too much protein?

kandy221 · August 2011

Every day I am way over the 45 for my protein in my food log even before dinner, but still under everything else. I have never heard of limiting protein. Should I be watching this closer, and limiting my protein?

juggalotus · August 2011

I have the same issue. I really don't think it would be an issue, but let me know if you find anything!

sharishar · August 2011

I am sometimes the same so would be interested to find out what people have to say too

melizerd · August 2011

MFP has it set to only 15% of calories, which is rather low (they have carbs high).

So I went into custom settings and changed protein to 30% of my calories which is a much better option, Carbs 40%/Fat and protein 30%

kathyhull · August 2011

I have changed my goals to get 30% of my calories from protein. I believe it helps keep me full longer and helps build muscles. I don't think the pre-set goals in MFP provide for enough protein.

scubagirl319 · August 2011

protein will not hurt you, it is essential to losing weight. Most weight loss surgery patients eat strictly protein during their 1st year. I eat/drink over 100 grams of protein every day. I did have weight loss surgery and I'm down 140 pounds in 8 months. Atkins, South BEach and other diets recommend high protein, low carbs.

erickirb · August 2011

MFP sets protein pretty low 15% of total calories. A balanced diet can consist of protein up to 30%. So you can double the amount and be fine.

If you want you can change the protein % to better align with your diet and lifestyle. Just go to goals, click change goals, select custom, make your changes, then click save changes.

Kristhin · August 2011

I used to work for a dog food company and they told me to be careful when recommending the high protein foods because it had to be for a really active dog or else a really skinny dog that needed to put on weight, or else the high protein content would make them obese.
I know you're thinking, well thats dogs, not people. But in reality, dogs bodies are designed by nature to be able to better process meat than our bodies are. So if thats true of dogs, its true for people even more so.
The average person consumes 2-3 times more protein than what is required for their body.

kaitimae · August 2011

Just wanted to say that I agree with what everyone else says. My goal for protein every day is 82g, and I don't worry when I go over that, even.

mshedlock · August 2011

I read an article that you have to becareful with your protein intake because if you eat to much protein, you could actually gain weight. 45 grams seems to be low if you are active and workout. Most people should eat about 60 grams a day (according to research that I have done online and with talking to a nutritionist).

I hope this helps all of you and good luck!

Jdine · August 2011

If your working out and building muscle you should be consuming about 1 gram per kilo of body wt. Take your wt and divide it by 2.2 to find out how many kilos you are. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to that question, and research on the topic is still emerging. The Institute of Medicine recommends that adults get a minimum of 0.8 grams of protein for every kilogram of body weight per day. Bodybuilders and athletes usually consume 1.5-2 grams per kilo of body wt. Excess protein is not bad for you.. it will either be excreted or stored as energy for later if you go over your daily caloric needs. The more muscle you have the more protein you will need to consume to maintain it.

THCamel · August 2011

I've been eating a high protein, low carb' diet which has worked out well so far

Jdine · August 2011

Protein is the building blocks of your cells.. Everything from your hair, nails, skin, and muscle is built from the amino acids in the protein. You need to consume a sufficient amount of protein to maintain and build your cells. Different proteins have different amounts of bio-availability. Meaning your body can utilize only a certain amount of the amino acids in the protein. Fish hash the highest bio-availability at 95% chicken is about 65-70 and beef has the lowest around 55%.

Rae6503 · August 2011

MFP has it set to only 15% of calories, which is rather low (they have carbs high).

So I went into custom settings and changed protein to 30% of my calories which is a much better option, Carbs 40%/Fat and protein 30%

This. Exactly.

dragonflydi · August 2011

MFP sets protein pretty low 15% of total calories. A balanced diet can consist of protein up to 30%. So you can double the amount and be fine.

If you want you can change the protein % to better align with your diet and lifestyle. Just go to goals, click change goals, select custom, make your changes, then click save changes.

THANK you for posting how to do this. I just discussed this very issue with a trainer last night b/c I was also set at 45 and he said that for the training I am doing, that is WAY too low. I should be tryign to get at least 1g per lb of body weight. I was about 30g below that for the last 3 weeks thinking I was going waaaay over until I talked to him and then I couldn't figure out how to adjust it in here. You rock!

Vhovell · August 2011

Thanks for posting this i was about to ask the same question so i'm glad i checked a few pages back. I will now not worry too much for the red figure in the protein!

kandy221 · August 2011

Thanks to all of you!

Teemo · August 2011

I used to work for a dog food company and they told me to be careful when recommending the high protein foods because it had to be for a really active dog or else a really skinny dog that needed to put on weight, or else the high protein content would make them obese.

You're suggesting that, on a 1,500 calorie diet, if I ate 100g of protein (leaving 1,100 calories to come from carbs and fats) I would would become obese compared to having 10g of protein (leaving 1,460 calories to come from carbs and fats.)

That makes no sense.

