Is there such a thing as too much protein?

I realized that I have not been eating enough protein, and that that is probably why I have only been losing 4lbs per week. I know that 4lbs a week sounds reasonable, but I am only about 6wks out from surgery and should probably be losing more than that. I am working out twice a day, 30min in the morning when I get off of work and 45min when I get up in the afternoon. I have been told that not eating enough protein can actually put your body into starvation mode. I had no idea that would happen, especially because of all the exercising that I am doing. I went to Wal-Mart last night and purchased a whey protein powder that provides about 23g protein per serving. It only has about 155cal and 31g protein per shake when mixed with milk. I plan on trying to drink at least 4 a day. What I want to know is if 124g protein per day is too much?

I don't think you can get too much protien. But you should definitely stick to your surgeon and nutritionist's schedule. You need to watch the volume and calorie intake too, though I think at this early out it doesn't make a difference. Call your nutritionist with your concerns. Chances are they will tell you that you are doing fine and don't need to change a thing. Some people just lose slower than others. In the end, you all end up at around the same place. Kathy

This is a great question for your nutritionist, but from what I understand YES there is such a thing as too much protein. Your body can only process so much via the kidneys before you damage them, hence the protein that shows up in a urine specimen. This is not a good thing, which is why so many doctors and dieticians aren't crazy about a high protein diet like Atkins. My very knowledgeable trainer told me women only process about 20-25 grams at one time....I haven't researched how accurate this is, but I trust her. I'm not a doctor but I am a nurse, and I see on a daily basis how important the kidneys are. Maybe you could start with 1-2 shakes a day plus what you eat and see how you do from there? Either way I'd talk to the nutritionist...that's their job! Good luck and congrats on your losses so far...that's awesome

Thanks for the helpful advice. I have sent an email to my nutritionist this evening and I am awaiting a reply.

YES, I DO BELIEVE YOU CAN GET TOO MUCH PROTEIN ... I SPOKE WITH SOME PEOPLE AT A HEALTH FOOD STORE WHEN I FIRST STARTED EATING AFTER SURGERY & THEY WORK WITH A LOT OF BODY BUILDERS *****ALLY OVERDOSE ON PROTEIN TO BUILD MUSCLE BEFORE A COMPETITION. THE GENERAL RULE OF THUMB IS THAT YOUR BODY CANNOT PROCESS & USE ANY MORE THAN SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 20 - 30 GRAMS AT ANY ONE TIME (any snack or meal). IF YOU NOTICE, MOST PROTEIN PRODUCTS HAVE A SERVING NO MORE THAN ABOUT 30 GRAMS, & MOST ARE BETWEEN 15 - 25 GRAMS PER SERVING. USING MORE IS JUST GOING TO WASTE MONEY & USE UP YOUR DAILY ALLOWABLE CALORIES WITHOUT ANY BENEFIT. (Along with your protein count, be sure to check the Sugars on your protein products ... you want as close to 5 grams or less of sugar per serving - many protein products have a high sugar content. That will just sabatoge your efforts.) AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE REST OF THE PROTEIN IS WASTED ... YOUR BODY HAS TO RID ITSELF OF THE AMOUNT OF PROTEIN THAT YOU COULDN'T DIGEST & USE PROPERLY. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT ANYTHING YOU CAN'T PROPERLY DIGEST & USE WOULD PUT A STRAIN ON YOUR KIDNEYS FOR SURE, & ON OTHER ORGANS AS WELL. NICK IS DIABETIC & USES 2 SHAKES A DAY ... MORNING & BEFORE BEDTIME. HE ALSO USES 1 TO 2 PROTEIN BARS A DAY AT ABOUT 15 GRAMS EACH. THAT LEAVES A MEAL & A SNACK OF REAL FOOD. I USE 3 DIFFERENT PROTEIN BARS A DAY, 1 MEAL & 1 SNACK OF REAL FOOD A DAY, & MAYBE A SF OR NSA TREAT LIKE A SF FUDGECICLE OR POPCICLE. THIS WAY, I'M LESS TEMPTED TO CHEAT OR GOOF UP ON CARBS ... MY WEAKNESS IS WHITE CARBS LIKE FRENCH FRIES (I've had to completely quit eating them as I find I start out with 1 or 2 at a sitting & a couple weeks down the line, I'm eating 8 or 10 & suffering from my pouch being upset. So, I just had to put them on my NO-NO list. I've also substituted Quaker Soy Chips - white cheddar flavor ... which has soy protein for when I get a taste for chips or want something crunchy ... works wonderfully! You can get them at Wal*Mart ... just DON'T get the rice chips/cakes as they have absolutely no nutritional value or protein ...) ANYWAY, LET US KNOW WHAT YOUR NUTRITIONIST SAYS ... GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICk

I got a reply from my nutrionist today. She said that consuming 60g of protein a day would be plenty. I have decided to get at least 2 shakes in a day since they have 31g protein ea when I mix them with the Hood Milk [Which, by the way, tastes pretty darn good. ]. Thanks again for all of the sound advice.

I'M GONNA STICK MY FOOT IN MY MOUTH HERE ... 60 GRAMS OF PROTEIN A DAY IS NOT NORMALLY ENOUGH FOR AN AVERAGE WOMAN WHO IS EXERCISING ... ESPECIALLY ONE WHO IS ALSO STILL HEALING FROM MAJOR SURGERY. I'M USING INFORMATION FROM A COUPLE OF DOCTORS, SO I'M NOT BLOWIN' SMOKE FROM MY OWN IDEA OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE. BUT, SINCE YOU ARE ONLY A LITTLE OVER A MONTH POST OP, 60 GRAMS MAY BE ADEQUATE FOR YOU RIGHT NOW THIS FAR INTO YOUR JOURNEY ... PLEASE ASK YOUR NUTRITIONIST TO CLARIFY ... IS HER 60 GRAMS FIGURE JUST FOR NOW THIS CLOSE POST OP WITH YOU INCREASING YOUR PROTEIN AS YOU GET FURTHER OUT??? ... OR, IS SHE SAYING THAT AN ACTIVE WOMAN WHO IS EXERCISING NEEDS NO MORE THAN 60 GRAMS OF PROTEIN A DAY NORMALLY??? IF SHE SAYS THAT IS ALL YOU NEED NORMALLY, I'D HAVE TO SAY THAT IS A VERY LOW FIGURE. MOST SAY AROUND 75 GRAMS AVERAGE FOR WOMEN + 25 GRAMS IF YOU ARE EXERCISING FAIRLY VIGOROUSLY. BUT, YOU SHOULD GO WITH WHAT YOUR DOCTOR & THEIR STAFF/NUTRITIONIST TELLS YOU ... THEY KNOW YOUR INDIVIDUAL CASE & THERE COULD BE OTHER CIR****TANCES THEY ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION FOR YOU. ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT WHEN I INCREASED MY PROTEIN, MAINLY PLANT PROTEIN (SOY & WHEY), MY ENERGY LEVEL INCREASED & MY WEIGHT LOSS IMPROVED. MY LABS HAVE BEEN FINE AS WELL. &, MANY OTHER BYPASS BABIES HAVE HAD THE SAME RESULTS WHEN THEY INCREASED THEIR PROTEIN (UNDER DOCTOR'S SUPERVISION, OF COURSE) ... BUT, WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT. I DO THINK THAT 2 SHAKES IS PERFECT AS YOU WILL ALSO HAVE SOME PROTEIN IN YOUR NORMAL FOOD MEALS. GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU ENJOY THE FLAVOR. NICK & I ARE THE SAME WAY; THERE ARE SO MANY PROTEIN, SF & NSA FOODS THAT WE ENJOY THAT IT MAKES IT FAIRLY EASY TO STICK TO A GOOD MEAL PLAN THROUGHOUT THE DAY. KEEP UP THE GREAT EFFORT MS IRIS! GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICk

Thanks again for your wonderful advice. I am more likely to drink 3 shakes on most days b/c it is so much easier on me than eating real food. I really have no appetite at all. When I drink the shakes it seems as though I am only drinking and not eating and it's much easier to get it all down. With 3 shakes that will bring my protein up to over 90g, and I think I will be good to go with that. I also wanted to let you know that I walked 5 miles today on the treadmill!!! I am very proud of that. I am doing the bridge walk in about 5 weeks so I am trying to build up to 7 miles per day since that is the length of the race. Again, you are awesome and thanks for the encouragement, Dawn.