protein question

cgrout78
cgrout78 Posts: 1,628 Member
edited October 6 in Food and Nutrition
I see quite a few entries on protein shakes and whatnot, but I thought I read someplace that your body can only take in so much protein at one time, is that true? I try to get around 100 grams a day, but not more than 30 at one meal because I thought your body could only absorb about that at one time. Am I just imagining things?
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Replies

  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Read and learn

    http://www.wannabebig.com/diet-and-nutrition/is-there-a-limit-to-how-much-protein-the-body-can-use-in-a-single-meal/

    and i just had a meal with over 100g of protein in it...
  • cxxviii
    cxxviii Posts: 40
    Yes, if you eat more than 25g in a meal, the body saves the rest as fat. Sorry. At least that is what I have read.
  • Silverkittycat
    Silverkittycat Posts: 1,997 Member
    Read and learn

    http://www.wannabebig.com/diet-and-nutrition/is-there-a-limit-to-how-much-protein-the-body-can-use-in-a-single-meal/

    and i just had a meal with over 100g of protein in it...

    like. :smile:
  • cxxviii
    cxxviii Posts: 40
    You scare me a little....but just a little.

    :tongue:
  • cgrout78
    cgrout78 Posts: 1,628 Member
    Read and learn

    http://www.wannabebig.com/diet-and-nutrition/is-there-a-limit-to-how-much-protein-the-body-can-use-in-a-single-meal/

    and i just had a meal with over 100g of protein in it...

    Thanks so much for the link and the information. I really appreciate it.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Yes, if you eat more than 25g in a meal, the body saves the rest as fat. Sorry. At least that is what I have read.


    ^ this is nonsensical. Of all the macros protein is the least likely to be stored as fat
    Which means that the odds of protein being converted to fat in any quantitatively meaningful fashion is simply not going to happen. Certain amino acids are processed to a great degree in the liver (as I discuss in The Protein Book) and this can produce glucose, ketones and a few other things. But triglycerides (the storage form of ‘fat’) isn’t one of them.

    I imagine that if protein were going to be converted to fat, it would first have to be converted to glucose and only if the amount produced were then in excess of daily maintenance requirements would there be conversion to fat. But as noted above, this simply isn’t going to happen under any even reasonably normal circumstances. No human could eat enough protein on a daily basis for it to occur.

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/nutrition/excess-protein-and-fat-storage-qa.html
  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    Beat me to it!

    The max protein limit per meal is ridiculous lol
  • cgrout78
    cgrout78 Posts: 1,628 Member
    Beat me to it!

    The max protein limit per meal is ridiculous lol

    LOL...i'm really glad I asked then. I eat way more than my recommendation just because it makes me feel fuller and it keeps my blood sugar more stable, so I do shakes and drinks and add powder to my oatmeal..I was just hoping it wasn't all for nothing!
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    If the limit were 25g I'd be about 400lbs. I starting mooing yesterday in fact.
  • M3CH4N1C
    M3CH4N1C Posts: 157
    I agree with acg. With the dynamics of metabolism, how can you discern when and why protein will most likely be stored as fat?
  • gp79
    gp79 Posts: 1,799 Member
    If 25g, I'd be continuously angry. I'd have to eat 9 times per day, with a few hours between. When would I sleep?
  • BobbyClerici
    BobbyClerici Posts: 813 Member
    MFP sets their recommendations, and you should follow them barring any special need you have.
    I set mine manually higher, because I need more for muscle building.
  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    Beat me to it!

    The max protein limit per meal is ridiculous lol

    LOL...i'm really glad I asked then. I eat way more than my recommendation just because it makes me feel fuller and it keeps my blood sugar more stable, so I do shakes and drinks and add powder to my oatmeal..I was just hoping it wasn't all for nothing!

    Good to ask! Now you know that is a big myth :D
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    MFP sets their recommendations, and you should follow them barring any special need you have.
    I set mine manually higher, because I need more for muscle building.

    Actually you need just as much protein while dieting as you do while bulking in order to maintain muscle mass. MFP recs are pretty low. Should be 1 gram per every pound of lean body weight.
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    When I eat naturally and don't try to manipulate I tend to eat: 20% carbohydrates, 65% fat and 15% protein... so I manually set my goals for this macronutrient ratio... which is right along with the paleo camp. I feel best eating like this. I'm 35, 5'7" and weigh 128 at the moment, steadily losing a little less than 1 lb per week.
  • BobbyClerici
    BobbyClerici Posts: 813 Member
    MFP sets their recommendations, and you should follow them barring any special need you have.
    I set mine manually higher, because I need more for muscle building.

