Staying under calorie goal but over on protein

DelilaLightfoot
DelilaLightfoot Posts: 53
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello there. I'm doing well sticking to under my calorie goal - in fact on a few days I have been well under and not hungry and MFP tells me I am at risk of starvation mode which I never thought possible for me :) I have just realised though that I have gone 'over' on my protein intake on most days - will this slow down my weight loss? Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

Replies

  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    I don't even want to guess how that happened. Been on the chit chat boards too much, i guess.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    Going over on protein is fine as MFP often recommends levels that are far too low. Here is a good thread for setting your own macros:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

    And as it states, protein and fat recommendations are MINIMUMS not upper limits.


    As for being way under calories, it's not something I'd want to do very often. Over long periods of time you could end up suppressing your metabolism; you need to fuel your body for the workouts that you do. (If you're not working out, you still need to fuel your basic activity). Some more good reads:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf
  • kljan
    kljan Posts: 15 Member
    I'm curious. What are you eating that contains so much protein ? I have a hard time getting in all the protein (90) at 1200 calories daily. I'd love to find some high-protein, low calorie foods.
  • DelilaLightfoot
    DelilaLightfoot Posts: 53
    Thanks that's really helpful. I did notice when MPF posts the 'starvation mode' message that sometimes it might be a little under their recommended daily intake. Thanks for the link :)
  • DelilaLightfoot
    DelilaLightfoot Posts: 53
    Mainly eggs for lunch and red meat at dinnertime - naughty probably but I'm new to this and have yet to broaden my repertoire :)
  • Lammerchops
    Lammerchops Posts: 68 Member
    I wouldn't consider yourself as having gone over your protein intake because your intake number shows up as read on MFP.

    MFP is an excellent resource for many, many reasons, but when it comes to the recommended protein requirements, I'd ignore it.

    If it's any consolation, I eat at least 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight EVERY DAY, on purpose. So technically, when I look at my protein intake totals on MFP, the number isn't just red, it's got flames coming out of it, and little alarm bells are ringing. And yet, I look at that number with complete satisfaction!

    Protein helps you build lean muscle mass. I haven't analyzed your intake, but generally speaking, women don't eat enough protein. So I say, go forth and prosper and be proud of that number!
  • beertrollruss
    beertrollruss Posts: 276 Member
    Not to be an alarmist, but you may be risking ketosis. Ketosis is an adverse effect of a high protein diet and can lead to kidney failure. I consume a high amount of protein, 160-220 grams per day. I weigh 224 pounds. lift weights 4 days per week and drink lots of water. My protein intake is usually 28-32% of my daily calories. I did some reading on the USADA data for determining the My Plate requirements and 35% of total calories was considered the high upper limit for protein intake.
  • kw0205
    kw0205 Posts: 62
    I find eating protein keeps me full more, so I eat less. I'm doing the egg thing most mornings too (and on 1200/day). Most lunches are leftovers (think chicken breast and a small salad, or maybe even a shrimp stir fry with brown rice (but not a lot of rice), etc.). No bread. If I need a snack I do eat fruit. The Atkins protein shake is a tasty treat too (but I am trying to stay away from "fake" food, and it does have questionable ingredients). good luck!!
  • DelilaLightfoot
    DelilaLightfoot Posts: 53
    Thanks for that Lammerchops - that's good to know :) I will go forth.
  • DelilaLightfoot
    DelilaLightfoot Posts: 53
    Beertrollruss - thanks for feedback. Hopefully my protein levels aren't critically high. I will try and find some better recipes to mix it up a little. At the moment I'm trying to eat within our normal family dinners but it might prove a little difficult.
  • DelilaLightfoot
    DelilaLightfoot Posts: 53
    Thanks KW205 - eggs are so handy!! I love cooking - which probably got me in to this mess in the first place - so I like to stay away from "fake" and processed stuff too. Thanks for the lunch tips.

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