Protein makes me sleepy?

M______

That's what I suspect at the moment. I've noticed on days when I have consumed more protein I tend to also feel much more lethargic. I'm quite happy with the amount of food I am eating which was the first suggestion from friends, it seems enough and I don't ever go hungry.

I'm hoping to get some suggestions as to what road to take from here. I have a goal which is to primarily lower my body fat % over time whilst also adding some muscle. I'm a little lacking in the scientific side of achieving my goal, I joined the site a month ago practically blind as to what it would take to achieve this goal. I've learned a lot in my time here but this one is a little out of my depth, help! If protein does have a negative effect on me can I still work towards my goal at a decent pace by consuming mainly carbs?

Any chit chat or suggestions about this will be personally thanked by yours truly I should have an open food diary if anyone cares to have a look and tell me I'm doing something odd, wrong or stupid!

Thankies

M______

Bump. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Anybody similar?

JessiBelleW

My Dad says that increasing his protien makes him sleepy too! I find if I eat too many carbs I feel sleepy and tired -> its extra hard to get the motivation to work out when you are already tired!

You can lower your bodyfat without eating tons of protien - you will need to up your fiber and you will still need to eat some protien. You will find it much harder to gain muscle without upping your protien, as I think (don't quote me) your body using protien to help repair and build muscle. I wouldn't just/mainly eat carbs!! Ensure you are eating enough fruits and veggies!

The only suggestion I have that you could try is going back to levels where it doesn't make you sleepy and try adding a little more in each week, ie up the grams of protien each week till you are eating what is recommended for building muscle - this may give your body a chance to adjust to this slowly. <- I don't know if this would work but you could try.

OR you could just make your protien the last thing you eat before bed -> could be a protien heavy dinner, or snack or a protien shake that way if you get sleepy its no big deal as you are about to go to bed and you will still be consuming the protein you need to grow muscle

M______

Thanks so much JessiBelle. Yesterday I had consumed around 160g or protein which really had my body feeling unmotivated. I normally clock in around the 60-90 mark (I weight 185). I should be okay with taking in fiber, I normally get more than the recommended amounts suggested by the site. I'm a fan of green smoothies/salad and always have fruit with my breakfast

I will absolutely try your suggestions! Protein heavy before sleep sounds like it would work a charm for me! Haha. But generally I will have a go at lowering my protein back down and experimenting with slowly consuming a little more. I guess there is a chance that upping it so much so soon is a shock on my body.

Thanks again

Carnivor0us

My understanding is that too much protein in the absence of enough fat or fiber can cause a blood sugar spike. So you could spread your protein out through the day or eat it all at bedtime like someone else suggested.

BarackMeLikeAHurricane

Protein is the most satiating macro. Being too full can make some people sleepy. Therefore, high protein can make some people sleepy.

BeachIron

If you're going for lean, then eat less than what you take in. If you want to maintain muscle mass while you lose weight, then strength train and eat sufficient protein.

I find that I am tired when I don't eat enough carbs. No surprise there really.

krhn

To be honest eating lots of any macro can make a person sleepy, carb is probably the most common one though

rosebarnalice

I heard once that the reason airline food often includes nuts and cheese is that the protein makes the passengers sleepy and easier to handle.

krhn

I heard once that the reason airline food often includes nuts and cheese is that the protein makes the passengers sleepy and easier to handle.

Lol, airline food is nice! 'Waiter, WAITER... Give me my orange juice now!' :laugh:

rachaelbmh

Maybe consider trying different sources of protein? Animal foods can often feel heavy in the body, whereas whole foods - like vegetables, whole grains, beans and nuts/seeds less so. That's been my experience at least.