Question about Protein

Cambury108
Cambury108 Posts: 13
in Food and Nutrition
I have my thing set up by the MFP guidelines and it says I should eat 83 protein a day.....But each day I go over by a lot. Like today I went over by 48 yesterday I went over by around 30. I am eating cottage cheese,chicken and things like that so my question is. Is to much protein harmful?? Will it effect my weight loss in a negative way? Thank you for your answers!!!!

Replies

  • danacamara
    danacamara Posts: 3
    I also have this question... Other sources say I should be eating near my body weight per gram to preserve lean muscle.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    Going over in protein is fine. I average 100 grams a day.
  • AlphamaleBAMF
    AlphamaleBAMF Posts: 373 Member
    The way MFP handles protein is probably the biggest flaw on this site. They need to change it.
  • HurricaneElaine
    HurricaneElaine Posts: 984 Member
    I go over on protein a lot also - I don't think it's too bad. What you need to watch more closely (IMO) is the fat content of your protein. Lean meat like turkey, chicken and non-oily fish.
  • runfreddyrun
    runfreddyrun Posts: 137 Member
    typically you should eat about .8 - 1 gram of protein per pound of lean body mass - especially if you are lifting weights. i've read that it's not particularly harmful if you go over that amount, your body will eliminate the excess. i have read that it can be harmful to your liver (or is it kidneys) to eat alot of protein, but as long as you stay under 1 gram of protein per pound of weight (would be max i would think) i think you'll be fine.

    also - you can change your macros in the settings. my default MFP sets it at 15% which is on the low side, especially if you are lifting weights. I have mine set to 35% but i typically get around 30-35%. every once in a while a little above that but i don't sweat it.
  • McBully4
    McBully4 Posts: 1,270 Member
    Going over in protein is fine. I average 100 grams a day.

    Yep. I average 200 so eat up
  • ScottCadi
    ScottCadi Posts: 56
    proteins are WAY better than carbs. You have to eat a few hundred grams of protein a day to do even mild damage....
  • Brodieno
    Brodieno Posts: 11
    Proteins and carbs have 4 calories per gram and fat has 9 calories per gram. Eat too much of anything and you will gain. Anything I have read or been told is that you need a minimum of 60 to 80 grams of protein per day during weight loss to maintain your muscle mass. The more active you are in terms of working out, the more protein is required.

    People doing more strenuous activities such as strength or weight training require more to build and repair muscle which is proteins first role. In that case a person needs 1.6 to 1.8 grams per kilogram of body weight or 0.7 to 0.8 gram per pound. So a 200 lb person would need 140 to 160 grams per day. However, many weight lifters say a gram per pound is the requisite amount.

    I have only heard of protein being a health risk is where a pre existing kidney problem exists. However you should be aware that the body can only absorb so much protein at one time so try and spread it out during the day to maximize the benefit.
  • Cambury108
    Cambury108 Posts: 13
    Thank you all for the info I feel much better now seeing my protein be in the "red". I do get it from healthy food options :) I am not lifting weights but I still weigh quite a bit and I work a job where I stand all day and move move move and then I workout 5 days a week so I feel like protein is a must. I did think the way MFP had it set up that it was to low but was not sure, After your answers I now feel rest assured that I can eat the proteins and be A OK!!

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