too much protein

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landerson71
landerson71 Posts: 13
in Food and Nutrition
Hi everyone

So i have managed to get my sugar levels under control on here.. i now have the issue of protein..

I usually have soup for lunch but today forgot to take it to work and ended up with chicken breast in a tortilla wrap and logged my evening meal as i know what im having but wont have time to log it later- this has now taken me massively over my protein allowance..

I only logged:

bran flakes
chicken breast in tortilla wrap
youngs fish steak
birdseye steamed vegetables.

I will be exercising straight after work but am worried going over my allowance will hinder my weight loss.

Should i make sure i dont go over again or is it not an issue?

thanks for advice in advance!

Replies

  • mich1902
    mich1902 Posts: 182
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    Hey

    If you are going on the custom amount set by mfp then don't worry about it as it is rather low compared to a lot of us on here who have set our own macros. I personally prefer to have my protein intake high. I think mines sits at 138g! I'm trying to drop fat by lifting some weights and hoping the protein will help keep my muscle that I already have.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
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    It's generally agreed that the default protein target on MFP is on the low side. As long as you have no other medical conditions, up to 100g of protein a day is fine - many people consume even more than that, especially if they are trying to increase muscle.
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
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    MFP's protein setting is ridiculously horribly low. You want to aim for about .8g per lb bodyweight minimum. Unless you have a pre-existing kidney issue, you basically can't have too much protein.
  • chris90w
    chris90w Posts: 19
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    how much protein is too much?

    0,8 - 1.2g per bw is enough to keep your muscle and build muscle too.

    You will not burn any muscle tissue, as long as you don't fast for 2-3 days and do intensiv exercise with a zero diet.
  • laddyboy
    laddyboy Posts: 1,565 Member
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    Yes it will hinder your weight loss...by maintaining your muscle or minimizing (is that how you spell that), your weight loss and keeping metabolism steady. Add weight training 3 days a week minimum and increase your metabolism and burn more fat.

    So, to wrap it up...NO...you need more protein that the MFP default settings.
  • landerson71
    landerson71 Posts: 13
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    thanks everyone- MFP goal is 45 and today ill have 66. everything else is under and i will be doing cardio mainly - body pump, 20/20/20 and zumba classes along with cycling. So its not an issue to have protein over :)
  • sinistras
    sinistras Posts: 244 Member
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    Dr. Joel Fuhrman, one of America's most esteemed weight-loss specialists/doctor/nutritionist says that the average American eats way too much protein. The body can only handle so much protein at a time--the rest is just broken down and flushed out of the body. Too much protein taxes your vital organs. He says excessive protein can even scar your kidneys.

    I have been vegetarian for over 10 years and vegan for 2 years and I know I am getting sufficient protein without trying as my glossy hair keeps growing, my muscles are becoming more defined as I lose weight, my finger nails keep needing clipping, any cuts I might get heal quickly, and in the last 2 years I was able to "grow" a healthy average-sized baby boy, recover quickly from the birth, and nurse him past 18 months. To do these things means my body is getting the protein it needs.

    I don't obsess over my protein intake anymore. Instead, I try to put the daily focus on eating as much vegetables and fruits that I can stand. :-) For me it is nutrient dense, not protein dense.
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
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    MFP sets protein too low. To set your macros, check out this link: 

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/911011-calculating-calorie-macronutrient-needs?page=1#posts-13821336

    Also, it's hard to have too much protein. 

    "It has been observed that the human liver cannot safely metabolise much more than 285-365 g of protein per day (for an 80 kg person), and human kidneys are similarly limited in their capability to remove urea (a byproduct of protein catabolism) from the bloodstream. Exceeding that amount results in excess levels of amino acids, ammonia (hyperammonemia), and/or urea in the bloodstream, with potentially fatal consequences,[1] especially if the person switches to a high-protein diet without giving time for the levels of his or her hepatic enzymes to upregulate. Since protein only contains 4 kcal/gram, and a typical adult human requires in excess of 1900 kcal to maintain the energy balance, it is possible to exceed the safe intake of protein if one is subjected to a high-protein diet with little or no fat or carbohydrates. However, given the lack of scientific data on the effects of high-protein diets, and the observed ability of the liver to compensate over a few days for a shift in protein intake, the US Food and Nutrition Board does not set a Tolerable Upper Limit nor upper Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range for protein.[2] Furthermore, medical sources such as UpToDate[3] do not include listings on this topic." 

    Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_starvation
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
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    Change your protein goal so that you get ~90 grams a day.

    Treat this number as a minimum. I promise, you will not get too much protein.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
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    Dr. Joel Fuhrman, one of America's most esteemed weight-loss specialists/doctor/nutritionist says that the average American eats way too much protein. The body can only handle so much protein at a time--the rest is just broken down and flushed out of the body. Too much protein taxes your vital organs. He says excessive protein can even scar your kidneys.

    This is total bunk. The average American eats way too many calories, not way too much protein. The "body can handle only so much at a time" is a myth that simply won't go away for some reason. "Exessive protein" that can cause kidney damage is on the order of 10 times as much protein as MFP suggests.

    Enough of this broscience and bunk. Optimal protein levels for those losing weight who want to preserve muscle mass is in the range of 1 gram per lb of lean body mass per day. For an average female, this works out to somewhere around 90-100 grams of protein a day. This level of protein does no damage to the kidneys.
  • jdaley90
    jdaley90 Posts: 259 Member
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    don't worry about getting too much protein.. it's good for you (more muscles= more cals burned)! i consume 125-160 grams per day as my goal is to increase muscle mass and strength.
  • erg2013
    erg2013 Posts: 84 Member
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    That really is the only macro I keep an eye on.... I work hard to get 100 grams per day.
    If less, I will add a protein shake or steak to get it up.
  • Paco4gsc
    Paco4gsc Posts: 119 Member
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    Found a published research article that could help: http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/2/1/25

    "Conclusion

    Although excessive protein intake remains a health concern in individuals with pre-existing renal disease, the literature lacks significant research demonstrating a link between protein intake and the initiation or progression of renal disease in healthy individuals. More importantly, evidence suggests that protein-induced changes in renal function are likely a normal adaptative mechanism well within the functional limits of a healthy kidney. Without question, long-term studies are needed to clarify the scant evidence currently available regarding this relationship. At present, there is not sufficient proof to warrant public health directives aimed at restricting dietary protein intake in healthy adults for the purpose of preserving renal function."
  • amy1612
    amy1612 Posts: 1,356 Member
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    thanks everyone- MFP goal is 45 and today ill have 66. everything else is under and i will be doing cardio mainly - body pump, 20/20/20 and zumba classes along with cycling. So its not an issue to have protein over :)

    That is really low. I usually try and get at least 100-150g a day. At least. I wouldnt worry about going over personally.

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