It's okay to go over protein, but how much do I need?

TByrd1325

Any information on to figure out how much protein my body needs? I'm over on my protein pretty much everyday, so I'd really like to know where I should be falling.
I've searched the boards a bit, but have just found that it's okay to go over.

Thanks!

alf1163

That can be a little tricky to determine and it is best to leave it to nutrition experts to give you the correct information. Most people would agree that if you do weight trng and your goal is to increase muscle mass you need high protein, for example at least 30% of your total calories. Some programs such as P90X tell people to eat 50% prot the first month. That is a lot!! Others suggest 40%. How much over are eating? How do you feel? Do you have enough energy for your workouts? Are you losing? All those things come into consideration. I went to see a dietitian and he recommended I eat up about 25%. I have been eating about 30%. I am doing P90X but I also run since training for a half marathon in Nov so I need my carbs. You can change your goal settings/percentages in MFP by going to custom. That way you can keep track of it. Good luck! :flowerforyou:

TByrd1325

That can be a little tricky to determine and it is best to leave it to nutrition experts to give you the correct information. Most people would agree that if you do weight trng and your goal is to increase muscle mass you need high protein, for example at least 30% of your total calories. Some programs such as P90X tell people to eat 50% prot the first month. That is a lot!! Others suggest 40%. How much over are eating? How do you feel? Do you have enough energy for your workouts? Are you losing? All those things come into consideration. I went to see a dietitian and he recommended I eat up about 25%. I have been eating about 30%. I am doing P90X but I also run since training for a half marathon in Nov so I need my carbs. You can change your goal settings/percentages in MFP by going to custom. That way you can keep track of it. Good luck! :flowerforyou:

Thanks! I'll put all that into consideration and maybe just try different levels and see what works best.

astridfeline

I have heard it's 0.7-1.0 gram per pound of body weight, depending on whether you are weight training.

metalpalace

Years and years of research has shown that if you train athletically you should be consuming your body weight in kilograms multiplied by 1.2 - 1.7 for grams of protein ever day. That's the window. If you are sedentary or only workout aerobically then your body weight in kg times 0.8.

Azdak

Protein does not "build muscle". Strength training does.

metalpalace

Protein does not "build muscle". Strength training does.

And protein units are the building blocks; insulin providing those building blocks; invoked by both nutrition and work load.

Azdak

Years and years of research has shown that if you train athletically you should be consuming your body weight in kilograms multiplied by 1.2 - 1.7 for grams of protein ever day. That's the window. If you are sedentary or only workout aerobically then your body weight in kg times 0.8.

Your numbers are correct. Just wanted to add that the vast majority of people do not "train athletically" and thus do not need to eat that way. There aren't that many elite athletes out there, so supplement companies (including protein supplements) MUST bamboozle vast numbers of average people into thinking they need to mimic the behavior of elite athletes in order to stay in business.