I can't seem to get enough protein!

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Replies

  • Dube11
    Dube11 Posts: 93 Member
    Greek yogurt has tons of protein per serving and is an easy snack.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I weighed in at 181 pounds last Thursday and I'm trying to work my way down to 170 pounds by losing one pound a week. My goals are:

    Calories - 1860
    Carbs - 233
    Fat - 62
    Protein - 93
    Sodium - 2,300
    Sugar - 700

    I hit all of my goals pretty well (I need to get higher calories more consistently and cut down on sodium more consistently) but I haven't come close to hitting my protein goal once. The closest I've come is 20 too few. Now, I could start eating nothing but tuna, peanut butter, and black beans but I'd rather not. I get the general idea that I need the extra protein to make sure I'm not burning a lot of muscle with that fat but how big of a concern is it really?

    Your first problem is thinking that black beans and peanut butter are a good source of protein. They are not. Eat things that are actually high in protein instead. Or supplement with a protein powder if it's really that big of a deal. You can get 50g of protein in just ~250 calories with a small shake by itself (more with milk)
    Black beans and peanut butter are good sources of lots of things, and not a bad protein.

    I agree, but that's not what I said. If you're looking to drastically increase your protein intake then they are not good choices. Good choices of fat, carbs, fiber, etc but not from a high protein standpoint - especially on a limited calorie intake.
    Apologies for the communication breakdown. I was going off your "Eat things that are actually high in protein instead". I'd say: eat them too.
  • wassergottin
    wassergottin Posts: 154 Member
    Chicken breasts, steaks, protein powder, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, any meat, really...

    I hit my protein goal easily today:

    Calories: 1,377
    Protein: 134
    Fat: 80
    Carbs: 45
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    I've gotten better, but I still struggle to hit my protein goal. I can get close on a non exercise day (usually once a week), but some days it's a bust. I've added protein powder and protein bars to my selections. I increased the amount of breakfast - 2 eggs instead of one or a tablespoon and nuts in my oatmeal. I often have a fruit/milk/protein shake mid-afternoon as a supplement. And I like Simply Protein bars, which aren't too caloric and have 15g of protein. I tried a Quest bar and felt like I was eating dust; I know a lot of people like them. More often I concentrate on keeping my carbs at goal. It's a journey ;-)
  • L4gym
    L4gym Posts: 81 Member
    Wow, that's a lot of carbs and sugar! I usually stay under 25g of crabs and under 10g of sugar. I don't think you need to go as low as I do, but I'd still cut back. I just pile up on a protein mostly: Eggs, turkey bacon, Whey protein, meat, meat and more meat with lettuce or veggies instead of bread.
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    Man I'm vegetarian and I manage more protein than that on less carbs and calories. What are you eating? Try subbing out some snacks with quest bars or something
  • dmt4641
    dmt4641 Posts: 409 Member
    I have eggs/egg whites with breakfast, protein smoothie w/ whey protein and greek yogurt after morning workout (over 40 grams of protein), lean meat with lunch, quest bar or cottage cheese for afternoon snack, and lean protein again with dinner.

    I also found that it is easier to get enough protein when I eat dinner leftovers for lunch instead of the typical sandwich.
  • HBMairi
    HBMairi Posts: 84 Member
    Just keep trying toup your protein. Once I started looking at my macros, I got my personal trainer to sort out what I needed and we watched what reaction my body had. Took a while to get the macros right, but currently doing 1300 calories, 150g protein, 85g carbs, 40g fat. I have no problem hitting my protein goal, but find it difficult to even get my low amount of carbs in! I guess we all have the things we find difficult to reach.
    My sources of protein are chicken, turkey, egg whites, protein shakes (not exsessive though).For lunch, I take 2 shredded chicken breasts to work and mix it in a bowl of soup from the work canteen, that gets me a fair way along the protein macro each day.
  • pensierobello
    pensierobello Posts: 285 Member
    Try: baked beans and hummus with pita bread (it's a complementary protein).
  • ksmits
    ksmits Posts: 4 Member
    Egg whites. High in protein, low in fat and calories (1 egg white = 20 calories 4 G protein). Make an egg white veggie omelette.

