Glute training gets all the attention, but the muscle you train can only grow if you give it enough material to rebuild with. That material is protein. So before another set of hip thrusts, it is worth knowing the actual number, and it is simpler than the internet makes it sound.
The short answer
For building muscle, the International Society of Sports Nutrition recommends roughly 1.4 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day (about 0.6 to 0.9 grams per pound). For most women aiming to grow their glutes, landing somewhere in the middle of that range, around 1.6 g/kg, is a sensible, sustainable target.
Why protein, not just glute exercises
Resistance training is the signal that tells your body to build. Protein supplies the amino acids it builds with, and being in at least maintenance calories gives it the energy to do so. Train hard but under-eat protein, and you blunt the very adaptation you worked for. This is also why "glute growth" rarely happens on an aggressive crash diet: a large deficit pulls in the opposite direction of building.
How to actually hit your number at home
- Anchor every meal with a protein source. Eggs and Greek yogurt at breakfast, chicken, fish, tofu, or beans at lunch and dinner.
- Spread it out. Three to four meals with 25 to 40 grams each is easier to digest and to hit than one giant serving.
- Use a shake to close the gap, not as the foundation. A scoop of whey or a plant blend can cover the last 20 to 30 grams on a busy day.
- Pair it with progressive training. Protein builds what your sessions ask for, so the lower-body work has to get gradually harder over time.
What we will not tell you
We will not promise a number of inches or a timeline, and we will not sell you a "glute-specific" protein. Protein is protein; consistency and progressive training are what move the needle. That honesty is the whole point of how we build plans.
Get your exact protein number, free.
Our free quiz calculates your personal protein target (and your calories and macros) from your body and goal, using these same guidelines, and matches you to a program like the Curve Builder for glute growth. No payment to see it.
Take the free quizKeep reading: Strength training on a GLP-1: keep the muscle · How much protein women need to build muscle · How SCULPTiv works · The 5 programs · What we refuse to sell you