    Actually you need just as much protein while dieting as you do while bulking in order to maintain muscle mass. MFP recs are pretty low. Should be 1 gram per every pound of lean body weight.

    Oh, I agree totally, yet those who monkey with macro's need to know what they're doing. For those just starting and just learning, I won't advise that as it goes against the grain of conventional wisdom.

    That's advanced algebra and most folks are still learning how to add and subtract. Such folks need to crawl before they walk, walk before they run.
  • orgendoner
    orgendoner Posts: 7
    What are your goals? Check this website out. They set up nutrition and training plans if you're interested.

    http://www.bodybuilding.com/guides/
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    Eating 185grams a day divided by 30 would be 6 meals a day. I don't eat more than 4 usually so I should be a fat *kitten*.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Silverkittycat
    Silverkittycat Posts: 1,997 Member
    When I eat naturally and don't try to manipulate I tend to eat: 20% carbohydrates, 65% fat and 15% protein... so I manually set my goals for this macronutrient ratio... which is right along with the paleo camp. I feel best eating like this. I'm 35, 5'7" and weigh 128 at the moment, steadily losing a little less than 1 lb per week.

    I'm not Paleo but I did the same, what I eat averages out to 50% fat, 20/30% carbs and protein. It works for me, glad to see it works well for you too! :smile:
  • mahidac
    mahidac Posts: 126 Member
    protein is not stored as fat - it doesnt make biochemical sense for you body

    in order to store protein as a reserved fuel if you will for you body you would have to convert all of it to alanine, then convert it to acetyl-CoA then have the acetyl CoA be stored as adipose --> this process in fact requires ATP so there is no sense for your body to do it

    it is in fact very difficult for you body to use protein as a stored energy source - you are built to run off glycogen and adipose in the event of starvation - your body would not choose to use protein as a storage form, it will always convert glucose to glycogen when given the opportunity and further more if you ingest a high protein low carb meal, your body will not even be in a high glucose state and without the proper spike of insulin it couldn't even store fat at the time.
  • aippolito1
    aippolito1 Posts: 4,894 Member
    I average about 120g of protein per day.
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    delete
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    When I eat naturally and don't try to manipulate I tend to eat: 20% carbohydrates, 65% fat and 15% protein... so I manually set my goals for this macronutrient ratio... which is right along with the paleo camp. I feel best eating like this. I'm 35, 5'7" and weigh 128 at the moment, steadily losing a little less than 1 lb per week.

    I'm not Paleo but I did the same, what I eat averages out to 50% fat, 20/30% carbs and protein. It works for me, glad to see it works well for you too! :smile:

    For a while I kept scratching my head everyday when I looked at my numbers on here... wondering why the heck I kept going over on fat, and stayed under on some others. So I read some more on macronutrients and found this article: http://paleodietlifestyle.com/question-of-macronutrient-ratios/ What's funny is that I balked at those numbers and thought... no way. That's not enough protein and probably a little too much fat. I had logged all my meals for that day and then I went and changed the macro numbers to what this article suggested and then it made total sense: They were perfectly aligned... I mean almost perfectly... and I looked back over several days worth and did some calculating. I was almost consistently eating 20% carbohydrates, 65% fat and 15% protein!
  • Silverkittycat
    Silverkittycat Posts: 1,997 Member
    protein is not stored as fat - it doesnt make biochemical sense for you body

    in order to store protein as a reserved fuel if you will for you body you would have to convert all of it to alanine, then convert it to acetyl-CoA then have the acetyl CoA be stored as adipose --> this process in fact requires ATP so there is no sense for your body to do it

    it is in fact very difficult for you body to use protein as a stored energy source - you are built to run off glycogen and adipose in the event of starvation - your body would not choose to use protein as a storage form, it will always convert glucose to glycogen when given the opportunity and further more if you ingest a high protein low carb meal, your body will not even be in a high glucose state and without the proper spike of insulin it couldn't even store fat at the time.

    Like.
  • cxxviii
    cxxviii Posts: 40
    Ok, I'm feeling stupid for making my initial comment, but I don't make this stuff up. I have read it on many websites....ah the all reliable internet has failed me, say it isn't so....

    It started when I tried to help a friend of mine. She is about 150 pounds overweight and is on the Atkins diet (perpetual phase one). She has not lost weight. She says she eats around 1300 calories a day and only meat and veggies.

    I just couldn't wrap my mind around it. I love to help and solve puzzles so I started researching to try to figure out what is wrong with her metabolism.

