Anyone else eat less protein than people suggest?

[bruce9241]

I've been eating a lot less protein lately. I know people here suggest 1-2 grams of protein per body weight if you're cutting weight, but I've been eating maybe 1/2 gram of protein per body weight. I just got fed up with having to eat like 10 egg whites every 3 hours or so.

The thing is I don't think I've lost muscle or strength. My deadlifts have improved and my squats have maintained. My overhead press have maintained as well.

So... I sthe 1-2 grams of protein really necesarry? Keep in mind I'm not a professional body builder or weightlifter. Just a regular fat guy losing weight and getting strong. Maybe it's because I don't have too much muscle to begin with so I'm not losing the muscle I don't have?

 

[calveless wonder]

The whole eat a certain about protein per LB of bodyweight is a bunch of crap.

why?

Because your bodyfat isn't utilizing that protein in any way directly. The rule should really apply to LBM. I've had that discussion with a number of people who compete and they tend to agree. Actually my old personal training director(who was damn close to getting his pro card) was the guy who taught me this and it made a bunch of sense

The thing is, aside from spending more $$ and more pooping/gas, people can't really find a downside in eating protein so they just tend to go as high on protien as possible. whatever doesn't get utilized in the muscles will be used as fuel.

so it's not really detrimental (aside from your butthole and wallet), its just not necessary.

Your case is different yeah. If you're a "fat guy" you've probably had the muscle mass you've had for awhile. Homeostasis is a powerful thing. You're not going to need the same protein requirements for maintaining that base that you would need for building additional muscle. But the same rule applies. It's your LBM that needs the protein to build muscle, not the water weight or fat on your body.

 

[Smurfy]

Ive never eaten a lot of protein. Even when I had visible muscle development

 

[chris302001]

 

[empirebuilder]

I remember back in the day not sure what year. I watched craig titus do an interview and this was before he went completely fuggin nuts. He looked his absolute best and the guy doing the interview asked him what he did different to prepare for the show. He said he started working with some guy that was also involved with dorian. He cut his protein intake in half and also dropped a bunch of other carbs. After I watched this interview I was like wtf. I never really knew if he was full of shit or not. I have tried up to 2 grams per pound and to be honest I think anything over a gram is a waste for the average bro. It gets to the point where eating all that protein turns into a job. I like to have about 200- 250 grams per day and I weigh around 220-230.

 

[Strongbow]

500 grams is golden.

 

[manny78]

You dont wanna be around someone who eats 400g of protein ED.

 

[RottenWillow]

Really high protein consumption stresses the liver, and since the liver is a key player in anabolism, I can see this habit tending to inhibit muscle growth.

During a building phase I've found all I need is 1 gram daily of complete protein (eggs, meat, not grains or beans) per pound of LBM. I've never noticed any increased muscle gain at all from eating more than that. During maintenance phases about .70 per LBM pound is enough.

 

[calveless wonder]

the real key to protein is frequency.

missing meals has a far more drastic effect than the difference between consuming 30 grams of protein and 50 grams in a meal.

 

[Jocques Straap]

Total caloric intake is more important that Protein consumption.

There I said it.

Simple Physics, energy in vs. energy out. The single most important aspect of gaining or losing weight.