Q: I want to maximize my four hours of weekly weight training by making sure I get enough protein in my diet. How much do I need? - N.N., Dallas, TX

A: At one time, most of the bodybuilders I knew drank about two gallons of milk a day for extra protein. They would chug-a-lug a gallon while training in the gym. But taking in high levels of protein isn't for everyone.

Most sedentary Americans get enough protein for building and repairing body tissue from their diet. For them, taking in extra protein may mean risking kidney overload. Unlike fats or carbohydrates, proteins cannot be stored. When a body takes in more protein that it needs, excess nitrogen is passed out (as urea) in the urine. Your kidneys have to work double time to process the nitrogen from a protein-heavy diet. This is why people with kidney problems are put on a low-protein diet. Since kidney function decreases with age, it also is important for older people to guard against excessive protein intake and to drink plenty of water to help flush the kidneys.

Figuring out exactly how much protein is necessary for an exercising individual can be tricky. The RDAs (Recommended Dietary Allowances) for protein, as well as for other nutrients, may be based upon questionable testing techniques and in some cases may be unreliable. The National Academy of Science's Committee on Dietary Allowances recommends 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight. However, some nutritionists believe more than twice that amount is needed by people who train regularly with weights. Over the years, I've concluded that a good, simple guideline is to divide your bodyweight in half. The resulting number will be the approximate number of grams of protein you need each day. At the same time, I am keeping an eye on the latest nutritional research to see if new findings alter this personal formula. But before you increase your protein intake, check with a doctor or nutritionist. You may have a reason to watch your protein levels that I can't be aware of.

Source: fitlinxx.com

rule of thumb dude...1.5 to 2 grams per lb of body weight.

so many guys think if they take in a ridiculous amount of protein each day that they will reap the benefits and get HUGE!!!! but alas, an excess of anything (whether it be protein, carbs or fat) that goes beyond your maintenance caloric intake will result in weight gain.

just try to make each of your meals have around 40g of protein...that is probably the most your body can synthesize in one sitting anyway..


remember tho, if you are on gear, your body can synthesize more protein than normal

good luck

bump, it also depends on your body's insulin, more insulin more absorption, to much protein can be toxic as well, kidney failure and gout

i dont believe there is a set number that people can only metabolize a certain amount. a lot of people say you can only metabolize 35g per meal. IMO and many others that is a myth, maybe certain people can only metabolize that much, but others can take in more. especially if your on gear then you can use even more. for example i get my blood work done once per month and my levels all check out normally. i eat 8 meals per day and every meal i consume between 50-75gm protein. (((the only thing in my blood work that comes up not good is my thyroid and i should be taking the t4 i was perscribed but i dont take it so its not getting better lol.)))
Iv'e talked to a lot of doctors about this and even two kidney specialists. half say that a lot of protein can cause kidney problems and the other half say it will cause no harm to the kidneys. i will go back and try to find the different emails from the kidney specialists and post them both.

to high of protein levels will cause kidney problems and gout, it runs in my family we are all hardcore meat eaters, my father had to get a kidney transplant due to to much protein in his life, this true, if you doctors says its not.....find another one ..cause he musta just got out of med school and he's still a rookie. Every human body is different, its like....I can eat Mcdonalds everyday for a month and i will still be lean, as for my buddy...he will get fat.
For me I take about 50-60gms per serving, I think its safe and its enough to give me great results, If I waste 25-30gms who cares better to have to much then to little.

Rex

good info, always nice to learn new stuff. ill be rolling with about 1gram of protein per my body weight so around 170 a day ^ ^

Lots of great info everyone. Protien is one of those mystery product no one really now about although every body needs protien in there diet or your muscles will go into a state of catabolism. No they are not going to eat any one. Catabolism is fatigue of the major protien cell in your body not processing the protien in your blood flow. So if they are any guys on this site who are hard gainers such as myself you have a slight case of catabolism. You would think you now need more protien more than ever but in my studies on myself i found taking 1.5grams a protien every day even off days was cluttering my kiddneys so i started experimenting. cut down to .75-1 gram of protien per body pound on my work out days only wow i started see some real results over a three month period so that is how i keep it. However, the big boys here who grow just looking at weights damn well know that they need 1.5-2 grams per body pound or they just simply will not grow.

Muscles are made up of these elements

Tissue
protien
creatine
water
small amount of blood almost non exeint trace of blood

What are the two key elements

Protien and Water

Start chugin boy's

man ill be pissing like a cannon. does a priotein shake count as 1 glass of water as well?

of couse is what my friend does is he mixes 400gms of protien in a one gallon water jug and drinks it all day. He is big wonder why???????????

thats whats in those big milk containers

Rex