Protein needs when cutting | Community Forum

midnightfalcon2.57RPOriginal post

7d ago

A guy told me he eats 600 grams of protein every day. My nutritionist says I only need 60 grams to maintain 170 lb. When I was bulking I was doing about 200 g/day, then dropped 50 g to 150 g and I still gained at the same pace. So what's the right formula for protein on a cut? I'm 170 lb, roughly 17.5% body fat, almost finished this cut — just planning ahead for next time.

10 replies

rustytrader9.9RP

6d ago

Bulk or cut, the protein target doesn't really change. The simplest rule is 1 g per pound, then adjust carbs and fat to meet your goals.

gripmidnight4.54RP

6d ago

Isn't the number something like 1.25 g per lb of bodyweight?

walkersailor7.62RP

6d ago

600 g/day sounds unreal unless the person weighs 400–500 lb. That kind of intake could eventually mess with the kidneys. You really don't need more than about 1.5 g per lb. I usually tell people to aim close to 1 g per lb, and you only absorb maybe 30–40 g per sitting.

lindas3.84RP

6d ago

A doctor working with an obese patient told me to increase protein during weight loss. That patient wasn't trying to build muscle, just trying to survive the diet.

readerharbor669.57RP

6d ago

That's what everyone else said. He sounded ridiculous, got defensive, and started posting photos of his physique.

quietfox3710.61RP

6d ago

My nutritionist told me the same thing. Keep in mind they're not bodybuilders — most focus on general health and repeat what they learned. For reference I'm at 1.5 g per lb split over five meals and it's working great.

benchly11.62RP

6d ago

I've heard recommendations from 0.8 to 1.5x bodyweight. If I go over 1 g per lb my digestion goes nuclear. Also I ignored trace proteins my first year and that was dumb lol.

jasonc3.02RP

6d ago

This is the whey.

grumpy729.04RP

6d ago

That advice is mainly to help overweight people feel fuller so they eat less. Often they consume a lot of fat paired with low-quality carbs that don't satisfy — fries, chips, ice cream, etc. — so upping protein helps with satiety.

ghostanvil287.02RP

6d ago

I can't recall the exact study, but I remember seeing that after roughly 0.8 g per pound you get big diminishing returns. I just try to aim around 200 g/day (I'm 215 lb).