Protein: 1g per lb bodyweight, or 1g per lb LBM?

[FitnessFan76]

Seems that opinions are divided on this, and there are so many people putting forwards their opinion that I thought the best way to see what most people think would be to make a poll. Apologies if something like this has already been posted - I did do a search, but I didn't find any polls on this topic.

So - what is it guys? 1g per lb of total bodyweight, or 1g per lb LBM? Or is it 0.8g per lb of total bodyweight? For what it's worth, right now I am getting something like 140g of protein per day.

[schnauzers]

You might want to read this:

http://mennohenselmans.com/the-myth-...-bodybuilders/

And this:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=157248143

[cumminslifter]

all 3 could possibly be correct

[Ozieman3o5]

Either of the 3 will work just fine, although the second one might give you too low a number so i would much prefer in order of preference number 1, number 3, and finally number 2.

[shesprints]

1 lb lbm is correct for a larger % of the population... obese folks run into problems with these generalized calculations, of course...

[Mrpb]

The supported numbers by research are 0.64 to 0.82 gram per lb body weight.

If you're bulking and not so lean it's likely to be closer to the lower number, if you're cutting and lean it's likely closer to the higher number.

Or you can just go with 0.8 to play it safe.

If you're lean and cutting on a large deficit there may be psychological benefits to going higher than 0.8 gram per lb.

See also:
http://mennohenselmans.com/the-myth-...-bodybuilders/
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=156452743

[WonderPug]

Food for thought: With a rationally composed diet, it's almost impossible not to automatically consume sufficient amounts of protein, dietary fat and micronutrients.

[cumminslifter]

Food for thought: With a rationally composed diet, it's almost impossible not to automatically consume sufficient amounts of protein, dietary fat and micronutrients.

not in america chips and coke FTW

[FitnessFan76]

One other thing - would you eat the same amount of protein whether bulking or cutting? I'm cutting very soon, so it would be good to know.

[CroatiaBrah]

One other thing - would you eat the same amount of protein whether bulking or cutting? I'm cutting very soon, so it would be good to know.

For me bulking 0.8g per lb of total bodyweight (to save money), cutting 1.3-1.5 lb of total bodyweight (the satiating power of protein helps me not to be hungry when trying to be below 10% bf).

[Mrpb]

One other thing - would you eat the same amount of protein whether bulking or cutting? I'm cutting very soon, so it would be good to know.

I eat around 0.7 while bulking, 1 while cutting. There is some research that suggests it may help (mainly psychological).

[Lvisaa2]

The real question is what difference will it make in body compositions between these three numbers? Next to nothing, Not to mention I doubt you'll be hitting exactly the same protein daily so just get a decent amount and move on.

not in america chips and coke FTW

Because Americans have rationally composed diets.

[jked4life]

All 3 will work. I tend to lean towards the higher side, but that's just me.

Excess protein will become glucose. A little extra within the realm of what makes sense generally isn't a bad idea.

[Former300lber]

I've done 200g's a day, 150g's a day, and 100g's a day while cutting, the only difference's I ever experienced was when I was eating 100g's a day and my CHO intake was higher, I had a lot more energy in the gym, that's about it, My lift's stayed the same throughout all 3 experiment's, infact I was able to lift more with 100g's a day because of the increase in energy from carb intake.

Take that as you will.

[WonderPug]

I've done 200g's a day, 150g's a day, and 100g's a day while cutting, the only difference's I ever experienced was when I was eating 100g's a day and my CHO intake was higher, I had a lot more energy in the gym, that's about it, My lift's stayed the same throughout all 3 experiment's, infact I was able to lift more with 100g's a day because of the increase in energy from carb intake.

I experience increased energy with lower protein intake too, with best results at ~0.6 grams per pound of bodyweight. But I generally eat more protein than that because I enjoy protein rich foods.

That said, I replace protein with dietary fat, rather than CHO.

[rossmcd87]

As far as I am aware, and this should be shown in Emma Leigh's Sticky, the Scientifically proven figure is between 0.7-0.82g per lb of bodyweight. Various factors may change what is optimal but as a general rule that is the optimum range.

Having said that, I am currently aiming for 1g per lb to account for any inaccuracies in calculating how much protein I am getting in. That way, even if I have overestimated how much protein I am getting, I should still be within the optimal range.