How Much Protein Do I Need?

Protein is a key macronutrient when trying to transform your body. It’s a major component to the muscle building AND fat loss process. Protein is a low density macronutrient at only 4 calories per gram. When you compare that to 1 gram of fat at 9 calories per gram, you’ll quickly find the benefits of a higher protein diet. If you research the internet, you’ll find many different answers on how much protein you need. That’s because different people require different training plan and different diets. So what do you need? Keep reading to find out!

1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight

We recommend consuming at least 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight. For example, if you are a 200 pound man, we recommend at least 200 grams of protein daily. This number is different for women. For women we recommend at least .8 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight. This may seem difficult, and it is certainly a challenge. Need help finding foods high in protein? Read here to find the 3 best muscle building foods!

When should I eat protein?

Now that you know how much protein you need you may be wondering when you should consume it. It’s important to understand how your body digests protein first. Whenever you consume protein, it immediately starts getting digested in the stomach. The stomach breaks down the protein into their components: amino acids. These amino acids are transported throughout the body for each of their different purposes which starts the protein synthesis process. When too much protein is consumed, the excess is simply not absorbed. We recommend consuming no more than 40 grams of protein in one sitting, or you run the risk of “throwing away” precious protein. By spreading out your protein consumption across the entire day, you will force your body into a constant state of protein synthesis (the process of building muscle).

What are your favorite protein packed meals? Tell us below!