What is the best amount of protein to aim for when bulking?

[shivastorm]

Right now I'm bulking, 3500cals per day, 255g proteins per day, I'm 155. Do I really need that much proteins? When bulking, what's the best to aim for? 1.5 per pound? something around that? Or less than that is still efficient enough?

[dn27]

1) You PROBABLY don't need that much protein
2) Only by testing different levels can you be sure
3) Nothing wrong with having extra protein, it's a fuel source just like everything else
4) GENERAL rule, aim for 1g per ideal pound. Say you want to eventually be 200 lbs, then eat 200g protein.

[MeMojo]

1 gram per pound is the rule for every person on this planet to take.

While i did see some gains using that rule, my gains slowed down. I moved up to 1.5 grams per pound and the gains came back.

I just follow Milos Sarcev's rule (1.5g-2.0g) for adding mass, and it's working for me.

You need to see how you respond to 155 grams daily, then if you see slow or not desirable gains, move it up to 233 grams and so on.

I am taking in 266 grams (after calculating what i eat, and 44 grams of that comes from whey supplement, the rest is just plain food).

[shivastorm]

so for now if I'm bulking to 180lbs I should aim for around 180g of proteins until I see slower strength gains?

[MeMojo]

so for now if I'm bulking to 180lbs I should aim for around 180g of proteins until I see slower strength gains?

I would not say slower STRENGTH gains, more like slower WIGHT gains.

I started my bulk when i weighed 72kgs (158lbs), i stayed with 1 gram of protein per body weight and reached 75kgs (165lbs) in 5 weeks. But then, i stayed there for 2 weeks, no weight gain.

I bumped up my protein only (not carbs or fat) to 1.5 grams per pound, and 3 weeks later im now 77kgs (169lbs).

I really don't count calories, i follow Milos Sarcev's protein requirements:

"You can get away with 1 gram per lbs of body weight, but if you don't see desired results, try 1.5-2.0grams per lbs of body weight".

It worked for me, but off course, since you gain weight, you match that protein intake to it to achieve the goal.

[SpartacusWinch]

I've always heard if you want to put on weight, 1.5g per pound. I have never counted my calorie or protein intake back when I bulked. I just ate and ate and ate. It worked somehow, and I got to 200lbs from 165lbs. However, I am in much better shape now, than I was at at 200lbs, and more aware of my body. I'd stick to 1.5grams and eat a ton, good luck.

[Holyspokes]

I would not say slower STRENGTH gains, more like slower WIGHT gains.

I started my bulk when i weighed 72kgs (158lbs), i stayed with 1 gram of protein per body weight and reached 75kgs (165lbs) in 5 weeks. But then, i stayed there for 2 weeks, no weight gain.

I bumped up my protein only (not carbs or fat) to 1.5 grams per pound, and 3 weeks later im now 77kgs (169lbs).

I really don't count calories, i follow Milos Sarcev's protein requirements:

"You can get away with 1 gram per lbs of body weight, but if you don't see desired results, try 1.5-2.0grams per lbs of body weight".

It worked for me, but off course, since you gain weight, you match that protein intake to it to achieve the goal.

So you're saying you increased your calories and gained weight..

[FootBallBeast]

So you're saying you increased your calories and gained weight..

HOLY ****!!

[IGF-WON]

1) You DEFINITELY don't need that much protein
2) Only by testing different levels can you be sure
3) Nothing wrong with having extra protein, it's a fuel source just like everything else, but if you can have ore carbs/ fats youll have more energy
4) GENERAL rule, aim for 1g per ideal pound of lean body mass. Say you want to eventually have 200 lbs LBM, then eat 200g protein.

what i think in bold

[MeMojo]

So you're saying you increased your calories and gained weight..

LOL

Yes, i increased protein intake, which in term increased calories. But as i mentioned before, i don't count calories, i focus on getting 255 grams of protein daily, carbs and fat are used for energy. I adjust my carbs and fat on my activities.

It does make a difference when consuming 170 grams of protein daily and 255 grams (actually, im in the 260 gram range).

As long as you keep increasing you're intake (because you gain weight, you no longer need say 255 grams of protein, one would need 260, then 270, 280 and so on), you should be fine.

[icery]

LOL

Yes, i increased protein intake, which in term increased calories. But as i mentioned before, i don't count calories, i focus on getting 255 grams of protein daily, carbs and fat are used for energy. I adjust my carbs and fat on my activities.

It does make a difference when consuming 170 grams of protein daily and 255 grams (actually, im in the 260 gram range).

As long as you keep increasing you're intake (because you gain weight, you no longer need say 255 grams of protein, one would need 260, then 270, 280 and so on), you should be fine.

you don't count calories and randomly change carbs and fat. people suck at estimating calories and their food intake. basically you have no proof that your increased protein intake specifically is what caused any additional muscle or weight gain you claim

[lth]

1 to 1.2 g per lb bodyweight...anything past that is just adding calories; you'll reap no benefits from the extra protein past that mark.

[rockymac]

if you are gaining , then just eat ... all calories will probably count . proteins prolly is better than big mac ...

[dn27]

what i think in bold

???

[MeMojo]

you don't count calories and randomly change carbs and fat. people suck at estimating calories and their food intake. basically you have no proof that your increased protein intake specifically is what caused any additional muscle or weight gain you claim

I don't count calories, but i do watch my intake of carbs, fat and protein.

Now, if i increased my protein intake only from 1 gram per pound to 1.5 grams per pound and got results, which my carbs and fat intake stayed exactly the same, what does this mean??

I don't randomly change carbs and fat, acually since i started my bulking cycle 7 weeks ago, my carbs and fat are always the same. Remember, carbs and fat are used as ENERGY, they do NOT build any muscle at all.

They get adjusted as energy demand, but even when consuming 350 grams of carbs, i was not gaining weight, increasing protein intake here was obviously responsible for my weight gain. I only adjust my diet if my weight increased, and not more.

[icery]

1g - 1.5 is like an increase of 100g of protein for you

thats 400 extra calories a day. do that for around 10 weeks and its an almost 10 lb weight gain...