Protein Overboard

ScorpioSista
ScorpioSista Posts: 6
in Health and Weight Loss
I seem to almost always go over my proteins way before my calories and carbs. Sometimes I have 300 to 400 calories and carbs left and struggle to eat something that doesn't contain protein. What am I doing wrong?

Replies

  • xxnellie146xx
    xxnellie146xx Posts: 996 Member
    Is your protein goal set by MFP? I wouldn't worry about going over, as MFP settings for protein is low and should be used as a minimum goal to reach. Unless you have a medical condition that requires you to monitor your protein intake, I wouldn't worry about it. Getting enough protein will help you maintain you LBM while you are eating at a deficit.
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    Generally speaking, it's not bad to go over on protein. If you're a healthy adult, it's pretty difficult to get too much protein. I wouldn't worry about it.
  • ScorpioSista
    ScorpioSista Posts: 6
    Great, thx very much. I was on MFP about two years ago and didnt have the protein issue, I wonder if they decreased it. Anyhoo, I won't worry bout it, I am so thankful that im on track and in control tracking everyday.
  • togmo
    togmo Posts: 257
    Depending on what you are doing you are probably actually under your protein goal, not over it so don't worry. Plus there are no real negatives of eating a little too much protein unless you have certain health issues so don't look for the low protein option, I never look for that option but I do have foods that are low protein. Most of the fast foods we eat and the processed foods on the supermarket shelves are generally quite low in protein when you compare the amount of calories in them to the amount of protein in them.

    There are all sorts of figures being thrown around but I try and eat roughly 1.9g protein per kg of body weight (about .9g/lb) myself and it works for me although to be honest on most days I don't attain this level of protein intake. I have just started out a heavy lifting program and am dieting so I need all the protein I can get to prevent losing lean body mass and only lose the fat.
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    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
  • arcticfox04
    arcticfox04 Posts: 1,011 Member
    Like everyone says. MFP puts protein way too low. Your fine don't worry about it.

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