Protein

cindy4mica
cindy4mica Posts: 777 Member
edited November 10 in Food and Nutrition
How does too much protein affect one's body? I keep seeming to go over.

Replies

  • fraudbuster
    fraudbuster Posts: 9
    Me too. I don't agree that MFP is realistic on protein. I posted a question about it myself, as I am fairly new at this.
  • bborash
    bborash Posts: 1
    Interesting, I don't gt enough!....Suggestions?
  • jj1983
    jj1983 Posts: 146 Member
    How do you go over? I can't get enough!!! lol
  • usc2626
    usc2626 Posts: 186
    MFP's set protien is to low for most people. You are more than likely not getting enough. I change my settings to 30% protien some on here have set even higher.
  • cindy4mica
    cindy4mica Posts: 777 Member
    How do you go over? I can't get enough!!! lol

    I don't know! The only "extra" protein I consume is the powder I occasionally put in my milk. Everything else is naturally in the foods I eat.
  • cindy4mica
    cindy4mica Posts: 777 Member
    MFP's set protien is to low for most people. You are more than likely not getting enough. I change my settings to 30% protien some on here have set even higher.

    How do I change my settings?
  • Starlage
    Starlage Posts: 1,709 Member
    cindy, you wouldn't be getting too much unless you're like 150g a day or higher- that's like body builder level and just unnecessary (not harmful). It's recommended about 1g per pound of lean body mass- which if you don't know what that is I'd say shoot for a perotein level within the poundage range of your body's healthy BMI (for me at 5'1" and currently 154 i'm eating 115-130g a day).

    Change your goals by going to home>goals> change goals> custom and then change your settings to 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat (this is also what i'm doing)
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    MFP's set protien is to low for most people. You are more than likely not getting enough. I change my settings to 30% protien some on here have set even higher.

    How do I change my settings?

    Goals/ Change/ Custom then reset you % to whatever you want! The default settings are 55% carbs and I forget how the balance is split. From what reading I've done, I want to be slightly ketogenic to support my weight loss and increase my insulin sensitivity so I've set my carbs to be around 80 grams per day and let the other macros fall in to place. Many recommmend a 40 carbs, 30/30. That's not bad either but not at ketogenic but if you watch total cals, you lose weight non the less. If interested, feel free to check out my diary. It's public.

    PS: A general rule of thumb is .7 to 1 gram of protein per lb of lean body mass. Set it to that and let the others fall in and that's another way to skin the cat. This assumes you are getting some exercise.
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Wouldn't worry about it, not a bad thing at all.
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    You should ideally be eating ~1g of protein per lb of lean body mass; mfp's protein numbers are insane.
  • Bevkus
    Bevkus Posts: 274 Member
    Wearing my protective gear....

    To actually answer your question...there are no adverse affects of going over your protien grams. This is the low carb way of life...and great for diabetics and PCOS. If the MFP suggestions bother you, change the macros, as was suggested...but don't worry about the protien..it's good for you and will keep you full and satisfied!!

    Bring on the negative low carb comments...I am ready
  • cindy4mica
    cindy4mica Posts: 777 Member
    You should ideally be eating ~1g of protein per lb of lean body mass; mfp's protein numbers are insane.

    Please don't think I'm an idiot, but how do I calculate that? What exactly is "lean body mass"?
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    You should ideally be eating ~1g of protein per lb of lean body mass; mfp's protein numbers are insane.

    Please don't think I'm an idiot, but how do I calculate that? What exactly is "lean body mass"?

    Body Fat in lbs. =
    (Total Bodyweight) (Body Fat Percentage (in decimal form))

    Lean Body Mass =
    Total Bodyweight - Body Fat in lbs.


    So someone who weighs 173 pounds with a body fat percentage of 17.5% would calculate as follows:




    (173)(.175) =

    30.3 lbs. of body fat


    173 - 30.3 =

    142.7 LBM

    http://www.gain-weight-muscle-fast.com/lean-body-mass.html

    I should also add that watching your lean body mass, should be the bell weather in regards to your dieting efforts. If you're losing LBM then you're diet is bad.
  • nikkisa10
    nikkisa10 Posts: 31 Member
    You can try http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm to easily figure out your macros.....hope that helps
  • cindy4mica
    cindy4mica Posts: 777 Member
    You should ideally be eating ~1g of protein per lb of lean body mass; mfp's protein numbers are insane.

