't compare a baby's needs to an adult who's body does much more physical work in a standard day, not even accounting for added exercise.

As adults, we typically don't need to gain muscle. Again, I qualify this statement as there are others who want to be body builders or those that need muscle for special reasons, as you mentioned a handicapped person who needs to grow their arm muscle to get around with a wheel chair.

As adults, we have our muscles already in place. As babies, we need protein so that we can start forming our body. What is the purpose of protein? To build muscle, or to grow muscle or to maintain the muscles we already have.

Depending on your individual need, mine is to maintain my muscle, I don't need a lot of protein. You might have a different requirement, my original point is that you don't need a ton of protein, unless you have a special reason.

If you want to consume protein in excess of 15% or more, that's really up to you.

As for walking here and there, that is categorized as muscle maintenance (in my opinion). We don't need to consume a lot of protein, again, to maintain muscle to walk from here to there as this does not imply muscle building.

erickirb

Can we agree that as babies, we need protein the most? The protein in mother's milk is about 5%. If you are planning on being a body builder, then you need more than most. If you want to be "normal," eating natural foods like potatoes will have enough protein.

So you're recommending that as adults, we need less than 5% protein? No, I don't think we can agree to that.

I am saying that we don't need more than 5%, unless you are body building or if you have other special reasons. And we don't have to agree!

A balanced diet consists of protein from 10-30%, you should not go under 10% or you will risk losing lean muscle, even if not in a caloric deficit. 5% would not be enough to feed existing muscle.

taem

Can we agree that as babies, we need protein the most? The protein in mother's milk is about 5%. If you are planning on being a body builder, then you need more than most. If you want to be "normal," eating natural foods like potatoes will have enough protein.

So you're recommending that as adults, we need less than 5% protein? No, I don't think we can agree to that.

I am saying that we don't need more than 5%, unless you are body building or if you have other special reasons. And we don't have to agree!

A balanced diet consists of protein from 10-30%, you should not go under 10% or you will risk losing lean muscle, even if not in a caloric deficit. 5% would not be enough to feed existing muscle.

I ask you watch a video by Dr. John McDougall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-gQqKzs5Vw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPD-7Wvi1OM&feature=related

He does mention what you say, but 30% is really the upper limit.

Thanks.