    1 whole egg
    2 egg whites
    1 oz light cheddar
    1 cup steamed veggies (chop and throw in after steaming)

    254 calories
    30 G protein
    11 g fat
    13 g carbs
    6 g fiber

    You'll be full for hours :)
  • PaulaAP66
    PaulaAP66 Posts: 3
    I buy a really delicious protein bar called Quest bars, and they have 20-21 grams of protein per bar. I buy them online, but I think you can get them at GNC stores too. They come in over a dozen flavors - my favorites are Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and White Chocolate Raspberry. One bar is 180 calories, so I have 1/2 a bar as a snack, or a whole bar as part of a meal. Helps scratch my itch for sweets too!!
  • nicolemontagna22
    nicolemontagna22 Posts: 229 Member
    There's something called p3. It's a protein pack with 3 sources of protein. Ham cubes or turkey, cheese cubes and almonds. 170 calories and 13 or 14 grams protein. I do egg whites with weight watcher cheese for breakfast. Then green yogurt for lunch everyday. Fiber one protein bars. Usually a scoop of peanut butter every night to help me sleep lol
    imho: OVER PRICED and underwhelming. Lord you could make 10 of them for the price of 1.

    You think so? At the Walmart here they are only
    $1.50 each.
    okay. 5 of them. with 1/8th the packaging. And probably a higher quality of meat.

    I thought about putting them together myself but here's my question.....do you think they stay good for as long? Or only a few days? I was thinking of trying it.
  • t00fan
    t00fan Posts: 7
    Cottage cheese is really good source as well. Kroger brand fat free cottage cheese has 15g per half cup. A cup of that at night before bed and you get 30g in a sitting. Love cottage cheese.
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    Me either. The struggle is real.
  • ABB Performance Pure Protien 50g Milk Chocolate (google it)
    Taste great, only downside is their a bit pricey.
  • Armwrench
    Armwrench Posts: 7 Member
    Try replacing high carb snacks with a low carb high protein shake (GNC Total Lean) or a low carb high protein bar (Quest Bars are good). Both of those are usually 170 calories and between 20 - 25 protein and less than 7 carbs.
  • capnrus789
    capnrus789 Posts: 2,736 Member
    If you're not against eating meat, eat more lean mean. Chicken, turkey, beef. I rarely have an issue getting 90+ grams. It's usually only low when it's pasta night.
  • maizerage66
    maizerage66 Posts: 367 Member
    I eat about 200 grams at least every day with no problem. I'm eating 2400 calories with carbs only coming in at 170 grams. I actually have to reevaluate my meals because I was going over my protein requirements each day. It's really not that difficult people, you have chicken breast, ground turkey, lean beef and pork, eggs, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, and protein powders to help you achieve this goal. Granted, some of you have a hard time eating very much which is understandable, but it's much easier to eat more protein if you don't have a ton of carbs taking up your protein space. I'm not saying limit your carbs, I'm just saying that it doesn't need to be as high as you think unless you're a distance runner or an extreme weight trainer.
  • mblair1968
    mblair1968 Posts: 323 Member
    egg whites, add protein powder to cottage cheese, or plain yogurt.
  • leodru
    leodru Posts: 321 Member
    I eat 131g a day - i do supplement with a vegan protein powder with 20g P per scoop. I also eat greek yogurt, Quest bars (also 20g), i bought a "True to Nature" granola bar which is all natural 7g Protein per bar - 200 Calories. Chicken at lunch, eggs at breakfast, steak/chicken at supper. Cheese sometimes with snacks or peanut butter. Its all about protein with every snack or meal. i don't supplement a lot - i just listed them for the purposes of this thread.
  • dcc56
    dcc56 Posts: 172 Member
    Try a Premier Protein Shake, vanilla, chocolate or strawberry....each 11 oz has 30g protein.
    Find at Sam's Club or Costco or look up other sources at the Premier website.
    Beneprotein unflavored powder can be found at Wal Mart in a small can. It can be mixed with many foods
    and beverages to up your intake. Good luck!