Too much protein (and sugar)

k66ab
k66ab Posts: 5
in Health and Weight Loss
So, I've been doing this for about a week now, and the thing I've noticed with my daily stats is that I eat too much protein. Well, and sugar - but I'm working on that one. I'm staying under my calorie allotment, and amazingly enough, I'm usually under my daily carbs. I don't really want to eat more carbs, because I don't trust myself to eat only the good carbs. My question is - what problems do I face eating too much protein? Oh, and on the sugar issue - I eat a lot of fresh fruit, which has more sugar than I realized. Any suggestions on lowering sugar? Are there other fruits out there that have less sugar (I eat a lot of berries and bananas).

I've lost 3 lbs so far, and I'm still journaling - that's a true accomplishment for me!

Replies

  • Nanadena
    Nanadena Posts: 739 Member
    I almost always eat over on protein. I have lost 45 blbs and have maintained since last August. I do not eat much fruit because of the calories. The best fruit is berries.
  • Flixie00
    Flixie00 Posts: 1,195 Member
    I can't see your diary, but I should not worry too much. Protein is a good thing to go over on, whilst sugars also occur naturally in fruit, veg & dairy which could be sending you over.
  • amandamotley
    amandamotley Posts: 63
    MFP only has a 15% target for protein. I changed mine manually to 40% carbs, 30% each protein and fat, and I'm still usually over. Protein is the one you should be least worried about exceeding in my opinion! 15% is pretty low - and if I ate the amount of carbs they suggest I'd be a ballon of bloat.

    As for sugar, if it's mostly coming from fruit I wouldn't worry about it too much. Berries are lower in sugar than most fruit. :) Keep up the good work!
  • MyNameIsJess24
    MyNameIsJess24 Posts: 8
    I wonder that too. Especially about the fruit. Everybody knows that you should eat fruit but on here it seems like if you have more than one piece you are over on sugar. But I eat alot of it anyways. I think it is better to eat fruit as my snacks or for breakfast or whatever instead of limiting myself on it and then maybe eating something that isn't so good for me.

    And I have wondered about the protein too. Sometimes I go over but usally not too much so I don't worry about it.
  • jcr85
    jcr85 Posts: 229
    Hard to say really without seeing your diary. However I wouldn't worry about the sugar from fruit and unless 100% of your calories come from protein I wouldn't worry about it.
  • catpow2
    catpow2 Posts: 206 Member
    Make your diary accessible. You're actually probably not going over on protein. The MFP defaults are set too low for protein (if that's what you're using). Aim for 40/30/30. In terms of sugar, yes, it's in pretty much everything. Berries are a good choice as is cantaloupe. Try to stay away from packaged foods so you can get most of your sugar from fruit.
  • harebearva
    harebearva Posts: 216 Member
    To the best of me knowledge, there aren't any good peer based studies that say how much is too much protein. I wouldn;'t worry too much. As far as sugar, it can be a problem if you're diabetic, but otherwise, as long as you remain in a calorie deficit whilst trying to lose weight, the sugar isn't a tremendous concern. Alot of people seem to fear sugar and fat. As long as you're not downing spoonfuls of the stuff, what you get in whole foods, is OK in my opinion
  • SheehyCFC
    SheehyCFC Posts: 529 Member
    This question is asked pretty frequently. MFP sets you up with a "relatively low" percentage of protein intake. Do not worry at ALL if you are using MFP's defaults and going over.

    Most people will tell you not to worry about sugar from fruits. If you want a history on that topic use the "search" button. My personal take is that if it is mostly naturally occurring sugar (fruits), and not additive, you should be fine. Obviously if you have a genetic history of diabetes that changes the case, but in general - don't worry about it.

    I can't see your diary - but realize you should be getting SOME sort of carbs in your diet.
  • _TWLOHA_
    _TWLOHA_ Posts: 26
    http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50900

    Yes to much protein is bad. To much anything is bad you need to balance it all out.
  • CarolinaGirlinVA
    CarolinaGirlinVA Posts: 1,508 Member
    I go over on my sugar too, usually because I have a cup of milk in the morning (in order to get my meds down), and that has 1/2 of my daily allowance.

    How does MFP determine how much sugar you are allowed?
  • Karalopolous
    Karalopolous Posts: 574
    Are you using the MFP set goals for protein? I eat about 170 grams a day of protein, so I go over allll the time. DOn't worry about that unless you have been told by your dr not to eat so much.
  • krystina_letitia9
    krystina_letitia9 Posts: 697 Member
    I'm always over on sugar - because of the fruit I eat. I don't worry about it. As for protein, I don't worry about going over that either.
  • k66ab
    k66ab Posts: 5
    Thanks for all the great responses. I'm touched you'd all spend the time responding to me (though wondering, why are they doing so during business hours? ;-) Hey, wait a minute, I'm doing the same!!

    PS. I didn't know I could manually change the daily percentages, so that's another thing I learned today. I've been told I SHOULD eat more protein so maybe I will change my numbers. Thanks again, everyone! I'm really like this site!!
  • k66ab
    k66ab Posts: 5
    Make your diary accessible. You're actually probably not going over on protein. The MFP defaults are set too low for protein (if that's what you're using). Aim for 40/30/30. In terms of sugar, yes, it's in pretty much everything. Berries are a good choice as is cantaloupe. Try to stay away from packaged foods so you can get most of your sugar from fruit.

    LOVE your profile pic - Siamese cats are very cool, though their "meow" creeps me out a little. Sounds too much like a baby crying! :)
  • linz1125
    linz1125 Posts: 441 Member
    There is a big difference between added sugar and natural sugar. I wish they could be separated on labels!
  • Cathleenr
    Cathleenr Posts: 332
    http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50900

    Yes to much protein is bad. To much anything is bad you need to balance it all out.

    Lol a study published in 1992? For reals? And the original article was published 10 years ago.
    Ketones aren’t “toxic” and a ketogenic diets isn’t “high in protein”. It is high in fats and very low in carbohydrates, which forces your body use the ketones that are created by metabolizing fat and protein as fuel, instead of carbohydrates. It is very effective as a pediatric anti-seizure nutrition protocol and a by-product of the diet is true fat loss, instead of water and muscle tissue loss.
    Anyway.
    From the article:
    Ideally, you should consume 0.36 grams of protein for every pound of body weight, according to recommended daily allowances (RDA) set by the Food and Nutrition Board. So if you weigh 170 pounds, you need about 61 grams of protein each day. Protein should also make up approximately 15% of your total daily caloric intake, also according to the RDA. In a diet of 1,800 calories a day, for example, about 270 of those calories should come from protein.
    This is far from an ideal amount.
    Read what Alan Aragon has to say about the myth of high protein levels and check his study references if you are so inclined: http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/food_myths/High_Protein_is_Harmful.php

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