Protein goal seems impossible

Hi. I have been working with a nutrition coach for a few months. The protein goal he has me attempting to reach daily seems crazy hard, especially since carbs are cutting back, too. Need help. Goal is 160 protein grams per day. Carbs 120 or less daily. Sad face.

Replies

  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Where did he get that goal from? .8-1 gram per pound of lean body mass should be good enough.
  • OlyCapitalChick
    OlyCapitalChick Posts: 236 Member
    Ostrim
    Quest bars
    Steak
    Tuna
    Chicken
    Low carb tortillas
    Salads
    Cheese
    Oh there are tons more idea out there on fb and google and groups in here. :)
  • cecsav1
    cecsav1 Posts: 714 Member
    My diary's open, if you want more ideas... (my goals - 153 g protein, 68 g carbs before additional exercise calories)

    Cottage cheese, tuna, Greek yogurt, eggs, protein powder are all your friends. To keep my carbs low, I limit myself to one piece of fruit max per day, maybe none. Cauliflower or zoodles for pasta. Lettuce wraps for bread. I use sugar free syrup or stevia in my coffee, never added sugar. Once you get some things in place, it becomes easier :)
  • DresdenSinn
    DresdenSinn Posts: 665 Member
    Low carb protein powders are your friends, I like VPX Zero Carb SRO - Serious Chocolate
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    cecsav1 wrote: »
    My diary's open, if you want more ideas... (my goals - 153 g protein, 68 g carbs before additional exercise calories)

    Cottage cheese, tuna, Greek yogurt, eggs, protein powder are all your friends. To keep my carbs low, I limit myself to one piece of fruit max per day, maybe none. Cauliflower or zoodles for pasta. Lettuce wraps for bread. I use sugar free syrup or stevia in my coffee, never added sugar. Once you get some things in place, it becomes easier :)
    One piece of fruit a day to keep carbs low? Wow.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    That's about what I do. I eat protein with every meal. Even protein powder in my coffee if I'm not eating food. Tuna, lunch meat, shrimp for lunch. Protein afternoon snack, usually a bar. A meat with dinner. Protein desserts, a shake or high protein ice cream. Easy.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    cecsav1 wrote: »
    My diary's open, if you want more ideas... (my goals - 153 g protein, 68 g carbs before additional exercise calories)

    Cottage cheese, tuna, Greek yogurt, eggs, protein powder are all your friends. To keep my carbs low, I limit myself to one piece of fruit max per day, maybe none. Cauliflower or zoodles for pasta. Lettuce wraps for bread. I use sugar free syrup or stevia in my coffee, never added sugar. Once you get some things in place, it becomes easier :)
    One piece of fruit a day to keep carbs low? Wow.

    So what? I rarely eat fruit as well.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    cecsav1 wrote: »
    My diary's open, if you want more ideas... (my goals - 153 g protein, 68 g carbs before additional exercise calories)

    Cottage cheese, tuna, Greek yogurt, eggs, protein powder are all your friends. To keep my carbs low, I limit myself to one piece of fruit max per day, maybe none. Cauliflower or zoodles for pasta. Lettuce wraps for bread. I use sugar free syrup or stevia in my coffee, never added sugar. Once you get some things in place, it becomes easier :)
    One piece of fruit a day to keep carbs low? Wow.

    So what? I rarely eat fruit as well.

    Me neither.

    @redraidergirl2009 Not everyone loves or needs carbs like you do. We are all different and have individual needs.
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    cprswank wrote: »
    Hi. I have been working with a nutrition coach for a few months. The protein goal he has me attempting to reach daily seems crazy hard, especially since carbs are cutting back, too. Need help. Goal is 160 protein grams per day. Carbs 120 or less daily. Sad face.

    I find protein the easiest to go over on. Look at fage0% yoghurts as they have 17g in just one pot. Also chicken is a brilliant protein source with around 28g per 100g cooked. Reduced fat cottage cheese also if you are trying to avoid too much fat
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    160g seems way overkill for a woman.
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    Another voice to the rarely eats fruit brigade.

    Most days I don't eat fruit. When I do it's usually berries of some sort, less frequently a banana.

