What happens to excess protein when you're in caloric maintenance?

[beeeyandizzle]

For example, I'm 146 lbs, but usually I'll ingest about 160 to 180 grams of protein daily. That's higher than 1g protein per 1 lb bodyweight. However, I'm eating at maintenance calories (sometimes a small deficit.) So what happens to the excess protein that I apparently "don't need" if I follow the rule of 1g protein per pound of bodyweight? Does it just become energy? Do I just end up ****ting it out? What exactly happens to it?

Also, does eating excess protein but eating at maintenance calories have an effect on body composition?

I know for a fact that I'm not eating higher than maintenance because my weight has remained the same for weeks now.

Extra info:
I'm 5'11''
I do cardio 5x a week (3 miles running)
I do weight training 3x a week (light to moderate intensity about 90 mins max per session)

[determined4000]

For example, I'm 146 lbs, but usually I'll ingest about 160 to 180 grams of protein daily. That's higher than 1g protein per 1 lb bodyweight. However, I'm eating at maintenance calories (sometimes a small deficit.) So what happens to the excess protein that I apparently "don't need" if I follow the rule of 1g protein per pound of bodyweight? Does it just become energy? Do I just end up ****ting it out? What exactly happens to it?

Also, does eating excess protein but eating at maintenance calories have an effect on body composition?

I know for a fact that I'm not eating higher than maintenance because my weight has remained the same for weeks now.

Extra info:
I'm 5'11''
I do cardio 5x times a week (3 miles running)
I do weight training 3x a week (light to moderate intensity about 90 mins max per session)

since you need the calories from protein to acheive your caloric maintenace, the nergy from fat and carbs aren't sufficient so you will use the protein as energy
you could ave money and get added nutrients by shifting the excess to carbs/fat

[beeeyandizzle]

since you need the calories from protein to acheive your caloric maintenace, the nergy from fat and carbs aren't sufficient so you will use the protein as energy
you could ave money and get added nutrients by shifting the excess to carbs/fat

Thanks! Is there any advantage of shifting the excess to one type of macro over the other if my goal is just to maintain muscle?

[BeyondThePain]

My doctor talked to me about this. He said i was getting excess protien in my diet, and my body was flushing it out through my urine...."supposedly"

[CharonRower]

Thanks! Is there any advantage of shifting the excess to one type of macro over the other if my goal is just to maintain muscle?

No. Protein is just a more expensive macronutrient. If you already have 1g/lbs, you're good.

[Former300lber]

My doctor talked to me about this. He said i was getting excess protien in my diet, and my body was flushing it out through my urine...."supposedly"

As far as I'm aware, the ammonia byproduct of protein metabolism can only be excreted threw sweat, not the urine.

[NutritionKing]

you will pee out ammonia and sweat ammonia but that is not the protein.

For some reason protein makes you sweat like your body converts it to heat. Keep your cals the same and up to like 550 pro for an experiment and you will sweat like a horse. It is interesting

[Scaryballs]

there is no negative to getting too much protein, all a myth. yes excess will be turned into energy. but then better safe than sorry.

however in your case, you are what i weighed when i was about 12 years old at 6'0 tall. whilst most people should be consuming 200/300 calories above maintenance, in your case I would try 500/600, possibly a few hundred more. You don't advise too high calories because else you dreamer bulk and have fat gain, rather than just muscle gain...but in your case, because you're so small, it's better safe than sorry again to get a few more calories and risk putting on a few pounds of fat...which incidentally might not increase your body fat % if you're putting on lean muscle as well...you might even go down.