IIFYM help! Eating too much protein

meganmereniuk
meganmereniuk Posts: 1
in Health and Weight Loss
So unlike many of these threads, I struggle with eating way too much protein. I eat just under 1900 calories, and I had to change my macros around to accommodate my love for meat, so now I'm trying 178c/176p/53f. What is everyone's opinions on eating higher protein and less carbs?

Background: 22 yr female, 15% body fat, 139 lbs. I work out 4-5 times a week. Goal is get back down to 12% fat. I LOVE meats and can easily hit 120 g/day in animal proteins.

Replies

  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    You will get very different answers here (on anywhere else), so no point on even asking. For me personally, I would consider a low meat (or rather low red meat) and low animal fat diet the healthiest, like a Mediterrranean type diet. And most scientists seem to agree on this regarding health. But, if you search a little, when ti comes to personal preferences, you will see everything from eat all your carbs in bacon and butter, to eat raw broccoli only, with lots of links to support this :)
  • EpsilonGamma
    EpsilonGamma Posts: 96
    I do calorie counting and leangains.

    My diet is low carb (usually under 100g) and high protein, approx 160g and the rest is fat.

    Works well. I keep my muscle mass, lose fat. win win.
  • bgarganera
    bgarganera Posts: 22
    Personally High Protein dieting has helped me retain muscle during a "diet" phase, especially when the fat-loss phase is for an extended period of time.
    Also, meat/protein is satiating to me.

    I do sacrifice my fat macros moreso than my carbs just to keep my metabolic rate going and my own personal preference.

    I wouldn't bring the carbs too low where it affects your energy, only lower them when you hit a plateau.

    Good Luck!
  • owenmhartley
    owenmhartley Posts: 220 Member
    Is that a 40 40 20 macro break down? I personally aim for just 1 gram per pound of body weight and it does me fine, my macro breakdown is 45 30 25, I try my best to hit it but it's quite hard lol
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I eat 120g of protien a day and it's not too much. It is helping me maintain my lean muscle mass..

    I don't see an issue...my breakdown is 45%c/30%p/25%F....(I eat 1g of protien for each lb of LBM)

    I very rarely struggle to hit my protien struggle...typically only on the weekends...
  • WampBreh
    WampBreh Posts: 15
    If you really love meat and you are getting enough fat then there isn't *really* a problem - your body will turn the excess protein into energy. The only problem with that process (I forget the name) is that it causes your breath to smell.

    If you're happy and healthy, continue.





    (for 99% of people 1g of protein per pound of body weight is too much! 1g-1.6g per KG is optimal)
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,222 Member
    So unlike many of these threads, I struggle with eating way too much protein. I eat just under 1900 calories, and I had to change my macros around to accommodate my love for meat, so now I'm trying 178c/176p/53f. What is everyone's opinions on eating higher protein and less carbs?

    Background: 22 yr female, 15% body fat, 139 lbs. I work out 4-5 times a week. Goal is get back down to 12% fat. I LOVE meats and can easily hit 120 g/day in animal proteins.
    Why, IIFYM doesn't dictate your macro's. Macro' s can be anything you want, IIFYM is concerned about you hitting your macro's with proper micronutrient content, nothing more.
  • warriorknight
    warriorknight Posts: 12
    Do you cycle your macro split depending on your level of training for the day?

    I work at a 40% Protein /18% Carb /43% Fat (2900kcal) on non training days, then do 36% Protein /26% Carb /38% Fat (3250kcal) on training days. I have found this has me maintaining my current weight, but I am losing inches around my stomach/waist whilst growing my legs and chest.
  • owenmhartley
    owenmhartley Posts: 220 Member
    So unlike many of these threads, I struggle with eating way too much protein. I eat just under 1900 calories, and I had to change my macros around to accommodate my love for meat, so now I'm trying 178c/176p/53f. What is everyone's opinions on eating higher protein and less carbs?

    Background: 22 yr female, 15% body fat, 139 lbs. I work out 4-5 times a week. Goal is get back down to 12% fat. I LOVE meats and can easily hit 120 g/day in animal proteins.
    Why, IIFYM doesn't dictate your macro's. Macro' s can be anything you want, IIFYM is concerned about you hitting your macro's with proper micronutrient content, nothing more.
  • owenmhartley
    owenmhartley Posts: 220 Member
    So unlike many of these threads, I struggle with eating way too much protein. I eat just under 1900 calories, and I had to change my macros around to accommodate my love for meat, so now I'm trying 178c/176p/53f. What is everyone's opinions on eating higher protein and less carbs?

    Background: 22 yr female, 15% body fat, 139 lbs. I work out 4-5 times a week. Goal is get back down to 12% fat. I LOVE meats and can easily hit 120 g/day in animal proteins.
    Why, IIFYM doesn't dictate your macro's. Macro' s can be anything you want, IIFYM is concerned about you hitting your macro's with proper micronutrient content, nothing more.

