Too much protein?

LosingWeightKate

I feel like I eat a pretty balanced diet, but I'm constantly finding myself over the recommendation for protein on my diary here on MFP. Only by 20 or less, though. But it's always in the negative. It's never sugar, carbs, fat or sodium. ALWAYS protein. I also don't feel like I'm eating a ton of meat or anything. Everything I eat just happens to add a couple points to the protein meter which puts me over by the end of the day.

My question is: is this going to hurt anything weight loss wise in the long run?

victoriannsays

I always use the protein allotment MFP gives me as a minimum to strive for during the day, getting OVER my protein number is my daily goal.

BunnyBabyDoll

Yeah, protein is really good for muscle development :]

mrs_a_parrill

If I'm not mistaken, protein is what fuels your muscles and gives you energy. I wouldn't worry about going over as long as it isn't by much. If you think about it going over by 20 in the protein section is better than going over in any of the others. And as always if you continue to see steady weight loss and muscle gain I wouldn't give it too much thought.

WinwillLose

I'm working the south beach diet, as I don't' seem to burn carbs very well. So my protein is always high, I'd say if that's all your over I would consider the day a win.

DanaDark

15% of calories from protein is recommended by the FDA for the AVERAGE American.

The AVERAGE American is not practicing caloric restriction.
The AVERAGE American is not exercising.

If you do either exercise or caloric restriction or both, your protein needs will be higher than the 15% the FDA recommends (which happens to be what MFP has as goal).

You can change it manually.

LosingWeightKate

Awesome! Thanks guys!

WinwillLose

Thanks DanaDark, have to figure out how to change my goals manually.

UsernameStillLoading

If anything, it might affect the number on your scale by a little bit because it does help fuel your muscles. So as the muscles get stronger, you tend to gain weight (but not body fat). I don't think its really anything to worry about because in the long run; that protein will help you burn off fat.

danielg810

i would take what mfp says and at least double it. My nutrition book says gave me a crazy figure, esp important for cal deficits, but eating protein over other sources wont cause weight gain if allocated from carbs or fat imo, unless its over total cals.

redraidergirl2009

Lots of people don't feel like they're eating "alot of meat", can you list your main protein sources?

bdamaster60

I'm seeing this a lot on MFP where a lot of people are caught up on how much protein you should get per day. What people don't realise is not all protein sources have the same bio-availability, that is how much protein your body can utilise during muscle protein synthesis (MPS), from the protein source. For example you get 45g of protein per 200g Chicken Breast (typically, if your chicken is not on steroids or on a bench press routine haha), Chickens bio-availability index is 80, therefore out of the 45g, 27g will actually be utilised for MPS. All in all you can overshoot your protein count all you want, it's not going to impact you that much. Quality over quantity first.

75in2013

My question is: is this going to hurt anything weight loss wise in the long run?

No.
(If you stay under your calorie goal obv.)

Too much protein won't hurt you. Unless you eat so much that it becomes a health problem. (Don't worry. Not going to happen.)

Don't listen to the people that tell you to eat more protein. It's nonsense.

Good read: "How much Protein" by Brad Pilon