Protein Intake For A Natural Bodybuilder?

[Alpha Male]

Tim, in YOUR opinion, what's the most Protein a natural bodybuilder should take in a day in an effort to lose bodyfat? I weigh 265lbs with about 20% bodyfat. This is after a 2 year layoff and I'll be starting back in a week. Also, what's your opinion on this? Shouldn't Protein Intake, whether dieting or bulking, be based on Lean Body Mass, instead of just bodyweight??

[Tim Wescott]

Yes lean bodyweight should definately be the determining factor .Fatty tissue doesn`t need protein,muscles do !! I think that it really depends on a few factors.When I diet for a show, I`m usually around 180 pounds at the start of my diet, and get down to around 165 ripped.I always take in 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight as a minimum amount, as I feel you should at least get this amount, if you`re training hard, and doing other activities such as cardio, and work,chores,etc.I also beleive that it`s a good idea to take in more than this on a regular basis, as to create a kind of insurance that you will retain muscle, while dieting down to lose the bodyfat.I have taken up to 300 grams afor short periods but I usually keep it at around 200-225.I think if a person is carrying a lot of bodyfat and is overweight to a fairly large extent that they should take in less at times .Remember, protein builds/retains muscle, but excess calories can come from any of the macronutrients.Excess=too many,this can be the case in protein intake also!!I think a person who`s dieting strictly should tweak their intake over a period of time to see how they are responding.When on very low carbs for example, I usually up the protein.It`s hard to say what a person would exactly need from any macronutrient as it is a bodyweight/activity/recovery issue.I do not think that anyone needs much more than 300 grams, unless he weighs more than this.I have read on forums that guy`s weighing 150 pounds, are trying to take in 400 grams of protein,400 grams of carbs,and low fats.I doubt if they are training intensely enough to warrant these amounts.To get back to you ,at 265 with 20% B/F,I would start at 200 grams,as a starting point, and go from there just to get an idea of how much I might need to .