Training & Nutrition - Too much protein?

I've been feeling very dizzy lately and just under the weather, i've been eating enough, and definitely drinking enough. I eat very healthy, lots of fruits and veggies and complex carbs with tons of protein. One of my co workers inquired to how much protein i was taking in per day and i told him about 80-150 grams and he said that i might be putting myself in a ketonic state.

So I did some research and found that i have all the symptoms of ketosis. I decided for the next few days i'll cut out my morning and after noon whey protein shakes and just subside off the protein i take in from my foods. I weigh a 160 pounds so according to what i read I should be taking in roughly 60 grams of protein a day (.36 per pound of body weight). So my question to you guys is, since i run 3-4 times a week i bike usually 30-50 a week (not lately though because i've been injured) and do core exercises every night how much more protein should i be taking in that normal.

Ketosis is from too little carbs, not too much protein.

From what I read you can get ketosis from either, essentially whats happening is your kidneys are going into over time trying to flush the toxins produced from processing protein out.

this is a hard one, depends on your body, just test out different amounts of protein intake and find that balance where u are gettin the most protein before you get the symptoms. also if you intake that much protein try taking some milk thistle also to protect your liver. But i will bring this up to a friend of mine he knows allot about this area. hopefully i see him int he next day or two.

Go to a gym. Lift until you want to beg for mercy.

-or-

If cutting out the shakes doesn't do it, it's time to see a Doc.

You only need to up your protein if you are trying to bulk up. For endurance, you need a little more than an average person, but not as much as you are eating.

See a doc. Or/and a nutritionist.

I'm going to give it till monday if the dizziness doesn't go away i'll go to the doctor, i just hope it's the 2 16 oz whey shakes i've been drinking per day. I'm going to eat light this weekend, more carbs and less heavy proteins and shoot for 60 grams a day and see how it feels.

What is your carb intake? Are you eating below maintenance?

Average 200-300 grams per day on a 2200-2500 calorie per day diet, some days i'll do 3000 if i get cravings or i've worked out alot during the week.

I'd guess it's low blood sugar. But don't know why. Not ketosis. Do you eat fat? Try cheese. Low fat diets can screw up your metabolism. You can cut the protein back until you notice that your legs are hurting more than usual. Then put some back. Never eat just carb or fruit snacks unless you are on the bike. Always include some protein and fat.

I eat low fat milks and cheese products, and some other low fat products, but I eat alot of nuts. A typical day for me is lots of fruit, veggies, grains and no processed sugar snacks, i eat lean meats in the afternoon and at night for dinner. The only thing I've done differently in the last few months is 1-2 100 calorie whey shakes per day, each shake has 18-20 grams of protein which i didn't know but was giving me about 80% of my daily protein, maybe my body just got fed up with it.

I ate carbs like man and drank tons of water and had a beer last night after dinner wish I hadn't had the beer cuz it just added to my dehydration. Today I feel better for breakfast I had a two egg omlette w bell pepper and mushroom and a Banana and then a bit of soy peanut butter and a carrot (try it its good) I'm still not a 100% do you think it might take a couple of days to recalibrate, ive been off whey since thurs evening.

200 carbs is not a lot for some thats involved in high intensity activity. You end up relying on fat to power your workouts. Your body can't convert it to usable energy fast enough so it ends to breaking down muscle tissue as well. I say more carbs. 300-350 consistently.

can u guys give me some complex carb ideas?

I am a big fan of quinoa -- I like to eat it for breakfast with blueberries and almonds. I eat brown rice, either in a veggie stirfry or bean dish with salmon. I also like having an almond butter and jam sandwich on sprouted grain bread as a snack.

Do you drink the shake on an empty stomach?

nah usually after break or dinner some times as a late afternoon snack

I do 4 ea. 15g whey drinks every day. That's totally reasonable. Go make yourself a huge thick cheese sandwich with the cheese at least 1/8" thick and NY cheddar or similar with two leaves of lettuce, 1/2 tomato, and really thick natural mayo. You'll feel better in the morning.

No one knows your food requirements except you.

Well I feel like crap, I know that, I know that i'm taking in the proper amount of calories but too low carbs and on an average day almost twice as much protein as the average states i should, so i'm going to start with cutting out the shakes. It makes sense i knew protein was the hardest thing for your body to break down i just never realized how much more i was taking than was reccomended. I'm definitnely feeling better today but not a 100% so far today (it's about 3 pm) i'm at 1500 calories 60 grams of protein and 170 carbs, im about to go for a 4 mile run and tonight i'll probably have a another 20 grams of protein making 80ish which is around what i should be shooting for as far as I've read.

