High Protein Diet Question - Weight Loss Message Board

DonutsNCoffee · 03-03-2003, 11:03 AM

Which is more important, the amount of protein you take in or the percentage of your total calories that comes from protein? For instance, people say you that if you want to follow a high protein diet in order to lose weight, you should get at least 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight. I weigh 150 so that means I should take in 150 grams of protein, which is an awful lot. Some experts choose to focus on the the percentage of your total calories that come from protein. The number I hear the most for people wanting to lose weight is 40%. To get these two measures to agree, I would need to take in 150g of protein which at 4 calories per gram would be 600 calories. And if that's 40% of my total, then I'd need to take in 1500 calories per day. But people tell me that 1500 is too low for someone my weight. So there's a conflict. Forget about whether the numbers I gave above are correct. Maybe 40% is too high. Maybe 1 gram per pound of bodyweight is too high. That's not really the issue. My question is which measure matters more, total grams of protein or percentage of total calories that come from protein?

Also, for those on a high protein diet, has it helped you lose weight and have you experienced any negative side effects?

Chelle1977 · 03-03-2003, 12:01 PM

Well, my understanding of the 1g. of protein per pound of body weight (which is a little high, I think you only need 0.8g per) is for gaining muscle. Not weight loss? And my understanding is also that you cannot do both at the same time (build muscles and lose fat). So, for loss, maybe you would focus on the % of total calories? The 40/30/30 plan is a higher-protein, lower-carb diet and it focuses on % .... (40% carbs, 30% protein, 30% fat).

I can't answer from the view of the actual diets.

I would recommend to never eat less than approximately 10 times your current body weight. By doing so, you increase the risk of putting your body into "starvation mode" where your body "thinks" there is a lack of available food and slows your metabolism down to conserve energy. Since 1500 calories is 10 times your weight, you might be ok at that level.

The National Registry of Weight Control states that, on average, the members of the database consume 1400 calories per day.

[This message has been edited by Chelle1977 (edited 03-03-2003).]

How tall are you? At 150lbs. and I'm assuming male (am I wrong?), it doesn't sound like you'd have much weight to lose? If you're trying to "cut", you might ask on Exercise and Fitness about cutting diets. They seem to be pretty knowledgeable over there. In fact, just posting this question over there would probably get you good results.

[This message has been edited by Chelle1977 (edited 03-03-2003).]