    Please don't think I'm an idiot, but how do I calculate that? What exactly is "lean body mass"?

    Body Fat in lbs. =
    (Total Bodyweight) (Body Fat Percentage (in decimal form))

    Lean Body Mass =
    Total Bodyweight - Body Fat in lbs.


    So someone who weighs 173 pounds with a body fat percentage of 17.5% would calculate as follows:




    (173)(.175) =

    30.3 lbs. of body fat


    173 - 30.3 =

    142.7 LBM

    http://www.gain-weight-muscle-fast.com/lean-body-mass.html

    I should also add that watching your lean body mass, should be the bell weather in regards to your dieting efforts. If you're losing LBM then you're diet is bad.



    Ok, based on your formula, I have a lean body mass of 99.8. Does this mean I should be eating almost 100g of protein per day? And how can I tell if I'm losing fat vs. LBM? I'm sorry for all of the questions, but right now in regards to my diet I'm thinking go big or go home. I want to do it right this time so I can be healthy and keep off the weight as well. Thanks for your advice:)
  • kljan
    kljan Posts: 15 Member
    great site, thanks
  • cindy4mica
    cindy4mica Posts: 777 Member
    You can try http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm to easily figure out your macros.....hope that helps

    Thank you! I bookmarked this website to help with calculating calories burned during exercise. What a great site!
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    You should ideally be eating ~1g of protein per lb of lean body mass; mfp's protein numbers are insane.

    Please don't think I'm an idiot, but how do I calculate that? What exactly is "lean body mass"?

    Body Fat in lbs. =
    (Total Bodyweight) (Body Fat Percentage (in decimal form))

    Lean Body Mass =
    Total Bodyweight - Body Fat in lbs.


    So someone who weighs 173 pounds with a body fat percentage of 17.5% would calculate as follows:




    (173)(.175) =

    30.3 lbs. of body fat


    173 - 30.3 =

    142.7 LBM

    http://www.gain-weight-muscle-fast.com/lean-body-mass.html

    I should also add that watching your lean body mass, should be the bell weather in regards to your dieting efforts. If you're losing LBM then you're diet is bad.



    Ok, based on your formula, I have a lean body mass of 99.8. Does this mean I should be eating almost 100g of protein per day? And how can I tell if I'm losing fat vs. LBM? I'm sorry for all of the questions, but right now in regards to my diet I'm thinking go big or go home. I want to do it right this time so I can be healthy and keep off the weight as well. Thanks for your advice:)
    That is correct.

    You would measure your bodyfat % and use that formula. If you're lean body mass drops, you're losing muscle. If it gains you're on the right track. Now, before anyone says anything. MOST people, lose LBM when dropping weight. Then again those are the same people who do endless hours of cardio in a calorie deficit.

    Take it for what it is worth.

    "The importance of knowing your LBM? What if your trip to the scales showed no bodyweight gain in two weeks time? Is it then time to make some big adjustments to your program? Maybe, maybe not.

    Your lean body mass number could show that you actually gained muscle (and, necessarily, lost some body fat) which means your program is doing well and you probably wouldn't want to change a thing.

    And, of course, if your bodyweight is moving skyward, you should temper your enthusiasm until you get an accurate estimate of your lean body mass. It may just be body fat you are gaining."
  • divamsm
    divamsm Posts: 79 Member
    How do you go over? I can't get enough!!! lol

    I don't know! The only "extra" protein I consume is the powder I occasionally put in my milk. Everything else is naturally in the foods I eat.

    I always go over too! I guess that's just what I eat.
  • mightn
    mightn Posts: 35
    I just did a quick Lean Body Mass calculation on an online calculator, it just took my height and weight and it gave me this message

    Results:
    According to your measurements - weight of 248 pounds and height of 6' 6", your lean body mass is estimated to be 181.74 . Since the ideal body fat percentage for men is 15%, your ideal lean body weight is 171.12 pounds. Remember these are guidelines; your physician should help you determine the ideal weight and body fat for you.

