Increase in protein leading to weight gain?

Over the past week I've consumed on average about 70 grams of protein/day, compared to my usual average of 40g of protein/day. Also during the past week my average calorie intake was the standard 1400/day,yet I gained 2 lbs. I saw my weight inching up every day last week, so the increase is not due to retaining too much water one day. Could this be due to the increase in protein? I couldn't possibly gain the much muscle in one week.

Any ideas or am I just overanalyzing?

Mon. Nov 13, 9:58pm

HAve your meansurements changed?? Do your clothes feel ifferenntly. This is a better gauge than the sclae when trying to decide if weight gain is fat vs muscle.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 7:10 AM

What was the source of the extra protein? Things like beef and pork pack a lot of extra fat compared to chicken, quinoa or beans. Just another thought....

Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 9:37 AM

Did you also increase your activity level, perhaps by more frequent or intense exercise? This will cause a temporary water weight gain as your muscles prepare to grow.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 9:43 AM

as one person mentioned, what were your sources of protein? Not everyone digests red meat or pork as easily as others. If your sources were mostly red meat, try switching to eggs, turkey and fish for just a week. You might have better results.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 11:54 AM

Okay, this is from my brother's experience, and we all know men and women don't lose weight the same way, but this might be useful anyway...

After putting on 15 lbs over the holidays, he signed up with a personal trainer and started lifting weights and running. He's always been very active and athletic, but it was always more about tennis than gym stuff. In terms of diet, he made the mistake of thinking that all meal replacement shakes are about weight loss and started drinking protein shakes. After two weeks of training hard and drinking protein stuff, he got on the scale and had gained a pound. He was annoyed, spoke to a few people until someone smacked him upside the head and said that protein was for building muscle not losing weight. So he stopped the shakes and lost 6 lbs the following week. I have no idea how this is possible, but it's enough to make you wonder how important protein is for weight loss other than the way it prevents you from getting hungry too soon after eating.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 1:00 PM

protein shakes

You can't compare protein shakes to eating actual protein in a meal. My SO gets 48 grams of protein in one shake (and about 340 cals before adding milk). He usually has 3 a day at least- not as meal replacements. The OP mentioned eating an extra 30g of protein. Moreover, the OP's protein was likely animal or fish of some kind, which takes much longer to digest and absorb. Protein shakes are designed to either be quick release, slow release, or a combo of both- they don't necessarily fill you up at all.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 1:34 PM

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