what happens if you dont eat enough protein whilst bulking ?

[fendertele]

Curious what happens if a person isn't hitting anywhere near enough protein but is still eating enough calories to bulk... they would still grow ? would there be issues regarding healing ?

Or would there be no issue as said person is at least in a surplus, not quite as detrimental as someone that is cutting and not eating adequate protein?

[Mrpb]

Depends on many factors. But even with 0.5 gram protein per lb you’d still make decent gains.

[fendertele]

Depends on many factors. But even with 0.5 gram protein per lb you’d still make decent gains.

but just for talking sake... the person was living on bread and other high carb but low protein foods but still in a surplus... they then have the energy to go to the gym and lift like a monster... but how does the lack of protein then affect their recovery and growth ?

On paper they are in a surplus and should make gains but then were told protein is vital for recovery and growth so the massive lack of protein should then cause breakdown.

[Natty1980]

First of all if you are eating a lot of carbs you are also eating protein because most common sources (bread, pasta, rice) contain protein too...
If you are not eating enough protein to sustain your muscle development but you are on a calorie surplus, you will just gain more fat than muscle.
Calorie surplus = weight gain (not necessarily muscle gain).

[SuffolkPunch]

Being chronically low on protein is never going to be good for health or results. That shouldn't be a shock to anyone.

Having said that, you'd be hard pushed to eat less than about 70g of protein, even with processed foods when in a surplus.

[Mrpb]

but just for talking sake... the person was living on bread and other high carb but low protein foods but still in a surplus... they then have the energy to go to the gym and lift like a monster... but how does the lack of protein then affect their recovery and growth ?

Depends on many factors: age, genetics, how much protein he still gets, etc. Bread and rice still contain protein.

[boo99]

First time I think we had this question while bulking. Usually it's a concern with many while cutting

[fendertele]

First time I think we had this question while bulking. Usually it's a concern with many while cutting

True that I knew how bad it could be whilst cutting just for muscle retention alone, I was just curious if it plays a big factor if someone is bulking... could they make serious gains whilst low protein and not have any serious health issues being really low on it whilst pushing the body to its maximum performance lifting.

[Mrpb]

True that I knew how bad it could be whilst cutting just for muscle retention alone, I was just curious if it plays a big factor if someone is bulking... could they make serious gains whilst low protein and not have any serious health issues being really low on it whilst pushing the body to its maximum performance lifting.

You can ask the question a hundred times but if you don't even specify what low protein is you won't get any useful answer.

Hypothetically: 3200 kcal from bread would give about 110 gram protein. They'd make fine gains.

[sooby]

The role of protein is to build and repair muscle tissues as it pertains to building muscle in general, but has a whole host of other bodily functions that may indirectly aid this.

Presumably you would see less muscle gain and recovery. You will still grow muscle just probably not as much.

[Tommy W.]

Protein while cutting is much more critical than when adding muscle. With a calorie surplus and a sensible balanced diet, that generally covers protein needs when bulking up

[rtpmarine]

Surplus calories have to be either oxidized or stored. By under-consuming protein, you'll drastically reduce the likelihood that those excess calories are used to build or regenerate lean tissue, including muscle and organs. It's much more likely that they will go to increased energy expenditure or increased fat storage. The longer you deprive your body of protein, the more likely you are to experience a decrease in energy expenditure, because lean tissue degradation will drag down your basal metabolic rate. At that point, excess calories only have one place left to go.

Hypothetically: 3200 kcal from bread would give about 110 gram protein. They'd make fine gains.

Disagree. Insufficient leucine.

[snailsrus]

Having said that, you'd be hard pushed to eat less than about 70g of protein, even with processed foods when in a surplus.

thats what I was thinking even bread has protein like 35 slices of great value white bread (least nutritionally dense bread I can think of) at 2100 calories has exactly 70g of protein and enough iron

Surplus calories have to be either oxidized or stored. By under-consuming protein, you'll drastically reduce the likelihood that those excess calories are used to build or regenerate lean tissue, including muscle and organs. It's much more likely that they will go to increased energy expenditure or increased fat storage. The longer you deprive your body of protein, the more likely you are to experience a decrease in energy expenditure, because lean tissue degradation will drag down your basal metabolic rate. At that point, excess calories only have one place left to go.



Disagree. Insufficient leucine.

short term it would probably be fine, long term not so much

[Mrpb]

Disagree. Insufficient leucine.

3000 kcal from bread would supply 5 gram of leucine according to cronometer.com. It's suboptimal but more than enough to make substantial gains, especially for young guys.

People seem to forget that the 0.7 gram protein per lb recommendation already contains a generous safety margin. People can make substantial gains on much lower protein intakes (and leucine intakes).

[blissful88]

3000 kcal from bread would supply 5 gram of leucine according to cronometer.com. It's suboptimal but more than enough to make substantial gains, especially for young guys.

People seem to forget that the 0.7 gram protein per kg recommendation already contains a generous safety margin. People can make substantial gains on much lower protein intakes (and leucine intakes).

Wasn't that long ago all the "forum bros" were touting 1.5-2g+ protein per pound "to make gains"

What a joke.

[Mrpb]

Wasn't that long ago all the "forum bros" were touting 1.5-2g+ protein per pound "to make gains"

Yeah typical broscience. 0.6 gram per lb pretty much gives all the benefit.

[rtpmarine]

3000 kcal from bread would supply 5 gram of leucine according to cronometer.com. It's suboptimal but more than enough to make substantial gains, especially for young guys.

Interesting—I stand corrected. I thought it was like half that.

[desslok]

To answer your question, if you don’t get “enough” protein, you will get Kwashiorkor.