    You may be thinking that your lean body mass is your ideal weight or your weight if you were a true "lean machine." Well, it’s not. Your lean body mass is sum of the nonfat parts of your body like muscle, organs, blood and water.

    So should I be looking to have 181 grams of protein a day? MyFitnessPal has me at 66 :ohwell: I usually go over this by a little bit.

    That is a massive difference or am I doing something wrong? I am on a calorie deficit of 1000, eating 1770 a day and have lost 26 pounds in 7 weeks. So I am really happy with my progress. I have done about 3 weeks of heavy lifting after 4 weeks of just cardio.

    Am I eating enough protein?
  • mightn
    mightn Posts: 35
    bump
  • suziecue66
    suziecue66 Posts: 1,312 Member
    The protein is low but you are losing - as long as you are losing mostly fat and not too much lean muscle mass. Perhaps you can up the protein a bit and see what happens - even up to 100g.
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    Yes. If you don't want to fiddle with all the math, you can always just round up to your total body weight in protein, but if you are carrying around a lot of fat that's probably too expensive ;)

    @mightn: no, you're not. If you're heavy lifting you need to LOAD protein to fuel muscle synthesis. More muscle = greater BMR = more calories burned.
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    Ok, based on your formula, I have a lean body mass of 99.8. Does this mean I should be eating almost 100g of protein per day? And how can I tell if I'm losing fat vs. LBM?

    The only way to tell is to continue to check and re-check your body fat % as you go, but as a general rule, if you are doing any resistance training, you won't lose muscle. There are a lot of sources that say even strength training each muscle group once a week is sufficient to maintain existing muscle.
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    I just did a quick Lean Body Mass calculation on an online calculator, it just took my height and weight and it gave me this message

    Results:
    According to your measurements - weight of 248 pounds and height of 6' 6", your lean body mass is estimated to be 181.74 . Since the ideal body fat percentage for men is 15%, your ideal lean body weight is 171.12 pounds. Remember these are guidelines; your physician should help you determine the ideal weight and body fat for you.

    You may be thinking that your lean body mass is your ideal weight or your weight if you were a true "lean machine." Well, it’s not. Your lean body mass is sum of the nonfat parts of your body like muscle, organs, blood and water.

    So should I be looking to have 181 grams of protein a day? MyFitnessPal has me at 66 :ohwell: I usually go over this by a little bit.

    That is a massive difference or am I doing something wrong? I am on a calorie deficit of 1000, eating 1770 a day and have lost 26 pounds in 7 weeks. So I am really happy with my progress. I have done about 3 weeks of heavy lifting after 4 weeks of just cardio.

    Am I eating enough protein?
    You are 6ft 6 and only consuming 66?

    Increase to 180 now!

    Your numbers are off. From your height and weight alone, your maintenance should be higher.
  • tinawharrison
    tinawharrison Posts: 123
    Scientifically protein is worked out by your bodyweight in kg x 0.75. MFP sets this too low! For example: 100kg x 0.75 = 75g of protein. This is what I aim for, especially on exercise days.
  • almonds1
    almonds1 Posts: 642 Member
    You should ideally be eating ~1g of protein per lb of lean body mass; mfp's protein numbers are insane.

    Please don't think I'm an idiot, but how do I calculate that? What exactly is "lean body mass"?

    Body Fat in lbs. =
    (Total Bodyweight) (Body Fat Percentage (in decimal form))

    Lean Body Mass =
    Total Bodyweight - Body Fat in lbs.


    So someone who weighs 173 pounds with a body fat percentage of 17.5% would calculate as follows:




    (173)(.175) =

    30.3 lbs. of body fat


    173 - 30.3 =

    142.7 LBM

    http://www.gain-weight-muscle-fast.com/lean-body-mass.html

    I should also add that watching your lean body mass, should be the bell weather in regards to your dieting efforts. If you're losing LBM then you're diet is bad.


    THIS****
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