Protein intake and diet plan

[Leodragon]

Hey guys

I have a question and was wondering if u could give me an opinion...

I have decided to cut down my protein intake ços I don't want to over stress my kidneys.

Went to a Kidney specialist and had an ultra-sound scan of my kidneys. The guy said that my right kidney looked a bit pale... but he could not conclude anything cos it could he said from what he could see, it did not necessarily mean it was pathological. When he did a urine dipstick test, no protein. Also had a 24hr creatinine clearance test. That was okay. The blood test for renal function was normal, but the only thing was that urea was slightly high on a scale of 0 - 8 I was 12.

I think, just to be on the safe side I wanna change my diet for the long run...


This is my current diet -

8 egg whites (24g protein)
8 egg whites (24g protein) + Steamed Vegetables
8 egg whites (24g protein) + Steamed Vegetables
8 egg whites (24g protein) + Steamed Vegetables
8 egg whites (24g protein) + Steamed Vegetables
88g Whey + 44g dextrose (Post-workout)
8 egg whites (24g protein) + 1 cup oats
I ½ Dory fish + Steamed Vegetables
I ½ Dory fish + Steamed Vegetables
I Dory fish + Steamed Vegetables
Protein – 312g

Carbs – 104g



The diet plan below is my new diet plan.



6 egg whites (18g protein) + 1 cup oats
6 egg whites (18g protein) + ½ cup oats
6 egg whites (18g protein) + Stir-fried Vegetables
6 egg whites (18g protein) + Stir fried Vegetables
5 egg whites (18g protein) + Stir fried Vegetables
44g Whey + 66g dextrose (Post-workout)
6 egg whites (18g protein) + 1 cup oats
I Dory fish + 1 cup oats
I Dory fish + Steamed Vegetables
I Dory fish + Steamed Vegetables
Protein – 209g

Carbs – 276g carbs



What do you think? Considering my condition and body weight at 81kg, do you think my protein intake is still too high? I am not good with calorie calculations, so do you think my new plan will help me preserve my muscle? I know that the previous high protein intake helped to sustain my muscles, but I don't know if the new diet plan will work for me...what do you think?



I suspect my previous diet was reliant on protein as a source of fuel and although I did not lose my muscles, I did not grow much muscle either cos of the low carb intake.



Yours sincerely,

Soo Boon.

[cpeil2]

You don't mention how many fat calories, but if one assumes 20-30% fat, you are not getting more than 2800 calories per day. That's probably enough to maintain your lean body mass, but you would have a hard time building more muscle on that amount of calories. I am guessing that, on a diet like yours, you are very lean.

[GymJim]

That's crazy! Why would you eat the same couple food stuffs over and over again every day? Why not mix it up and get a greater variety of nutrients and vitamins, not to mention taste? And 312 g of protein is a lot unless you are over 200 lbs, even for building muscle. 1.5 g of protein per lb bodyweight should be enough to build muscle even if bulking.

I am cutting now- lifting 4 days per wek, cardio 2 or 3 times per week- and I still eat five or six times per day. But I eat a variety, including lean meats like chicken, turkey, extra lean beef, steaks, fish, tuna, plus legumes, oats, whole grains, lots of veggies and even some fruit earlier in the day and I am still losing fat and gaining muscle by varying my calories day to day.

[Leodragon]

Yeah, you guys are right, I should have more variety in my diet...am gonna start cutting down my protein intake to about 180g daily and see how I go with that...have been following my previous diet for quite a few years so I guess my body is used to it...gonna try 180g of protein a day, with moderate carbs and moderate fat...see what happens.

Thanks guys...

[pcgizzmo]

It also looks like you are eating 11 meals a day. WHY? combine those to 6 and do not stir fry your veggies. Add some variety, eat .8 to 1 gram of protein per day and be done with it. The higher urea is more than likely from the great amount of protein you are taking.

Paul

[GymJim]

Originally Posted by pcgizzmo

It also looks like you are eating 11 meals a day. WHY? combine those to 6 and do not stir fry your veggies. Add some variety, eat .8 to 1 gram of protein per day and be done with it. The higher urea is more than likely from the great amount of protein you are taking. Paul

Stir frying veggies is ok if you go real light on the olive oil. I use just a little olive oil spray on the wok, so that adds only negligable few calories. I like to stir fry in a wok with beef or chicken and add veggies and a little teriyaki stir fry sauce, which also only has ten or twenty calories in small doses of half a tablespoon or so.

[Leodragon]

Planning to stir fry the vegies to add ample calories so that I will not lose my muscle mass cos I am dropping my protein calories (which were probably also acting as a source of fuel for my body due to my low carb intake as well as anti-catabolic effect)...hopefully it will work...and of course, load in some carbs post workout to replenish glycogen stores...

What you guys think?

[DaVinci2]

Dude, don't forget your fat!! You need plenty of healthy fats, about 0.5grams per lbs of body weight at LEAST!! Olive oil, sesame oil, avocados...