too much protein?

uncharted01
uncharted01 Posts: 105 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've only been on this site a short time, but I am consistently over on my protein. Is that a bad this? Should I aim to eat less protein? Thanks!

Replies

  • CoachRicardo
    CoachRicardo Posts: 18
    Your protein needs will vary based on your Activity and body composition goals. So what is too much protein?
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Not likely. Most people can and should double MFP's default protein recommendation. Exactly how much protein you need depends on your goals and preferences, but going over MFP's recommendation is probably fine.

    .
  • JessiMae8106
    JessiMae8106 Posts: 4
    I read somewhere that you should eat about 25g of protein in each meal. Not the snacks, just the meals.
  • gelendestrasse
    gelendestrasse Posts: 204
    In my case my body turns carbs into tryglycerides and that leads to problems so I tend to avoid carbs. That means I make up with protein. It all depends on how your body works.

    It's not a bad idea to get carbs before exercise and protein after, especially if you're trying to build muscle. Or so I'm told. But I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV, so there you are....
  • pteryndactyl
    pteryndactyl Posts: 303 Member
    I checked your diary, and you're talking about eating ~60g instead of 45g. There shouldn't be any problems with that (bar specific health issues or doctor ordered protein limits) -- I try to eat 100-120g day personally.

    Protein is good for you! Your body needs it to recover, it keeps you full, it gives you energy. The more protein the better really.
  • stumblinthrulife
    stumblinthrulife Posts: 2,558 Member
    MFP protein goals are based on FDA recommendations, and most people consider them too low for someone losing weight or consistently resistance training.

    Increasing your protein will not hurt you and it will not slow your weight loss. In fact, it will help reduce your lean muscle loss, and keep the focus on losing fat - meaning you'll look better when you reach your goal weight.

    I eat between two and three times the protein that MFP recommends for me.

    Caveat - always eat in accordance to any medical guidelines provided by your doctor. For example, if you have kidney disease, then excess protein could be harmful. Don't take medical advice from random people on the internet :wink:
  • highervibes
    highervibes Posts: 2,219 Member
    My goals are 1g/lb of lean body mass (123g) because I lift 3x/week and I need that for recovery/repair. I think if you're mainly doing cardio type exercise you can get away with .7g/lb of lean mass.
  • uncharted01
    uncharted01 Posts: 105 Member
    thanks for all the feedback! i'm not new to dieting but i am new to being aware of the kinds of foods i'm eating and their composition. i just wanted to make sure there wasn't any harm in consuming more than the recommended protein, which there doesn't seem to be. thanks again all! :)

    edit: one of my friends just told me to switch my macros to 40/30/30 (carb/protein/fat) - did that and it looks more balanced! thanks agan!
  • padams2359
    padams2359 Posts: 1,093 Member
    I call my boss with this exact question about 2 weeks ago. LOL, not something you usually call your boss for. However, he is 50 and wears a 51 coat with a 34" waist. Has been into fitness for many years. I called because as with everything else, if you do a google search, you get conflicting information. He told me that your body does not store proteins. Although proteins in your urine is something that is test for with some kind of condition, not sure which, they check my father for that for something they are monitoring. However, he said going over your proteins is not a problem because your body will expel any unneeded proteins, provided you are drinking enough water in a day. The recommended 8 cups/64oz is more than enough to get rid of it. I am sure others with give pros and cons to your question, but I trust my source completely. He has been my boss for 17 years, and is completely knowledgeable on the subject of health.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    one of my friends just told me to switch my macros to 40/30/30 (carb/protein/fat) - did that and it looks more balanced! thanks agan!

    That's a good starting point for most people.

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