Protein levels

[honeybee37]

Hi,
I've been doing the LE diet for around 6 weeks, tracking protein and fat levels carefully. I had a few wobbles over Christmas but other than that, I've been pretty strict. However, today I've freaked myself out by reading a study which claimed that low protein levels affected egg quality and caused women to have more miscarriages and struggle to conceive. So I guess my question is: how little is too little? I have been having around 35g per day, some days less. Today I made a conscious effort to have a little more and had around 42. I have also been doing 60-65 min cardio 5 days a week and have lost a ton of weight (my BMI was only 19 to start with so I'm conscious I don't want to lose too much more).
Should I be aiming for more protein than this do you think, or is it about right (or even too much?)
BTW I should add, we've become veggie since November too.
Thank you!

[honeybee37]

Argh, I've just been checking through my MFP levels, and some days I was really low - like 21g of protein. Having just read the PDF again (the paid for guide), I now feel really stupid and am worried Ive jeopardised my sway and possibly eggs by going too low on the protein. We are meant to be having our first attempt 3 weeks from now so I hope I've not ruined my eggs for that month's try... I think I worked out I'd maybe gone in a little too low when I was dreaming of chicken and cheese.... Don't tell me off, Atomic!!

[Butterflies buttercups]

That's strange as I've been having the opposite problem and my protein being too high - I think it's because I add hummus and cheese to either lunch or dinner evry day so I'm trying to cut that out a bit ...
I think it's important to be Atleast the minimums on the LE diet for health reasons maybe add in a little extra protein over the next few weeks before your attempt ?


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[honeybee37]

Yeah, cheese has always been a bit part of my life (!) and I've been trying to avoid it as I tend to go for a massive handful (which I weighed and it was A LOT!). I've been having a salad pitta for lunch plus chocolate, and veg based pasta or rice for dinner (only a tiny bit of cheese). Today I added in a little more and it did add on a few grams. I'm going to aim for 40 at least, over the next three weeks. Just worried that having 20-30 for a few weeks will have made me have dodgy eggs!
Ooo, hummus.. I love hummus - good idea!

[Butterflies buttercups]

I've been trying to substitute cheddar for Philadelphia cream cheese it's not the same but better than nothing in a salad pitta ! Yes try hummus mmm! X


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[has2gentlemen]

Atomic has said over and over that the minimum matters more than the maximum. You MUST get 40g protein and 30g fat per day for your health. Any less isn't good and you really need to be getting closer to the max for the next few weeks. Have some peanut butter or dried nuts, a handful has a ton of protein and not many calories, or add a serving of full fat dairy for the egg health benefit.


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[covered in blue]

How many calories are you doing? You will need to up calories as well as protein. The protein by it's self will not slow the weight loss. Good luck for your attempt coming up!

[maidentomother]

You've gotta meet the minimums, as said, especially with cardio and a low BMI. I wouldn't worry that just weeks of low protein has significantly impacted your eggs, but I'd definitely increase your protein consumption. I also have difficulty meeting my protein minimum many days. What typically ends up happening is I have, for every 2-3 days of not quite enough protein, 1 day of more than enough protein. It ends up balancing out so I meet my minimums if I 'average' the days over a week, and that works for me. I find it too stressful to try to be perfect on a daily basis.

Personally, I think keeping fat low and minimising blue friendly fats while eating more/mostly pink friendly fats, combined with overall lowered cal intake, are the most important dietary aspects of swaying pink. I do think eating less protein sways pink, but not as strongly. Which means I think it's okay to have a more moderate amount if fat & cals are still low.

[ksmom]

In the past I had trouble getting enough protein too, just barely getting the minimum with some days not being enough. I did have two losses last year but I don't know if it was related to that or not. I've been making a conscious effort to do whatever I can to get between 40-50g by eating more beans, sometimes egg whites, and yogurt. I already eat lots of rice, rice pasta, potatoes, and gluten free bread but those don't have that much protein in them. A good "quick fix" for protein besides egg whites is cottage cheese. I can't stomach the stuff but it's packed with protein so it's good if you're really low for the day. Nonfat greek yogurt is great if you need a protein boost but are maxed out on fat. It's saved me a handful of times.

[honeybee37]

Thanks everyone. Maidentomother - I've been very conscious of limiting boy-friendly fats, eating mostly horrid vegetable fats and rubbish... Kcal varying between 1,200 and up to 1,900 at the weekend. I've just been looking over my fat levels and they have varied quite a lot, between 21, and occasionally up to 50/55 (on a bad day!). I think I've been more hung up on protein and maybe should have paid closer attention to fat levels, although probably averaged around 30-35 so not so bad.
Thanks for all your advice. I do have the occasional whole egg and I do quite like cottage cheese so I will get some of that too.