  • Erfw7471
    Erfw7471 Posts: 242 Member
    edited July 2016
    cecsav1 wrote: »
    My diary's open, if you want more ideas... (my goals - 153 g protein, 68 g carbs before additional exercise calories)

    Cottage cheese, tuna, Greek yogurt, eggs, protein powder are all your friends. To keep my carbs low, I limit myself to one piece of fruit max per day, maybe none. Cauliflower or zoodles for pasta. Lettuce wraps for bread. I use sugar free syrup or stevia in my coffee, never added sugar. Once you get some things in place, it becomes easier :)
    One piece of fruit a day to keep carbs low? Wow.

    Why is that odd? Many days I eat zero fruit, I prefer vegetables.

    Many good suggestions for protein above. I generally have meat at every meal so that gets my numbers up. Greek yogurt, protein powder, cottage cheese are diet mainstays as well.
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    Erfw7471 wrote: »
    cecsav1 wrote: »
    My diary's open, if you want more ideas... (my goals - 153 g protein, 68 g carbs before additional exercise calories)

    Cottage cheese, tuna, Greek yogurt, eggs, protein powder are all your friends. To keep my carbs low, I limit myself to one piece of fruit max per day, maybe none. Cauliflower or zoodles for pasta. Lettuce wraps for bread. I use sugar free syrup or stevia in my coffee, never added sugar. Once you get some things in place, it becomes easier :)
    One piece of fruit a day to keep carbs low? Wow.

    Why is that odd? Many days I eat zero fruit, I prefer vegetables.

    Many good suggestions for protein above. I generally have meat at every meal so that gets my numbers up. Greek yogurt, protein powder, cottage cheese are diet mainstays as well.

    I just never viewed fruit as bad.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    That goal should come with a concrete diet plan that is tailored to suit your taste and schedule. If not, you've been ripped off. I'd like to say you've been scammed anyway. Unless you have a medical issue that interferes with diet or will be interfered by diet, eating to improve health isn't that complicated. Set up MFP to your weight goal (loss, gain, maintenance), set your protein goal to 0.8 grams per pound of lean body mass, fat to the half of that, and the rest carbs. Weigh your food, log it, and aim to hit them all, regarding protein and fat as minimums.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    cprswank wrote: »
    Hi. I have been working with a nutrition coach for a few months. The protein goal he has me attempting to reach daily seems crazy hard, especially since carbs are cutting back, too. Need help. Goal is 160 protein grams per day. Carbs 120 or less daily. Sad face.

    Why are you working with this nutrition coach?
    If this way of eating makes you sad and you have trouble meeting these goals it doesn't sound very sustainable for you.
    Why not just go with the protein and carbs MFP reccomends for you a ditch the coach ?

    Other than that eat more meat, seafood, beans, lentils, peas, cheese, Greek yogurt, milk, eggs, nuts, seeds
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Erfw7471 wrote: »
    cecsav1 wrote: »
    My diary's open, if you want more ideas... (my goals - 153 g protein, 68 g carbs before additional exercise calories)

    Cottage cheese, tuna, Greek yogurt, eggs, protein powder are all your friends. To keep my carbs low, I limit myself to one piece of fruit max per day, maybe none. Cauliflower or zoodles for pasta. Lettuce wraps for bread. I use sugar free syrup or stevia in my coffee, never added sugar. Once you get some things in place, it becomes easier :)
    One piece of fruit a day to keep carbs low? Wow.

    Why is that odd? Many days I eat zero fruit, I prefer vegetables.

    Many good suggestions for protein above. I generally have meat at every meal so that gets my numbers up. Greek yogurt, protein powder, cottage cheese are diet mainstays as well.

    I just never viewed fruit as bad.

    I don't view it as bad either. But I really do run better and look better on lower carb (my body fat% is getting lower and carbs bloat me). Eating a lot of fruit is definitely a way to hike up your carbs. Carbs aside, I actually find fruit to be not that low calorie, and at the same time NOT filling. Different strokes.
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,641 Member
    Erfw7471 wrote: »
    cecsav1 wrote: »
    My diary's open, if you want more ideas... (my goals - 153 g protein, 68 g carbs before additional exercise calories)

    Cottage cheese, tuna, Greek yogurt, eggs, protein powder are all your friends. To keep my carbs low, I limit myself to one piece of fruit max per day, maybe none. Cauliflower or zoodles for pasta. Lettuce wraps for bread. I use sugar free syrup or stevia in my coffee, never added sugar. Once you get some things in place, it becomes easier :)
    One piece of fruit a day to keep carbs low? Wow.

