How many grams of protein should you eat a day?? Can some one tell me, or tell me where to find the information. I've been eating 120 or more grams of protein per day, 30 to 40 carbs per day...

it matters not how much you eat because you can't store protein in your body any excess above your daily need is excreted.

Enjoy

Lez

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BigLez Soon to be Littlelez

If you have never made a mistake then you've done nothing

Actually excess protein is converted to glucose in the liver (and sometimes the Kidneys) by a process called gluconeogenesis. Since Low carb "diets" aim to deplete glycogen stores (stored glucose) too much protein can defeat this purpose.


Here's a link to one way to calculate protein requirements.

http://www.he.net/cgi-bin/suid/~zone/prothd1

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Actually, Lez, that is a misconception; it doesn't really work that way.

Bertadot, if you have, or can get your hands on, the Protein Power book, it is a great resource for info like this. There is a calculation in the book you can do that uses your lean body mass and activity level to find the right amount of protein for you. It also gives you a way to calculate your lean body mass.

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In order to clculate protein requirements in the link above you will need to have an estimate of body fat %. Here;s another link for that.

http://www.he.net/~zone/prothd2.html

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Thanks for the information. Rob, I went to the web site you recommended and did the calculation. I've been eating way too much protein. Guess I thought eating till satisfied meant a heavy dose of protein. I've been stalled for a long time maybe this will help.

Thanks again
Roberta

I messed up

Thanks guys.
was fat I thinkig of
But look at my mantra

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BigLez Soon to be Littlelez

If you have never made a mistake then you've done nothing

... and be a little careful, Roberta. That site gave me a very low protein requirement. Too low, some think, and certainly lower than I generally get. It may be (just a guess, here) that because it is a Zone site, it anticipates that a larger number of carbs will be part of one's diet.

Whatever the reason, it found that I need about 60 gms per day. One egg for breakfast, couple of slices of ham & swiss for lunch and a piece of steak for dinner and I'm over my requirements. So I think, maybe, it might better be viewed as good ballpark estimate rather than a specific prescription. JMHO.

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this just confuses me so much. I'm trying to raise my carbs (maybe 40-50) trying to raise my calories cause they have been too low (trying to stay over 1500) - but in doing so my protein has risen also. this site says I should be around 105 - I'm generally hitting 120-150.
These number games are frustrating. Book says not to limit the meats and fish stuff, but that is where the protein is coming from - I'm going nuts!
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

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Mary Kay 1/1/04 - 232
5/19/08 (5/23/08) - sw226/(cw222)/mg210/fg160

This site will calc your BMI, no measure required

http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/av.htm

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LC - 7/3/03
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LOL! Not laughing AT you, MaryKay! Just sharing your frustration.

This is a very individualized business, in terms of both metabolism and psychology.

I had a brief flirtation with the zone before deciding that I felt too deprived and obsessed ... and no wonder if I only get 60 gms of protein per day. However, I freely admit that, at that time, I did my calculations from the book and may not have been doing it long enough to have gotten it right. But I seem to recall something like 7 or 8 "blocks" which seemed like not enough food, even when added to the carb and protein blocks I was allowed to satisfy me.

I'm also lucky, in that my satiety feedback mechanism seems to be miraculously intact - If I pay attention, I get appropriate signals telling me that I'm satisfied, so I can rely on that mechanism for portion control rather than careful measurements, calculations and percentages.

I'll also admit that I do NOT "speak math" fluently. Numbers make my hair hurt. The more numbers involved, the greater my discomfort. I think the arithmatical simplicity of counting only one macronutrient - concentrating on how it effected me - how I felt - and not bothering with any other calculations - was about the only thing that would have worked for me anyway.

I'm trying to be careful, here, since I think that there are many good reasons for paying lots of attention to all aspects of one's intake and I would never try to discourage anyone from taking a more comprehensive approach to weight loss. I do, however, believe that if one has the ability to differentiate between satisfied and stuffed, the Atkins program, without much attention to anything else, can lead to a normalized and sustainable weight. JMHO.

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well, then, maybe I shouldn't be trying so hard to raise the calories. I don't feel that comfortable with them at this level. I liked me when it was around 1300 - 1400 - it felt right.
I'm raising the carbs cause I trying the Curves diet - not such a huge emphasis on vegetables. I'm having a real problem with Atkins and the amounts of veggies I need to choke down. Well, got 3 more weeks on this to see how it works.
well , whatever - I'll get there sooner or later.

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Mary Kay 1/1/04 - 232
5/19/08 (5/23/08) - sw226/(cw222)/mg210/fg160

Lots of information here. Thanks, Maggie, for your help. I was eating around 130 or more grams of protein.. just a regular little hog dog. So,.. when I did the calculation it came out to 96 grams.. That made me decide I probably was just eating too much and the calories were running pretty high. I'm older than dirt and don't need as many calories, maybe I'll do better with reduction of protein. I've also started adding in fruit, maybe I'll get this last 10 pounds off without dynamite yet

And yes, Mary Kay, I understand going nuts LOL Having a little of that problem too!!
Trying to get everything in sync. and off the ole' bod.

Sean - I don't believe that BMI correlates exactly to body fat %. I mean if someone was a weight lifter and had 5% body fat but weighed 220 pounds tehy would have the same Bmi as someone who weighed 220 with 40% body fat. Assuming the same height.

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