Jdine · August 2011

one gram per kilo of body wt, not 1gram per lb. Excess protein will be converted to fat.

akork · August 2011

"if you eat to much protein, you could actually gain weight"

If you eat to much of anything you can gain weight.

Protein is about 4 calories per gram, carbs 4 calories per gram, fat 9 calories per gram. Aim for some sort of breakdown of Carb-Fat-Protein like 50-30-20 but don't sweat it if you don't hit the mark. If your interest is weight loss all you have to care about is that you are getting enough nutrients for body maintenance (ie your body requires a certain level of protein intake per day) and that past that your caloric intake is lower than your caloric usage. If you are "way above" your protein intake just ask yourself if that makes you above your calorie goal, if it doesn't then it doesn't really matter. Honestly eating more protein can make it much easier to maintain a lower calorie diet as protein calorie for weight is much more satisfying than carbs or fat.

There is no way you are going to eat "to much" protein without trying to intentionally. I'm currently on a 30-20-50 Carb-Fat-Protein Diet and I struggle to get that much protein in a day. Honestly 45g sounds way to low if anything, especially if you are working out. Admittedly I'm eating low carb high protein but in comparison I am eating about 250g protein a day.

akork · August 2011

"Excess protein will be converted to fat."

No it wont

Jdine · August 2011

Wt loss and wt gain is all about the law of thermodynamics. energy can neither be created nor destroyed only transformed from one source to another.

Food= Energy or calories.
wt loss and wt gain boils down to this:
Your Energy in VS Your Energy out
If E in > E out = gain wt
If E in = E out = stay the same
if E in < E out = lose wt.

All food consists of three macro nutrients
protein=4cal
carb=4cal
fat=9cal

if you need 2000 cal to maintain and ate 1500 cal of cupcakes and twinkes you will lose wt. The macro nutrients Protein, Carbs, and fat have specific roles in your body. The proper ratio is different for everyone. You need enough protein to support your muscle and cell growth, You need enough carbs to maintain your energy levels through the day( preferably complex so they break down slower and release energy longer. You need enough fat to maintain your satiation. Fat contains a hormone that acts like an appetite suppressor . Many people make the mistake of eating fat free everything and then they have a problem with ravenous hunger.

Jdine · August 2011

Excuse me?? Excess protein will be converted to glucose and stored as fat. I am a personal trainer and have been doing this for 13 yrs. If you dont believe me look at ACE( american counsel on Excercise) website http://www.acefitness.org/fitnessqanda/fitnessqanda_display.aspx?itemid=272

A: The human body is unable to store extra protein. Protein consumed in excess of the body's needs is not used to build muscle; rather, it is used for non-protein bodily functions.
If individuals consume protein in excess of their caloric and protein needs, the extra protein will not be stored as protein. Unfortunately such extra protein is converted to and stored as fat. As a result, if individuals consume large amounts of extra protein in addition to their regular dietary intake, any weight gain would very likely be in the form of fat.

akork · August 2011

Protein can be used as an energetic source via pyruvate metabolism in the citric acid cycle so that you will burn that and retain fat from fat that you have eaten but biochemically there is no way for the human body to convert amino acids to fatty acid chains. In otherwords if you eat to much protein and are above your caloric need you very well may retain and store fat that you have also injested and therefore gain fat but you do NOT covert protein to fat catabolically.

joejccva71 · August 2011

Excuse me?? Excess protein will be converted to glucose and stored as fat. I am a personal trainer and have been doing this for 13 yrs. If you dont believe me look at ACE( american counsel on Excercise) website http://www.acefitness.org/fitnessqanda/fitnessqanda_display.aspx?itemid=272

A: The human body is unable to store extra protein. Protein consumed in excess of the body's needs is not used to build muscle; rather, it is used for non-protein bodily functions.
If individuals consume protein in excess of their caloric and protein needs, the extra protein will not be stored as protein. Unfortunately such extra protein is converted to and stored as fat. As a result, if individuals consume large amounts of extra protein in addition to their regular dietary intake, any weight gain would very likely be in the form of fat.

Not sure if serious.

No excess protein won't be stored as fat unless that excess protein intake caused your daily calorie intake to rise above your TDEE.

I eat alot of extra protein and I continue to lose 2 lbs per week and maintain as much muscle mass as possible given my goals. You might be a personal trainer and are good with exercise and training regimes, but your nutritional knowledge is subpar at best if this is what you really think.

No offense intended.

akork · August 2011

I should ammend my comment. You can actually trace a biochemical pathway within the various metabolic and catabolic systems of the human body to go from protein to fat but it would be so energetically unfavorable that you wouldn't end up getting any benefit out of doing so (ie it would cost more energy to do the conversion than you would retain in the bonds within the fatty acid chain). Bottom line if you eat ANY macronutrient in such a way where your caloric intake is in excess of your use your body will store the fat you intake rather than burn it and you will put on fat. HOWEVER, your body does not directly convert protein to fat in any practical sense.