    Why is that odd? Many days I eat zero fruit, I prefer vegetables.

    Many good suggestions for protein above. I generally have meat at every meal so that gets my numbers up. Greek yogurt, protein powder, cottage cheese are diet mainstays as well.

    I just never viewed fruit as bad.

    It's not, but obviously if it interferes with your goals, you avoid it. Sugar is sugar. If you don't have a lot of room in your diet for sugar, avoiding fruit isn't a bad way to go.
  • dprisinger
    dprisinger Posts: 7 Member
    2 servings of grilled fish (I like white bass- easy to catch and plentiful) have only 7 carbs, but give you 51 grams of protein!
  • mom23mangos
    mom23mangos Posts: 3,069 Member
    I save all my carbs for fruit and veggies...well, and ice cream. All the suggestions are great. And 160 doesn't seem high if she weighs 160 or above. The OP did not post her weight or what her goals were. Or her age. I read a recent article that as we age, the protein goals should increase to where those in their 60's and above should really be shooting for 2g/lb body weight.

    Anyway...OP, I find the easiest thing for me to shoot my protein levels up is jerky. I make my own to keep cost down, but it's a great snack and full of protein.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    cprswank wrote: »
    Hi. I have been working with a nutrition coach for a few months. The protein goal he has me attempting to reach daily seems crazy hard, especially since carbs are cutting back, too. Need help. Goal is 160 protein grams per day. Carbs 120 or less daily. Sad face.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/926789/protein-sources/p1

    That is a list of a lot of protein sources.

    I would question why your protein is so high. Even as a male at 175 @16% BF, I don't need that much. Don't get me wrong, if you want to eat that high you can, but most studies wouldn't show a benefit after 1g per lb of lean body mass, unless you are very lean and then the range it 1g per lb of lbm to body weight (or 1.5g-2.2g per kg of weight)
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    edited July 2016
    Have you asked why 160g is the target he/she sets for you?

    You haven't mentioned your weight or activity/exercise or calorie goal so people can only guess how appropriate they may think it is as a goal for you.
    I know it's higher than I need - but I'm not you!

    Have you asked why carbs need cutting back to sub 120g / day?
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    Erfw7471 wrote: »
    cecsav1 wrote: »
    My diary's open, if you want more ideas... (my goals - 153 g protein, 68 g carbs before additional exercise calories)

    Cottage cheese, tuna, Greek yogurt, eggs, protein powder are all your friends. To keep my carbs low, I limit myself to one piece of fruit max per day, maybe none. Cauliflower or zoodles for pasta. Lettuce wraps for bread. I use sugar free syrup or stevia in my coffee, never added sugar. Once you get some things in place, it becomes easier :)
    One piece of fruit a day to keep carbs low? Wow.

    Why is that odd? Many days I eat zero fruit, I prefer vegetables.

    Many good suggestions for protein above. I generally have meat at every meal so that gets my numbers up. Greek yogurt, protein powder, cottage cheese are diet mainstays as well.

    I just never viewed fruit as bad.

    I don't view it as bad either. But I really do run better and look better on lower carb (my body fat% is getting lower and carbs bloat me). Eating a lot of fruit is definitely a way to hike up your carbs. Carbs aside, I actually find fruit to be not that low calorie, and at the same time NOT filling. Different strokes.

    Apples are very filling for me when mixed with some protein/fat. But other than that, nope. I still eat pretty much an apple a day at this point (but only Pink Ladies because they are extremely satisfying to me).
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    Erfw7471 wrote: »
    cecsav1 wrote: »
    My diary's open, if you want more ideas... (my goals - 153 g protein, 68 g carbs before additional exercise calories)

    Cottage cheese, tuna, Greek yogurt, eggs, protein powder are all your friends. To keep my carbs low, I limit myself to one piece of fruit max per day, maybe none. Cauliflower or zoodles for pasta. Lettuce wraps for bread. I use sugar free syrup or stevia in my coffee, never added sugar. Once you get some things in place, it becomes easier :)
    One piece of fruit a day to keep carbs low? Wow.

