Subscribe to our newsletter. An interview with Tom Venuto. We also looked at what the scientific literature says about protein needs.
Exercise increases protein needs.
Optimal intakes for hard-training athletes, such as bodybuilders, are still unknown and may be even higher. Read on to find out. The one gram per pound of body weight rule For bodybuilders, one gram per pound of body weight has been a rule of thumb for years - and it's very close to the .8 grams per pound of body weight recommended in the most recent research. However, .8 grams per pound of body weight should be considered a minimum for strength athletes and bodybuilders. Under certain circumstances, one gram per pound might not even be enough, but we'll talk more about that later.