    I still can't figure it out. But I stumbled upon a few articles that said she can't overdo the protein and I guessed that might be why she has so much body fat. I suggested that she eat carbs but she won't. She says if any carbs go in her mouth she gains two pounds right away. I'm stumped. Any ideas?
  • reeldancer
    reeldancer Posts: 156 Member
    Ok, I'm feeling stupid for making my initial comment, but I don't make this stuff up. I have read it on many websites....ah the all reliable internet has failed me, say it isn't so....

    It started when I tried to help a friend of mine. She is about 150 pounds overweight and is on the Atkins diet (perpetual phase one). She has not lost weight. She says she eats around 1300 calories a day and only meat and veggies.

    I just couldn't wrap my mind around it. I love to help and solve puzzles so I started researching to try to figure out what is wrong with her metabolism.

    I still can't figure it out. But I stumbled upon a few articles that said she can't overdo the protein and I guessed that might be why she has so much body fat. I suggested that she eat carbs but she won't. She says if any carbs go in her mouth she gains two pounds right away. I'm stumped. Any ideas?

    I have learned a lot from this post and I want to let you know how much I appreciate you coming back into the thread without guns blazing. All too often a poster who is corrected takes it personal and what could be a great post turns into a fight.
  • sigsone
    sigsone Posts: 311 Member
    bump
  • CoraGregoryCPA
    CoraGregoryCPA Posts: 1,087 Member
    Slightly off original topic, but why don't you refer your friend to MFP? However, most people are hesitant. My sister does the "crazy" atkins diet all the time. She is about 130 -150 lbs. When she eats carbs, it seems she gets chunky pretty quickly. But maybe she is overeating when they are eaten. I think her body reacts differently to carbs too, but if she would just figure out a good nutritional way to eat with carbs I don't think she would have this problem. In another words, gotta get your friend to become friends with carbs and figure out a balanced diet. I have to do this with my sister but she refuses to listen, even if I show her my diary and what I eat with the weight I've lost and easily keep off. Uneducated people!!
    Ok, I'm feeling stupid for making my initial comment, but I don't make this stuff up. I have read it on many websites....ah the all reliable internet has failed me, say it isn't so....

    It started when I tried to help a friend of mine. She is about 150 pounds overweight and is on the Atkins diet (perpetual phase one). She has not lost weight. She says she eats around 1300 calories a day and only meat and veggies.

    I just couldn't wrap my mind around it. I love to help and solve puzzles so I started researching to try to figure out what is wrong with her metabolism.

    I still can't figure it out. But I stumbled upon a few articles that said she can't overdo the protein and I guessed that might be why she has so much body fat. I suggested that she eat carbs but she won't. She says if any carbs go in her mouth she gains two pounds right away. I'm stumped. Any ideas?
  • oliviapeacock
    oliviapeacock Posts: 13 Member
    Very informative read. Thanks for posting.
  • mahidac
    mahidac Posts: 126 Member
    Ok, I'm feeling stupid for making my initial comment, but I don't make this stuff up. I have read it on many websites....ah the all reliable internet has failed me, say it isn't so....

    It started when I tried to help a friend of mine. She is about 150 pounds overweight and is on the Atkins diet (perpetual phase one). She has not lost weight. She says she eats around 1300 calories a day and only meat and veggies.

    I just couldn't wrap my mind around it. I love to help and solve puzzles so I started researching to try to figure out what is wrong with her metabolism.

    I still can't figure it out. But I stumbled upon a few articles that said she can't overdo the protein and I guessed that might be why she has so much body fat. I suggested that she eat carbs but she won't. She says if any carbs go in her mouth she gains two pounds right away. I'm stumped. Any ideas?

    I have definitely been duped by a fair few articles and websites as well - you definitely are not stupid at all. Now I will say though in your defense that sometimes people who are bodybuilding (not dieting) think that excessive amounts of protein with no carbs is a good idea for meals, but that just doesn't work for bodybuilding - your body may not use protein as a long term energy source but It can certainly use it short term if it needs to!

    So you very well may have read someone trying to say you can only use 30g at a time in regards to being anabolic (though I think that number is highly variable and have no idea if thats true or not) - but yeah a lot of the stuff I read just plain goes against what I have learned

    ---

    I could totally be off for your friend, but one of the problems with atkins is obviously fiber supplementation, and another is that once you wean your body off of glucose and it starts being ketogenic (ketogenic means that you are now oxidizing fat as an energy source - when you oxidize fats you are generating ketone bodies hence sometimes why low carb is referred to as ketogenic) then when you introduce glucose your body will hit a high glucose state shut off all its glucagon and start pumping glycogen with the insulin it now has - the best way to stop this is to tell your friend that if they really want carbs to try and exercise before because the insulin/glycogen balance is so important to a sub 40-50g carb diet
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