Confused about protein amounts

MFP has protein set Very low. You should aim to be eating a gram of protein for every pound of lean body mass. So it's not likely that you are over!

MFP has protein set Very low. You should aim to be eating a gram of protein for every pound of lean body mass. So it's not likely that you are over!

I agree, I go over their recommended protein level intentionally.

It's usually safe enough to get up to 100g protein a day.

The default settings on MFP are quite low for protein - you can adjust this on the custom settings.

How do we work out the percentage of lean body mass?

You'd need to know your body fat percentage and multiply that by your total weight. Then subtract that product from your total weight and this is your LBM (Lean Body Mass)

Ie. BF is %25 and total weight is 130.
.25 x 130 = 32.5
130 - 32.5 = LBM of 97.5 lbs

on a daily basis I am way over my protein "allowance" and way under my carb "allowance" -- purposely because my body responds better to higher protein and lower carb -- I think most bodies function better that way....

Thanks for showing us how to work lean body mass. Very helpful.

Not all calories & nutrients are created equal. Protein can be burned as energy (calories). But it is also one of the basic building blocks for your muscles, hair, fingernails etc. So not all of the protein you eat is burned; some will be used to repair & rebuild your vital systems, especially if you've been straining your muscles by exercising a lot.

Also, the chemical reaction that burns fatty acids also requires amino acids (from protein). It's like a fire that requires both fuel and oxygen to burn: if you take away either ingredient, the fire goes out, right? To burn fat, the reaction requires roughly 1 part protein for every 3 parts fat. So if you're trying to burn fat, it is beneficial to make sure you're eating plenty of protein to keep the reaction going.

So:
If you're just trying to maintain your weight and your current body mass, you can go by the MFP recommended guidelines.

If you're exercising a lot or strength training or trying to build muscle, you should aim to eat a gram of protein per every lb of lean body mass (which you can have measured by your doctor, or a lot of free clinics and gyms have a machine that will give you a rough estimate).

If you're trying to lose weight, you should aim to eat a gram of protein per every lb of your TOTAL body weight. That's what I've been doing, per my doctor's orders. I started out at over 300 lb 9 months ago, so I ate 300g protein per day (split up into 6 meals, that made it a bit easier and also kept my metabolism stable since I have hyperinsulinemia). Now I'm under 250 so I aim for at least 250g per day, but I certainly don't worry if I go over.

Most people's bodies prefer to use protein rather than store it, so it's highly unlikely that eating extra protein would ever result in weight gain; if you do eat more than you can use, it generally passes on out of your body.
The only caution is for people who already have an existing condition that has weakened your liver and/or kidneys. Processing extra protein can put a strain on those organs if they are already weak (just like too much exercise can cause a heart attack in someone with a weak heart). But for a normal person, there's no danger in overdosing on protein.

Hope this helps. Good luck to you!