    Why is that odd? Many days I eat zero fruit, I prefer vegetables.

    Many good suggestions for protein above. I generally have meat at every meal so that gets my numbers up. Greek yogurt, protein powder, cottage cheese are diet mainstays as well.

    I just never viewed fruit as bad.

    I don't view it as bad either. But I really do run better and look better on lower carb (my body fat% is getting lower and carbs bloat me). Eating a lot of fruit is definitely a way to hike up your carbs. Carbs aside, I actually find fruit to be not that low calorie, and at the same time NOT filling. Different strokes.

    I guess so. I feel rundown without any fruit or carbs.
  • kirstenb13
    kirstenb13 Posts: 181 Member
    . I read a recent article that as we age, the protein goals should increase to where those in their 60's and above should really be shooting for 2g/lb body weight..

    Im sorry, but that sounds insane. That would mean I would have to eat 300 g of protein when I'm 60, that's ridiculous. And with 60 year old kidneys, doesn't sound like a good idea at all.

    In my opinion protein today is what low fat was in the 80s, it's supposed to cure everything and that's just not the case. Make sure you get some but this crazy amounts won't help you at all. I usually reach 100 g more or less easily and so that's what I eat.



  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    Erfw7471 wrote: »
    cecsav1 wrote: »
    My diary's open, if you want more ideas... (my goals - 153 g protein, 68 g carbs before additional exercise calories)

    Cottage cheese, tuna, Greek yogurt, eggs, protein powder are all your friends. To keep my carbs low, I limit myself to one piece of fruit max per day, maybe none. Cauliflower or zoodles for pasta. Lettuce wraps for bread. I use sugar free syrup or stevia in my coffee, never added sugar. Once you get some things in place, it becomes easier :)
    One piece of fruit a day to keep carbs low? Wow.

    Why is that odd? Many days I eat zero fruit, I prefer vegetables.

    Many good suggestions for protein above. I generally have meat at every meal so that gets my numbers up. Greek yogurt, protein powder, cottage cheese are diet mainstays as well.

    I just never viewed fruit as bad.

    I don't view it as bad either. But I really do run better and look better on lower carb (my body fat% is getting lower and carbs bloat me). Eating a lot of fruit is definitely a way to hike up your carbs. Carbs aside, I actually find fruit to be not that low calorie, and at the same time NOT filling. Different strokes.

    Apples are very filling for me when mixed with some protein/fat. But other than that, nope. I still eat pretty much an apple a day at this point (but only Pink Ladies because they are extremely satisfying to me).

    Yeah actually I had an apple with some protein peanut butter the other day and that was a pretty well rounded snack that kept me full. I was pleasantly surprised. I can't keep peanut butter around so it had been awhile since I had it. I think it being a protein peanut butter helped too.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    Erfw7471 wrote: »
    cecsav1 wrote: »
    My diary's open, if you want more ideas... (my goals - 153 g protein, 68 g carbs before additional exercise calories)

    Cottage cheese, tuna, Greek yogurt, eggs, protein powder are all your friends. To keep my carbs low, I limit myself to one piece of fruit max per day, maybe none. Cauliflower or zoodles for pasta. Lettuce wraps for bread. I use sugar free syrup or stevia in my coffee, never added sugar. Once you get some things in place, it becomes easier :)
    One piece of fruit a day to keep carbs low? Wow.

    Why is that odd? Many days I eat zero fruit, I prefer vegetables.

    Many good suggestions for protein above. I generally have meat at every meal so that gets my numbers up. Greek yogurt, protein powder, cottage cheese are diet mainstays as well.

    I just never viewed fruit as bad.

    I don't view it as bad either. But I really do run better and look better on lower carb (my body fat% is getting lower and carbs bloat me). Eating a lot of fruit is definitely a way to hike up your carbs. Carbs aside, I actually find fruit to be not that low calorie, and at the same time NOT filling. Different strokes.

    I guess so. I feel rundown without any fruit or carbs.

    Yeah, it's different for some of us. I still eat carbs, but I can diet on 50-100 net and feel fine. I'm also cool with 200. For me if my fat dips too low I get all out of whack, hormonally even. I'm also not an athlete, I'm lightly active, and I power lift and feel like I don't need a substantial amount of carbs to fuel my workouts.