Calories and Protein

md7722
md7722 Posts: 1 Member
in Food and Nutrition
They say to build muscle, I need 1 to 1.5 grams per weight. I weigh 172 trying to build lean muscle to 175. I am doing 2500 calories and they say it should be 40%. This puts my protein at 240. Should I cut my calories?

Replies

  • tomcustombuilder
    tomcustombuilder Posts: 2,234 Member
    edited June 16
    You don’t need that much protein. Muscle is built fine with 1g of protein or even a little less. You can have more if you want however extra carbs before training is going to be more beneficial due to the energy bump.

    Enough protein and a slight calorie surplus and a proper weight train program are the ingredients for muscle gain. There is no lean muscle, muscle is muscle. You just want to minimize fat gain.
  • history_grrrl
    history_grrrl Posts: 216 Member
    md7722 wrote: »
    They say to build muscle, I need 1 to 1.5 grams per weight. I weigh 172 trying to build lean muscle to 175. I am doing 2500 calories and they say it should be 40%. This puts my protein at 240. Should I cut my calories?

    Genuine question, not snark: who is “they”? Where are you getting this advice?

  • Retroguy2000
    Retroguy2000 Posts: 1,854 Member
    edited June 16
    Who is "they"?

    Because actual professionals who have done studies, say about 0.7g protein per pound is all you need. If you want to go a little higher, that's fine.

    Ofc you'll need a calorie surplus to gain weight, and you'll need a proper program of progressive overload with sufficient volume for most of that weight gain to be muscle.
  • Hobartlemagne
    Hobartlemagne Posts: 581 Member
    Even the musclehead gym bros say 1g Protein per Lb of bodyweight.
    240 is too much. Maybe go with 175.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,377 Member
    No, don't cut your calories. Reduce the 40% to some number that puts you close to your gram goal. In free MFP, I believe you can only set goals in 5% increments. 175 grams (times 4 calories per gram) would be 700 calories, so 28% of 2500 calories. I'd say set to 25% or 30% and treat it as a minimum, personally.

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