And well we are on the topic i've had about 3 liters of water today and im about to go run a few miles so i assume i'll have 2 or 3 liters today, does that sound over the top. I'm pretty thirsty.

I can't imagine the trypsin enzymes are working any harder than the amylase. But you need to figure out why you are feeling sick.

Where is someday_RN??

And well we are on the topic i've had about 3 liters of water today and im about to go run a few miles so i assume i'll have 2 or 3 liters today, does that sound over the top. I'm pretty thirsty.

Hmmmm- if your thirst seems excessive, I'd go see a doc. Between the dizziness and the thirst (assuming that it's excessive), you should be worked up. Not going to tell you for what- just go see a doc.

Not going to tell you for what- just go see a doc.

You might as well tell me whats on your mind it's probably nothing i haven't already read, are you thinkin' a diabetes test? I'm going to go see a doc if this persists for a few more days, i might be over analyzing it, i doubt it would be diabetes since i take pretty good care of myself and don't eat processed sugars and for all intense and purposes minus the excess protein of late have a balanced diet. I eat consistently and don't skip meals.

I wouldn't say my thirst seems excessive just a dry mouth.

It's so weird I feel incredible, a 100% just a bit heavy in the head.

Well FWIW i woke up today still kinda feelin weird, i think the best way to describe it is that feeling you get when your hung over which to me is dehydrated. Last night I was so out of it i didn't even want to go out i just fell asleep on the couch early. I don't get how something like this could just come out of nowhere.

What exactly is your diet? Also, what is the average pH of your urine and saliva?

Have you gone on any type of colon cleanse to flush your body?

Sorry for asking so many questions but I need to know and then maybe I can help.

- Wayne

go to the gym and do squats till you puke.

you'll be fine after that

I think a visit to your doc is definitely in order. Definitely scrap the protein shakes, and focus on whole grains, fruits, veggies, plant fats, and lean protein. Maybe you are drinking too much water: low sodium in your blood can produce your symptoms. No person has 'instinct' about the right way to eat, so working with a nutritionist may be a good idea! I might also suggest taking a break from working out, until you find out what's going on.

Well I felt really bad today and my mom suggested it might be water when i told her i had been drinking around 14 cups of water a day (give or take) she said that was way too much so i drank 5 cups today and felt alot better tonight, i'll see how it goes tomorrow. I'm still going to go to the doctor and get a physical. Today I didn't feel dehydrated at all, it would make sense to think taht with drinking that much water and peeing hourly or bi hourly i could have flushed out too many electrolytes and knocked off my balance. I guess I thought I had my diet in control because I was so meticulous about it but I must be wrong on some things.

Also I should add that I never thought about it at the time but when i was drinking the water i was often chugging it, i'm talking 12 oz in maybe 30 seconds a minute, not sure if the idea that my kidney's couldn't processed the water so it just flushed it out causing me to create an electrolyte imbalance is farfetched; either way i need to reevaluate how i treat my body, even though my diet is extremely healthy apparently i'm overlooking other things.

I've been feeling very dizzy lately and just under the weather, i've been eating enough, and definitely drinking enough. I eat very healthy, lots of fruits and veggies and complex carbs with tons of protein. One of my co workers inquired to how much protein i was taking in per day and i told him about 80-150 grams and he said that i might be putting myself in a ketonic state.

So I did some research and found that i have all the symptoms of ketosis. I decided for the next few days i'll cut out my morning and after noon whey protein shakes and just subside off the protein i take in from my foods. I weigh a 160 pounds so according to what i read I should be taking in roughly 60 grams of protein a day (.36 per pound of body weight). So my question to you guys is, since i run 3-4 times a week i bike usually 30-50 a week (not lately though because i've been injured) and do core exercises every night how much more protein should i be taking in that normal.

First, the most troubling thing about this post is that you are asking for medical advice on a bike forum where none of us who are doctors are offering you advice without laying hands on you, running tests, or looking at your medical history. You could have any numbers of symptoms from hyponatremia to diabetes to the flu to pregnancy (I don't even know if you're male or female, for goodness sake!). With such a diverse selection of any number of major or minor problems, you should be consulting a doctor, not bikeforums. Go talk to your parents and ask them to schedule you for an appointment with your doctor (or pediatrician, since we have no idea how old you are).

Is your co-worker a registered dietitian? Are they CHES? What kind of credentials does this individual have that would make you run over to bikeforums and begin asking general questions that concern your health and well-being? Did this person run tests on you? Sit with you and your doctor? Make medically informed decisions on your behalf?

