Would too much protein make you fat?

littlesis412
littlesis412 Posts: 314 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I've skimmed some of the other topics about this but I just wanted a straight answer. Will too much protein make you fat? I've recently been adding protein shakes and powder to my meals in order to get enough protein. However, every time I reach for them my fiance and room mate insist they are not meant for me and are to be consumed only after "hard-core workouts." They keep saying "too much protein will make you fat as s____". Normally, I struggle to consume enough protein and rarely go over 100g. On top of that, I usually only drink the shakes after a run or workout and very rarely as a meal replacement. I figured calories mattered most and people gained weight from that and the carbs. Are they right or are they making me feel guilty for no reason?

Replies

  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    I've skimmed some of the other topics about this but I just wanted a straight answer. Will too much protein make you fat? I've recently been adding protein shakes and powder to my meals in order to get enough protein. However, every time I reach for them my fiance and room mate insist they are not meant for me and are to be consumed only after "hard-core workouts." They keep saying "too much protein will make you fat as s____". Normally, I struggle to consume enough protein and rarely go over 100g. On top of that, I usually only drink the shakes after a run or workout and very rarely as a meal replacement. I figured calories mattered most and people gained weight from that and the carbs. Are they right or are they making me feel guilty for no reason?

    More like the caloric surplus would make you fat, protein/aminos actually being stored as fat is extremely inefficient
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    If you over your maintenance calories .... you will gain weight. It doesn't matter whether those calories start out as protein, carbs, or fat. Many people think carbs make you fat ..... that's not true. It's just that so many (processed) carbs are not filling ..... you eat too many & still crave more.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    The people that are saying that either don't understand how metabolism works or they're assuming that you're going over your total calories with the protein.

    If you stay in a caloric deficit, too much of any macro won't make you gain weight.
  • TheBitSlinger
    TheBitSlinger Posts: 621 Member
    Protein stimulates the release release of glucagon, which is the counter force hormone to insulin. Insulin is lipogenic (creates fat), while glucagon is lipolytic (breaks down fat). As has been pointed out though, it still requires a calorie deficit for overall weight loss, i.e. if you eat too much protein, your body will manage to convert the excess energy into fatty acids (liopgenesis) - yep, it can do that.
  • richardheath
    richardheath Posts: 1,276 Member
    Seriously? Like the protein is magically going to get converted into fat?

    Assuming you are running a deficit overall, no, protein is not going to make you fat.

    Cook a nice steak dinner, then prohibit your fiance from eating any in case HE gets fat. Hey, protein ya know!
  • littlesis412
    littlesis412 Posts: 314 Member
    I make sure that the shakes/protein don't put me over my daily calorie goals, that's my main priority. But I've found drinking them after a workout really helps avoid sore muscles (and hopefully will help build them too). I don't really understand their reasoning. Maybe they do think any excess is magically converted to fat. But if your body couldn't burn it, wouldn't it excrete the excess if your kidneys are healthy?
  • laserturkey
    laserturkey Posts: 1,680 Member
    As long as you aren't over your calorie goal, you will be fine. IF you have kidney problems, too much protein can be a very bad thing, but otherwise, don't worry about it.
  • whitknee73
    whitknee73 Posts: 1
    I have the same issue! One of my friends is doing a bodybuilding competition in a few months and he was shocked to hear how much protein i was eating in a day (100g). He said he eats about the same amount of protein as i do, and he is trying to GAIN weight...ever since this conversation ive been wondering if too much protein is prohibiting my weight loss? I have been on a strict exercise/meal plan for 4 months and only lost 3 inches from my entire body and havent lost a single pound
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    I have the same issue! One of my friends is doing a bodybuilding competition in a few months and he was shocked to hear how much protein i was eating in a day (100g). He said he eats about the same amount of protein as i do, and he is trying to GAIN weight...ever since this conversation ive been wondering if too much protein is prohibiting my weight loss? I have been on a strict exercise/meal plan for 4 months and only lost 3 inches from my entire body and havent lost a single pound

    He's a bodybuilder and consuming a 100g of protein a day? Is he a "little person"?
  • MassiveDelta
    MassiveDelta Posts: 3,271 Member
    I have the same issue! One of my friends is doing a bodybuilding competition in a few months and he was shocked to hear how much protein i was eating in a day (100g). He said he eats about the same amount of protein as i do, and he is trying to GAIN weight...ever since this conversation ive been wondering if too much protein is prohibiting my weight loss? I have been on a strict exercise/meal plan for 4 months and only lost 3 inches from my entire body and havent lost a single pound

    He's a bodybuilder and consuming a 100g of protein a day? Is he a "little person"?

    Thats just what I was thinking... 1 gram per lb of lean body mass per day minimum that dude must be a small girl?
  • donnat238
    donnat238 Posts: 309 Member
    I have the same issue! One of my friends is doing a bodybuilding competition in a few months and he was shocked to hear how much protein i was eating in a day (100g). He said he eats about the same amount of protein as i do, and he is trying to GAIN weight...ever since this conversation ive been wondering if too much protein is prohibiting my weight loss? I have been on a strict exercise/meal plan for 4 months and only lost 3 inches from my entire body and havent lost a single pound

    He's a bodybuilder and consuming a 100g of protein a day? Is he a "little person"?

    Wow Really?! My old trainer was a body builder and he would consume 200-250+ grams a day!

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