1g of protein per 1 lb of body weight?

I'm trying to lose my last 10 pounds and I'm trying to up my protein intake. I've read to eat 1g of protein for every pound of body weight. I'm 120 pounds so that seems like a lot of protein to me. The closest I've been able to get to 120g of protein is a little over 90g. I've found it really difficult to even get to 90g and have had to use protein powder and homemade protein bars to help me. Problem is that I get full so quickly consuming that much protein and then am not hungry later. I also am not a huge meat eater so I try to get as much protein as I can from other foods.

Does anyone have any advice as to how I can get to 120g of protein in a day?
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Replies

  • itsmle1
    itsmle1 Posts: 3
    Unless you're doing some serious body building, 1gm per 1lb is a LOT. I actually think the correct calculation is 1gm per 1kg.

    Hope that helps!
  • nf1982
    nf1982 Posts: 38 Member
    I think its actually 1g of protein for 1 lb of lean mass.
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    When doing strength/resistance training, the general rule of thumb is 1g per each pound of LBM (lean body mass).

    So if you know (or can estimate using one of the many calculators on the internet) your bodyfat percentage, you can easily figure out your lean body mass.

    If you're not doing strength/resistance training, 1g per kg may be enough, or may not, depending on how active you are.

    Even if you're not exceptionally active, unless you have kidney issues 1g per lb of bodyweight isn't too much, and the additional protein has more satiety than carbohydrate, thus keeping you full longer and ultimately many people eat fewer calories.
  • djames92
    djames92 Posts: 990 Member
    depends on your goals but if you lift. (which you should in my opinion) then you need more protein but even if you dont 1 gram per 1 lb of lean body mass isnt to much so why not do it anyway
  • itsmle1
    itsmle1 Posts: 3
    The RDA for women is 0.8gm per kg.
    That obviously doesn't account for weight lifting or strength training.
  • dixiewhiskey
    dixiewhiskey Posts: 3,333 Member
    Unless you're doing some serious body building, 1gm per 1lb is a LOT. I actually think the correct calculation is 1gm per 1kg.

    Hope that helps!
  • rtrcarrie
    rtrcarrie Posts: 50 Member
    THANK YOU! This is VERY helpful. I'm on my last 20#'s and it's harder and harder to loose. I'm gonna try this approach.
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    The RDA for women is 0.8gm per kg.
    That obviously doesn't account for weight lifting or strength training.
    That's at minimum, and very low. The CDC mentions a figure of 10-35% of calories, and studies suggest more protein than RDA = improved weight loss:

    Check out this review : "Protein Quantity and Quality at Levels above the RDA Improves Adult Weight Loss"
    http://www.jacn.org/content/23/suppl_6/631S.full.pdf
  • toddis
    toddis Posts: 941 Member
    Greek yogurt is a great source of protein IMO. I mix plain greek yogurt with vanilla protein powder=win.

    Nuts, beans, and dairy.
  • PixieChick24
    PixieChick24 Posts: 36 Member
    I switch off and do cardio one day and strength training the next. I don't lift super heavy weights though due to back problems I have but am currently in the process of strengthening my back. I use 30-35 lbs for exercises using a machine. For my arms I use 5-8 lb free weights. So I do strength training 3-4 days a week. Should I only increase my protein on strength days?
  • gerard54
    gerard54 Posts: 1,107 Member
    Unless you're doing some serious body building, 1gm per 1lb is a LOT. I actually think the correct calculation is 1gm per 1kg.

    Hope that helps!

    Yup...
  • recesq
    recesq Posts: 154 Member
    It's NOT per kg.
    One of the replies above was correct.
    It's roughly 1 gram per LEAN BODY WEIGHT.
    If you weigh 100 lbs and you have a BMI of 25%, that means you are 75% lean.
    And in this case you would have 75 pounds of lean body mass.
    Which would mean you should have roughly 75 grams of protein a day.
    If you are sedentary, it should be closer to .7 grams.
    IF you are active, it should be closer to 1.1 grams per pound of lean body mass.
    To help you with the protein, did you know egg whites are 100% protein?
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    I switch off and do cardio one day and strength training the next. I don't lift super heavy weights though due to back problems I have but am currently in the process of strengthening my back. I use 30-35 lbs for exercises using a machine. For my arms I use 5-8 lb free weights. So I do strength training 3-4 days a week. Should I only increase my protein on strength days?
    The process of muscle tissue repair takes several days. If you're doing regular strength training 3x a week you should try for a consistent amount of protein daily (and a decent sleep) to ensure that repair process functions properly.
  • Warchortle
    Warchortle Posts: 2,197 Member
    .6-1g per LBM
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    For info about your macros (proteins/fats/carbs) - check out this link. It will give you the formula to figure out your #s and also how to custom change them in MFP:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets
  • PixieChick24
    PixieChick24 Posts: 36 Member
    Thanks everyone! You all were a big help! :happy:
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    I'm trying to lose my last 10 pounds and I'm trying to up my protein intake. I've read to eat 1g of protein for every pound of body weight. I'm 120 pounds so that seems like a lot of protein to me. The closest I've been able to get to 120g of protein is a little over 90g. I've found it really difficult to even get to 90g and have had to use protein powder and homemade protein bars to help me. Problem is that I get full so quickly consuming that much protein and then am not hungry later. I also am not a huge meat eater so I try to get as much protein as I can from other foods.

