Protein limit!!

iambabygoose

I do not physically understand how someone can keep within a protein limit of 45g PER DAY without physically staring themselves. this just doesn't make sense to me! I've been on here since Saturday and not once have I managed to keep within this limit! Am I doing this all wrong??! I'm confused and hungry!

jules1202

Why are you limiting your protein?

Is it because of the standard settings on your daily tracking? You can adjust those in your goals if you want to. I have mine set to 40% carbs, 30% protien, and 30% fat.

yarwell

your diary is closed so we can only guess.

If you're hitting the calories and exceeding the protein try some fattier food types to get the cals without the protein. Not that there's a special need to limit protein to 45g.

Chicken, for example, is high protein low fat zero carb so a chicken sandwich (with carbs from the bread) would fit closer than just skinless chicken. A burger in a bun may be closer still.

treetop57

People will give you all sort of opinions about protein intake. Many people recommend 1 g per pound of lean body mass, which is going to a lot higher than 45 g for the vast majority of adults. I'm not sure where MFP gets the 15% of calories from protein guideline from. I usually get a higher percentage than that, up to about 25% of calories.

treetop57

This article says protein greater than about 30% of calories can be detrimental ( http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50900 ).

. . . a diet in which protein makes up more than 30% of your caloric intake causes a buildup of toxic ketones. So-called ketogenic diets can thrust your kidneys into overdrive in order to flush these ketones from your body. As your kidneys rid your body of these toxic ketones, you can lose a significant amount of water, which puts you at risk of dehydration, particularly if you exercise heavily.

That water loss often shows up on the scale as weight loss. But along with losing water, you lose muscle mass and bone calcium. The dehydration also strains your kidneys and puts stress on your heart.

And dehydration from a ketogenic diet can make you feel weak and dizzy, give you bad breath, or lead to other problems.

It also gives the source of MFP's 15% recommendation:

Protein should also make up approximately 15% of your total daily caloric intake, also according to the RDA. In a diet of 1,800 calories a day, for example, about 270 of those calories should come from protein.

I'm sure a lot of low-carb advocates will argue with all this!

erickirb

Protein should also make up approximately 15% of your total daily caloric intake, also according to the RDA. In a diet of 1,800 calories a day, for example, about 270 of those calories should come from protein.

I'm sure a lot of low-carb advocates will argue with all this!

15% is fine for someone sedentary but if you workout you need more as protein helps rebuild and repair muscle tissue.

OP, If you don't know where your protein should be, use the MFP amount as a minimum not a max or target.

yarwell

I'm sure a lot of low-carb advocates will argue with all this!

They would be OK with 15-30% of calories from protein I think. >60% from fat.

whiskeysister510

I look at these as goals rather than limits. If you exceed some or all of those goals while remaining at your calorie goal (again, not limit), then great! Macronutrients are GOOD, not bad! Also, while I try to meet my goals, I don't stress out about eating perfect ratios each and every day-- that's just way too high maintenance!

Relax, have fun, and good luck to you!

treetop57

Part of the problem is that MFP doesn't treat different recommended daily allowances differently. In some cases, the RDA means "we recommend you do not go over." (Sodium for example.) Sometimes RDA means "we recommend you do not go under." (Water soluble vitamins for example.) But they all turn from green to red at the RDA on MFP.

atjays

This article says protein greater than about 30% of calories can be detrimental ( http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50900 ).

This is all in regards to a low/zero carb diet. Those of us lifting and working out will require more than 30% to maintain muscles and rebuild them. It's keeping your diet balanced and healthy that's the goal. There's always downsides to eating far too much of one macro nutrient (fat, carbs or protein) .

iambabygoose

Thank you so much guys! I'm new to all of this so will defo have to check out my goals and adjust them. Silly me.

twinmom01

I eat at least 75 grams of protien a day and usually upwards of 100 g of protien a day...I went in and manually adjusted my % because I am aiming for about 85 grams of carbs a day or less...

No problems at all...(in fact I just had blood work done and everything is hunky dory) - but I lift heavy 2-3x's a week and do kickboxing 1-2X's a week...so my muscles are in a constant state of breakdown and repair so I need the protien in my diet...

jessicawrites

I'm not particularly concerned about the macros right now. I do my best to keep to the calorie guidelines, but choose foods I think are healthy (as well as a treat or two) and trust that the content balances out. The exception for me is calcium, because I sometimes have a hard time getting enough.

FitLink

I do not physically understand how someone can keep within a protein limit of 45g PER DAY without physically staring themselves. this just doesn't make sense to me! I've been on here since Saturday and not once have I managed to keep within this limit! Am I doing this all wrong??! I'm confused and hungry!

45g in how many calories and what percentage protein are you using?

treetop57

45g of protein is 180 calories, which is 15% of 1200 calories.