Only 42 gr of proteins a day ?

[Val THOM]

Hi ! I just found my daily requirements in calories, proteins, carbs and fat. Know what ? Only 42 gr of proteins a day !!!!! It's 6 pm in London, I have 2 meals to go, and already ate 78 gr of proteins ! The highest recommendation is 87 for my size and my high training level. No wonder I can't get rid of my body fat (20%) : I reached 78 gr today with only half a 25g serving of whey protein to balance my carbs at breakfast, I had a sandwich with 2/3 chunks of chicken, and yeah I admit, several glasses of milk (!!!). I read that too much proteins can be dangerous, and is stored as fat if unused, so I want to stick to the recommendation. How do you do it, guys, how do you stick to an amount of proteins so easily exceeded ?????

[MsFit]

Less then 100 grams of protein and weight training? I'm not sure of your exact goals. What are your stats? Excess protein can be stored as fat, but I don't think you are near your requirements.

I've taken in up to 150 gms of protein a day off season and precontest it decreases, but I never go below 110 grams.
MsFit

[Val THOM]

Well, my stats are 5'8", 125 lb, and my goal is to get a lean body : I've got excess fat from waist to knees, and try to lean that part of my body. To do so, I lift weight 5 days a week (plit routine) + at least 20 mn cardio the same days. My upper body is fine, great definition (my body fat assessments range from 16 to 20 %, depending on the calculator). My lower body doesn't keep me satisfied. So I try to improve my diet and searched on calculators the right amount on proteins, fat and carbs for me. All give the answer of 42 gr proteins a day, which, of course, seems ridiculous to me ! It's so easy to go beyond the limit ! What do you think of it ?

[Hibiscus09]

I try to get in a gram per pound I weigh (121 lbs.). Usually I end up in the 130s on protein grams. I think 42 grams is not enough if you're weight lifting. Sometimes I wonder, though, if I'm going a little overboard. Ms. Fit, what do you think? Why do you lower your protein as you get closer to a contest? Is it just because you're taking in less of everything as you're leaning out? When I was getting ready for a contest my trainers had me eating well over 200 grams of protein, 50 carbs & hardly any fat -- I was absolutely ill.

[MsFit]

Originally posted by Hibiscus09
Ms. Fit, what do you think? Why do you lower your protein as you get closer to a contest? Is it just because you're taking in less of everything as you're leaning out? When I was getting ready for a contest my trainers had me eating well over 200 grams of protein, 50 carbs & hardly any fat -- I was absolutely ill.

I shoot for 1-1.5 grams of per pound of lean body mass, not total weight. As I diet down I lose weight and don't need as many calories so I lower all my macronutrients a little at a time so there's no major shock. Normally by contest time I'm weighing anywhere from 110-115 lbs total bodyweight, not lean body mass which could be anywhere from 105-108, ballpark. So in essence, I'm still consuming 1 gram of protein per pound of lean body mass. When I'm dieting down my goal is not to necessarily build, but rather maintainence.

I cycle my carbs as I diet, eventually lowering them a good bit, but in the same respect I add more essential fat.

Hib, I've done the 200 gms of protein, 50 carbs and 0 fat for a contest and thought I was dying backstage. I lost a lot of hardearned muscle that I worked hard for that season as was pissed off at myself. Granted I won, but the point is I could have been in much better condidtion, not to mention feeling a little better.

I was talking to a judge 3 weeks prior to the show and she said I was coming down just fine. When my show came about she pulled me to the side after pre-judging and she said, "You were ready 3 weeks ago, what did you do?" I was flat, strung out, and it was apparent that I was weak and on the verge of illness.

I've sumed it up to this; If what you are currently doing is working, don't change it. I know you get nervous before a contest and think that making a change will bring you in harder, but drastic changes cause all sorts of reactions and water retention. The saying here is 'Don't poke a skunk'.

Best advice, know your body and listen to it.
MsFit

[Hibiscus09]

Thanks! I think I need to lower my protein grams down to about 100 & start cycling carbs. I know you listed on this site somewhere how to go about cycling carbs -- I'll look for that.

[Val THOM]

Cycling the carbs is really hard ! I started two weeks ago... but is that for dieting reasons you do so or is that useful to boost metabolism ? I'd like to boost my metabolism, my weight is ok (probably too light in fact : 19 BMI). But about proteins, now I won't pay that much attention. Do you adjust your requirements the day you skip the gym ? or just do the same diet everyday, even if your training is more or less intense ?
Anyway, it seems being a bodybuilder for competition requires heart and energy...I couldn't do so !