Advice on protein & weight loss

temple_girl
temple_girl Posts: 17 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi guys,

I'm new to my fitness pal, and have decided to join to try and loose the last little bit of weight I need too. I have always been an active gym goer, even if my diet wasn't right. So even though I was exercising because of previous over eating I still gained weight. I've managed to loose 40 pounds over the past 15 months, and now is the time to finally get my act together and loose the remaining 24-31 pounds I would like too. AL though I am tall and am quite toned due to the gym work I do, I still would like to loose weight so I'm smaller and toned and not chunky and toned if that makes sense.

When it comes to eating protein in your diet you hear so many different 'does and don'ts' and research on the internet never seems to give a straight forward answer as I understand everyone's specific needs and goals are different.

I always over eat on my protein as advised on here, but stay within my calories. I find staying within my calories quite easy. But I over eat by as much as 10g of protein a day. I've been told this will be detrimental to my weight loss as eating lots of protein and reducing my carbs slightly (no carbs after 5pm as I don't get home to eat till late) is in effect what some body builders do to bulk up? Yet other sources say that the more protein will only aid in muscle repair after training and will help me feel fuller for longer.

Any advice you can throw my way would be great. Thanks :-)

Replies

  • capaul42
    capaul42 Posts: 1,390 Member
    Too much protein could be a detriment only if you're only eating protein as you need carbs and fat in your diet as well. I wouldn't worry about 10 extra grams.

    As for the rest, I do find that the higher my protein, the less time it takes to recover from a workout and the less sore I am the next day. I shoot for 100g minimum on most days. I find if I'm lower than 80g, I really feel pretty run down and just not up to par.

    I try and hit my protein and fats every day and just let carbs fall where they will. Someday they're high, someday they're a little low.
  • temple_girl
    temple_girl Posts: 17 Member
    capaul42 wrote: »
    Too much protein could be a detriment only if you're only eating protein as you need carbs and fat in your diet as well. I wouldn't worry about 10 extra grams.

    As for the rest, I do find that the higher my protein, the less time it takes to recover from a workout and the less sore I am the next day. I shoot for 100g minimum on most days. I find if I'm lower than 80g, I really feel pretty run down and just not up to par.

    I try and hit my protein and fats every day and just let carbs fall where they will. Someday they're high, someday they're a little low.

    Thanks Capaul42, I am eating the majority of my carbs and fat everyday as well, I'm just making sure the carbs I eat are during the day and before my work out and then no carbs after as I don't eat till 8pm. and don't want these to be stored.

    So I should just continue as I have and wait for the results....it's my first weigh in tomorrow since starting to track on here 8 days ago.

    I found your reply very insightful......thanks.


  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    There are extreme rules that body builders need to stick to to get the extreme results they are after. They don't apply to us ordinary mortals. Meal timing and macro split isn't directly important for weight management and fitness unless you are a professional athlete. It may have an impact on ease of adherence, but appropriate amount of calories and sufficient nutrition is what matters. If your weight loss is on schedule, and you feel strong and energized, satisfied and happy, you are doing everything right. But if something is off, take a closer look at what you are doing: Be sure you have set your calories and macros appropriately and are logging correctly. Then adjust as needed.

Categories