    How exactly does iifym not dictate your macros?? It gives you a macronutrients breakdown to fit your goals, and an exact amount of grams to hit per macro, iifym is not just eating anything until you hit a certain amount of calories that's a completely different thing altogether
  • Quieau
    Quieau Posts: 428 Member
    Actually "scientists" studied ALL types of meats together and lumped all the good ones in with the highly processed deli meats, bacon, sausage and other chemical cocktails that DO cause heart disease. Healthy organic grain fed and free range meats don't pose the same health risks and come with a lot of health benefits.

    With a high protein diet, your main concern (all other health issues being fine) is the load on your kidneys. Be sure you're drinking tons of water and maybe even get your urine and blood levels checked to be sure you're metabolizing the protein without problems with kidney function.

    I have to live almost entirely on meat, dairy and carbs due to health issues. I am still quite heavy (83 lbs down & dropping) but have REMARKABLE heart health ... don't be afraid of meat that is whole, organic and minimally processed. Doesn't HAVE to be organic to be healthy, but organic means the food the animal ate is not a threat either. Grain fed vs. grass fed beef are two TOTALLY different stories in terms of health. I insist on grass-fed beef, hormone-free meats and pork from local ethical producers. I'm 53 and have cardio numbers of a young athlete. And I eat exclusively white carbs and (clean) meat and dairy.
  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    If you've got healthy kidneys - excessive protein will do them no damage (if you have a pre-existing condition - un-related to protein, that's a different story).

    The kidney, like the heart works well under pressure, that being said though there is no need to be eating more protein than you need. For a healthy active person 1g per lb of lean mass is more than enough.

    If you love your meat (as I do - self confessed carnivore), you could switch to (if you are not already) fattier cuts of meat 1) they taste better, because of the fat content 2) generally they are cheaper than the leaner cuts - win,win.

    If you're on a low carb diet a high fat content in your diet will be beneficial.
  • fushigi1988
    fushigi1988 Posts: 519 Member
    Just make sure going that low in BF% is healthy for you, it does not work for everyone.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,222 Member
    So unlike many of these threads, I struggle with eating way too much protein. I eat just under 1900 calories, and I had to change my macros around to accommodate my love for meat, so now I'm trying 178c/176p/53f. What is everyone's opinions on eating higher protein and less carbs?

    Background: 22 yr female, 15% body fat, 139 lbs. I work out 4-5 times a week. Goal is get back down to 12% fat. I LOVE meats and can easily hit 120 g/day in animal proteins.
    Why, IIFYM doesn't dictate your macro's. Macro' s can be anything you want, IIFYM is concerned about you hitting your macro's with proper micronutrient content, nothing more.

    How exactly does iifym not dictate your macros?? It gives you a macronutrients breakdown to fit your goals, and an exact amount of grams to hit per macro, iifym is not just eating anything until you hit a certain amount of calories that's a completely different thing altogether
    IIFYM is a philosophy which says that you can consume some less than optimal foods if your still maintaining your macro and micronutirent goals. It pertains to any diet and any macronutrient breakdown. The IIFYM website is not the same thing, that's just a spin off designed to take advantage of the increasing popularity of IIFYM.
  • Quieau
    Quieau Posts: 428 Member
    Actually "scientists" studied ALL types of meats together and lumped all the good ones in with the highly processed deli meats, bacon, sausage and other chemical cocktails that DO cause heart disease. Healthy organic grain fed and free range meats don't pose the same health risks and come with a lot of health benefits.

    With a high protein diet, your main concern (all other health issues being fine) is the load on your kidneys. Be sure you're drinking tons of water and maybe even get your urine and blood levels checked to be sure you're metabolizing the protein without problems with kidney function.

    I have to live almost entirely on meat, dairy and carbs due to health issues. I am still quite heavy (83 lbs down & dropping) but have REMARKABLE heart health ... don't be afraid of meat that is whole, organic and minimally processed. Doesn't HAVE to be organic to be healthy, but organic means the food the animal ate is not a threat either. Grain fed vs. grass fed beef are two TOTALLY different stories in terms of health. I insist on grass-fed beef, hormone-free meats and pork from local ethical producers. I'm 53 and have cardio numbers of a young athlete. And I eat exclusively white carbs and (clean) meat and dairy.

    I should have said that I eat primarily that type of meat. I'm not 100% in compliance with my aspirations. I do eat "clean" bacon and sausage I make myself, and when in a pinch, I do eat restaurant meat that I know doesn't comply. Just want to say this is my rule of thumb, a general direction. I don't believe any plan should be 100% as perfection begets its own brand of chaos.

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