One of the most frequently asked questions by men and women who are seeking muscle is how much protein do I need?. The majority of advice you find in muscle and fitness magazines today, is anything from 2 to even 3 grams! per lb of bodyweight.

When I first started gaining muscle I was brainwashed by the 2-3grams recommendation, I weighed everything precisely and made sure all my meals were strictly scheduled throughout the day to adhere to this extreme rule.

I never actually sat down and thought about how much protein my body actually needed, I just followed what my muscle hero's preached, because at the end of the day I wanted to look like them. I wouldn't even leave the table till all my meat was eaten, downed shakes like they were going out of fashion. I wouldn't dare miss a meal, the guilt of it would make me feel depressed.

What is protein guilt?

Do you measure everything precisely because your scared that if you don't get enough protein your muscles won't grow? Wouldn't dare skip a meal or go 5 minutes over your eating time? if your answer is 'yes' then you are suffering from protein guilt, it isn't an illness its a mechanism in your head that has been drilled in there from the first day you started seeking muscle.

So how much protein do I need?

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 0.4g per lb of bodyweight, alot less than the 2 -3grams the magazines and supplement company's preach!

We only need a minimum amount of protein to maintain and to build muscle, the 2-3grams supplement company's promote actually has no scientific background to even back up the claims of this outrageous dose. Supplement company's make millions off these claims because so many of us don't know any better, all we want is too look like our bodybuilding idol who recommends these high doses.

Take a step back before buying protein powder and ask yourself how much protein do i need? Asking yourself this question will save you from protein guilt, the protein every three hours myth, 30grams of protein per meal and most importantly your wallet.

How much protein do I need summary.

To this day I still suffer from protein guilt (call it an old habit) but I know that if I aim for 20g of protein every time I eat, I'm happy and I still continue to make gains. I'm just smarter now and not mislead.

If you ever find yourself buying a protein shake with about 40g of protein per serving/scoop, half it, save money and still continue to grow.