Just to be perfectly clear I am making a distinction between eating to much of something and thus getting fat and the actual physical conversion of one macronutrient into another. Yes, if you eat to much protein calorically your body will store fat, however that fat did not originate from the protein (ie there was no conversion).

Soultwist · August 2011

Excuse me?? Excess protein will be converted to glucose and stored as fat. I am a personal trainer and have been doing this for 13 yrs. If you dont believe me look at ACE( american counsel on Excercise) website http://www.acefitness.org/fitnessqanda/fitnessqanda_display.aspx?itemid=272

A: The human body is unable to store extra protein. Protein consumed in excess of the body's needs is not used to build muscle; rather, it is used for non-protein bodily functions.
If individuals consume protein in excess of their caloric and protein needs, the extra protein will not be stored as protein. Unfortunately such extra protein is converted to and stored as fat. As a result, if individuals consume large amounts of extra protein in addition to their regular dietary intake, any weight gain would very likely be in the form of fat.

Not sure if serious.

No excess protein won't be stored as fat unless that excess protein intake caused your daily calorie intake to rise above your TDEE.

I eat alot of extra protein and I continue to lose 2 lbs per week and maintain as much muscle mass as possible given my goals. You might be a personal trainer and are good with exercise and training regimes, but your nutritional knowledge is subpar at best if this is what you really think.

No offense intended.

Well, to be fair the info he has there states that as well:

If individuals consume protein in excess of their caloric and protein needs, the extra protein will not be stored as protein. Unfortunately such extra protein is converted to and stored as fat

The problem is of course with the generic statement earlier:

Excess protein will be converted to fat.

which implys that the excess is excess protein and not excess calories.

joejccva71 · August 2011

Excuse me?? Excess protein will be converted to glucose and stored as fat. I am a personal trainer and have been doing this for 13 yrs. If you dont believe me look at ACE( american counsel on Excercise) website http://www.acefitness.org/fitnessqanda/fitnessqanda_display.aspx?itemid=272

A: The human body is unable to store extra protein. Protein consumed in excess of the body's needs is not used to build muscle; rather, it is used for non-protein bodily functions.
If individuals consume protein in excess of their caloric and protein needs, the extra protein will not be stored as protein. Unfortunately such extra protein is converted to and stored as fat. As a result, if individuals consume large amounts of extra protein in addition to their regular dietary intake, any weight gain would very likely be in the form of fat.

Not sure if serious.

No excess protein won't be stored as fat unless that excess protein intake caused your daily calorie intake to rise above your TDEE.

I eat alot of extra protein and I continue to lose 2 lbs per week and maintain as much muscle mass as possible given my goals. You might be a personal trainer and are good with exercise and training regimes, but your nutritional knowledge is subpar at best if this is what you really think.

No offense intended.

Well, to be fair the info he has there states that as well:

If individuals consume protein in excess of their caloric and protein needs, the extra protein will not be stored as protein. Unfortunately such extra protein is converted to and stored as fat

The problem is of course with the generic statement earlier:

Excess protein will be converted to fat.

which implys that the excess is excess protein and not excess calories.

You're absolutely right. I should have qualified my response based on the fact that he first says excess protein will be stored as fat, and then in the 2nd paragraph says that "if individuals consume protein in excess of their caloric and protein needs...".

So his post was 3/4 wrong and 1/4 correct.

joannab65 · August 2011

I think perhaps if you ate all your protein allowance for the day in one go it would sit on your gut and therefore lead to weight gain??. Better to eat protein at every meal - im doing high protein low carb at the moment and works for me.

tigersword · August 2011

If I eat 2000 calories to maintain weight and eat 2500 calories, all in protein (real world impossible I know) then the excess absolutely will be broken down into components and stored in the fat cells.

akork · August 2011

If I eat 2000 calories to maintain weight and eat 2500 calories, all in protein (real world impossible I know) then the excess absolutely will be broken down into components and stored in the fat cells.

No...it wouldnt

As a biochemist I can tell you that this is incorrect.

The body has limited catabolic and metabolic pathways which are limiting for the way in which macronutrients such as aminoacids, carbohydrates and lipids can be used either for maintenance of bodily function of breakdown for the production of ATP for energy. Although functionally speaking you can trace a path between non-essential amino acids from protein and lipids (fat) via pyruvate, citric acid cycle to glucose the pathway would be so extensive as to cost more energy than you would recieve. In otherwords the only reason the body would ever try to convert protein to fat is if the body required fat for maintenance (ie essential fat) NOT for storage in adipose tissue. Now if calorically you are eating more than you require energetically it doesn't matter if that excess comes from fat, carbs or protein your body will respond by retaining what fat you take in and thus you gain fat...but to say that the protein was CONVERTED to fat is just wrong.

too much protein?

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