    Does anyone have any advice as to how I can get to 120g of protein in a day?

    Yes, look at my diary. I eat over 100 grams of protein just about every day.
  • jdjeob
    jdjeob Posts: 2
    I've been reading that excess protein is stored as fat. I think that may be why the Atkins diet never worked for MY body. Any comments on excess protein being stored as fat?
  • wattsy84
    wattsy84 Posts: 123
    I have 160g of protein each day and strength train 3 times a week cardio 2 times! Is the above post correct? Excess stored as fat?
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    For info about your macros (proteins/fats/carbs) - check out this link. It will give you the formula to figure out your #s and also how to custom change them in MFP:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

    Yeah, this.
  • selina884
    selina884 Posts: 826 Member
    yes 1-1.5
  • selina884
    selina884 Posts: 826 Member
    I think its actually 1g of protein for 1 lb of lean mass.

    Actually this is under debate.

    Lean muscle mass vs total body weight
  • Griffin220x
    Griffin220x Posts: 399
    I think its actually 1g of protein for 1 lb of lean mass.

    This^ a little lower or a little higher won't hurt anyone :bigsmile:
  • selina884
    selina884 Posts: 826 Member
    Unless you're doing some serious body building, 1gm per 1lb is a LOT. I actually think the correct calculation is 1gm per 1kg.

    Hope that helps!

    please stop posting.
  • Griffin220x
    Griffin220x Posts: 399
    I think its actually 1g of protein for 1 lb of lean mass.

    Actually this is under debate.

    Lean muscle mass vs total body weight

    Are we talking minimum requirements or optimal? Because If I eat what was the minimum recommended my body compostion suffers and i lose muscle. Thats from expereince.
  • selina884
    selina884 Posts: 826 Member
    I've been reading that excess protein is stored as fat. I think that may be why the Atkins diet never worked for MY body. Any comments on excess protein being stored as fat?

    any excess calories are stored as fat irrespective of what type of macro it is.
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    I've been reading that excess protein is stored as fat. I think that may be why the Atkins diet never worked for MY body. Any comments on excess protein being stored as fat?
    If you were eating excess protein, you weren't really doing Atkins correctly. Atkins is a ketogenic diet which is very-low-carbohydrate, moderate protein and high-fat. If you're not eating under 10% of your calories from carbohydrate, over 65% from fat and roughly 20-25% maximum from protein, you're actually not doing Atkins (or any other LCHF / ketogenic diet) properly.

    Excess calories above and beyond the body's overall TDEE will be stored as fat.
    I have 160g of protein each day and strength train 3 times a week cardio 2 times! Is the above post correct? Excess stored as fat?
    Excess calories, regardless of whether fat/protein/carbohydrate will be stored as fat.

    Excess protein (above and beyond what the body can convert to amino acids and utilize for the muscle-building/repair process) in a calorie-deficit or maintenance is basically converted to ATP for cellular respiration with waste-by-products pi**ed out in your urine.
  • neilvv
    neilvv Posts: 146 Member
  • selina884
    selina884 Posts: 826 Member
    I think its actually 1g of protein for 1 lb of lean mass.

    Actually this is under debate.

    Lean muscle mass vs total body weight

    Are we talking minimum requirements or optimal? Because If I eat what was the minimum recommended my body compostion suffers and i lose muscle. Thats from expereince.

    1g per 1lb is a minimum requirement for an active woman.
    For men I think its anywhere between 1.5 -2.5. (somewhere along those lines, posters please dont shoot me)
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    Are we talking minimum requirements or optimal? Because If I eat what was the minimum recommended my body compostion suffers and i lose muscle. Thats from expereince.
    Everyone is different here. Some people are genetically gifted and gain mass on less than 1g per lb of lean mass, some don't build at all with 1g per lb of total mass. And some find they make their best gains at over 1.5g per lb of total mass.

    For myself, I make my best mass-gains at 1g per lb of bodyweight, but I drop to 0.8 to1g per lb of lean mass when dieting (or, as a diabetic my blood glucose levels go higher.)