All I ask is that you stop depending on strangers and non-medical professionals to decide what health problems you may or may not have. Take your own health and well being seriously and go seek some medical attention. I don't think we need to know what is wrong with you- it is not our business, but just let us know if you are ok. It's clear that many people here are concerned, and understandably so. Your first concern should be to SEE A DOCTOR. Who cares what the heck anyone else says here? This is your health, and sitting around waiting for a post that may or may not help, verses going to seek medical attention and addressing what may be a serious health situation is irresponsible. Of course, it could just be the flu.

GO SEE A DOCTOR.


koffee

I appreciate the concern but i'd never base a diagnosis on an internet forum, there was no way to see a Dr this weekend so while i let this play out to see if it was some odd cold or a diet issue so thought i'd ask some questions on here; who knows maybe this is some super weird head cold going around that I heaven't heard about. I think I'm through this and i feel better but I'm for sure going to see a Dr. this week to have a full physical done, which I'm long over do for.

My father is pretty well versed medically and while i'd never rely on his for a diagnosis i trust his advice and as far as he saw this could very well be extremely mild hyponatremia; he is diabetic and is pretty positive that I am not diabetic (i am 23 male btw) or pre diabetic based on my age and life style BUT he still feels i should visit a Dr.

My only fear right now that it is something involving my brain, knock on wood. I'm hoping this was a combination of too much protein, and water in my diet and not enough calories, fat and carbohydrates. I agree with you though and I really appreciate all your guys help because i've basically been sitting on my ass this weekend till today just worrying.

Then good. Go see a doctor. But stop relying on the advice of others as to what it could or couldn't be. If your father is not a doctor, don't trust him either. My sister is a doctor, and I've never trusted anything she's said without her running tests on me- except once, when I called her. Her advice- GO SEE A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. Within half an hour, I was in the emergency room, and within 45 minutes, I was BEING SEEN BY A DOCTOR, thankfully.

Go get treatment- you won't be so scared anymore, and you won't be sitting around thinking the worst, when you have no idea what the heck is going on with you. We're all pushing for you, kiddo.

koffee

I haven't been to the Dr. in quite awhile and i just got set up with a new doctor where i moved to so i need to call him and establish the relationship and such but i'm planning on it even if i wake up tomorrow feeling 100%.

Even if you have NO relationship with your doctor, you should call and describe your symptoms and tell them exactly what you told the forum in that first post. Tell them you want the first available appointment. I bet you get it.

Even if you wake up bouncing off the walls and ready to run a marathon, I'd still say you need to SEE A DOCTOR immediately.

koffee

I agree I will def get a physical, I just pray this isn't something more serious, that it's some weird flu or that I did just pee out too many electrolytes from drinking excessive water too quickly. Your right though.

Well I felt really bad today and my mom suggested it might be water when i told her i had been drinking around 14 cups of water a day (give or take) she said that was way too much so i drank 5 cups today and felt alot better tonight, i'll see how it goes tomorrow. I'm still going to go to the doctor and get a physical. Today I didn't feel dehydrated at all, it would make sense to think taht with drinking that much water and peeing hourly or bi hourly i could have flushed out too many electrolytes and knocked off my balance. I guess I thought I had my diet in control because I was so meticulous about it but I must be wrong on some things.

Why do you drink 14 cups of water daily? Unless you work out for many hours or are in extreme heat, that's way too much. If you urinate more less frequently than every three or four hours, you are fine.

You are thinking too much about diet. Just eat reasonably. You need carbs, a little protein, and fluids. A regular diet, while watching yourself, gets that.

If you are counting the way you are, you are compulsive. That isn't good. Just enjoy yourself

I have officially stopped counting lol you are right, people had been telling me this, i had been over thinking my diet. I was drinking 14 cups for no preticular reason, i just was we have free water bottles at work the intern would bring me some, i'd have some with protein shakes one or two with lunch and it just became normal and i'd chug them causing me to pee like on the hour or bi-hourly. I've been having a regular amount of water (i figure 5-8 cups) and im peeing like normal again. Even if this is just a weird flu it's a good thing it happened because it made me look hard at my over obsessive eating habbits.

No person has 'instinct' about the right way to eat, so working with a nutritionist may be a good idea!

Umm yes, yes we do.

It may be weakened to a strong degree by society, but the instinct is still there. I think one could find plenty of evidence for this through nutritional anthropology. Hunter-gatherer/traditional diets are always healthier than their industrialized cousins.

PS cue someone bringing up the Masai in 3, 2, 1.....

I gotta say since i stopped counting calories i've felt so much better i mean i guess i forgot what it felt like to be full. I'm actually less hungry it seems like when i don't portion everything out i just eat a sensible amount i think alot less about food. All this **** i've been doing to bei n tip top health so i can train has only held off my training. You live you learn.