Protein Consumption

The question “how much protein should I get each day” is a commonly asked question in the athletic community. Unfortunately, everyone has a different answer when asked this question. According to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) protein requirements for an athlete vary from 0.8g/kg of bodyweight to 2.0 g/kg of bodyweight. (Depending on the demands of the sport) Since most athletes engage in both aerobic endurance training and resistance training, the NSCA generally recommends 1.5 g/kg to 2.0 g/kg of bodyweight.

These guidelines can also be applied to the general population using the lower end of these recommended values.

Example: An athlete weighing 150lbs (68kg) would need 136 grams of protein per day to receive adequate protein intake.

Take the bodyweight divided by 2.2 to get the weight in kilograms. Then multiply that number by 1.5 to 2.0, that will give you the number in grams of protein needed daily. Due to the high-energy demands of of endurance and resistance training, an athlete may want to utilize the upper end of these recommendations.