Hey all,

I'm currently about 250 pounds, down about 50 or so from my previous high and with about 50 more to go.

I have been lifting weights and doing cardio in addition to eating clean - using a 50% protein, 30% carb, 20% fat split, which is what many advocate for cutting.

My question is this: Others say that you should eat a 40% Protein/40% carb/20% fat split to cut or to maintain and eat a balanced diet when you are where you want to be.

For me, getting down to 8% bodyfat or so would put me at just over 200 pounds. According to metabolism calculators combined with activity - I would need, at that weight, to eat about 3300 - 3500 calories per day to maintain my ideal weight when I get there(including still working out every day or six days per week).

Applying a 40/40/20 split to even the lower end of this spectrum, 3300 calories per day, would mean I'd have to eat 330 grams of protein/330 grams of carbohydrates/73 grams of fat every day to maintain at a 40/40/20 split.

This seems like very high amounts of protein and carbs to take in every day, but I'm especially worried about the effects of taking in THAT much protein as a regular, everyday lifestyle. Is that safe?

I currently consume about 250 grams of protein per day, following the 1 gram per pound of bodyweight guidelines. But I when I weigh just over 200 pounds, I will be taking in FAR more than 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight! Yet that matches the advocated 40/40/20 split.

So what to make of this? This problem is a ways off, but I want to know what you guys think - when I get to my ideal weight, is the 40/40/20 split still recommended, despite those very high amounts of carbs and especially protein? That just doesn't seem right.

So how SHOULD I eat when I get to my ideal body composition to attain a balanced and healthy maintenance diet?

David

how tall are you? weighing 200 pounds at 8% body fat does either mean you're quite tall or very muscular.

i don't think that there's a rule that says 1g protein per pound of bodyweight. the correct rule would be to eat 1g protein per kg of bodyweight. as far as i know it's not neccessary to eat more than 100-125g of protein per day. of course you can eat more to be on the safe side as long as you're healthy.

i wouldn't worry too much about the correct percentages. the right number of calories consumed is much more important than that. this doesn't mean you should eat something like 80%fat, 10%carbs, 10%protein...but upping the fat a bit wouldn't kill you.
normally my diet consists of 50%carbs, 30%protein and 20%fat but this can change from day to day.

how tall are you? weighing 200 pounds at 8% body fat does either mean you're quite tall or very muscular.

i don't think that there's a rule that says 1g protein per pound of bodyweight. the correct rule would be to eat 1g protein per kg of bodyweight. as far as i know it's not neccessary to eat more than 100-125g of protein per day. of course you can eat more to be on the safe side as long as you're healthy.

i wouldn't worry too much about the correct percentages. the right number of calories consumed is much more important than that. this doesn't mean you should eat something like 80%fat, 10%carbs, 10%protein...but upping the fat a bit wouldn't kill you.
normally my diet consists of 50%carbs, 30%protein and 20%fat but this can change from day to day.

Thanks, Butch.

I'm 6'0" tall, and very muscularly built.

However, I know that I've heard the "1 gram protein per pound body weight" for those on weight programs, and currently, that just happens to fit perfectly with my 250lb. weight and my 2000 calorie per day diet, which makes my ratios the recommended-for-cutting 50/30/20.

Anybody else have any insight into my original post? 330 grams protein per day for a 200 pound guy seems extreme to say the least, but that also matches a 40/40/20 split...

However, I know that I've heard the "1 gram protein per pound body weight" for those on weight programs, and currently, that just happens to fit perfectly with my 250lb. weight and my 2000 calorie per day diet, which makes my ratios the recommended-for-cutting 50/30/20.


of course you have heard the "1g protein per pound of body weight" rule but that doesn't mean it's true. i think that it's wrong to believe that much helps much. and in your case it would be VERY much. it won't harm you as long as you have no kidney problems and such but more than 150g of protein is simply superfluous.
of course that's just what i've read so far and other members in these forums may tell you otherwise.

i think you should experiment. if you can't get in 330g of protein why should you try to? find a number you can live with and don't worry too much about any numbers.