labquiet_amy said:The RDA is the wrong reference and it is worth understanding why.
DEXA scan update relevant to protein intake:
Scanned at months 0, 6, and 12. Here are the body comp numbers:
| Baseline | Month 6 | Month 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total mass | 260 lbs | 230 lbs | 217 lbs |
| Fat mass | 120 lbs | 80 lbs | 52 lbs |
| Lean mass | 158 lbs | 151 lbs | 154 lbs |
| Body fat % | 45% | 31% | 21% |
Lean mass preserved — actually GAINED 1-2 lbs thanks to progressive overload + 1.5g/kg protein. The protein intake discussion needs to include body comp data, not just scale weight.
A narrower follow-up, since the general answer is now clear:
How people are hitting a protein target on a genuinely suppressed appetite, because volume is the binding constraint rather than willingness?
Dr.PathRoch said:DEXA scan update relevant to protein intake: Scanned at months 0, 6, and 12.
Adding the part of the answer the thread has not reached. The useful move here is to separate what is established from what is widely repeated. Those two sets overlap less than the confident tone of most write-ups suggests, and the second set is where nearly all the disagreement on this board comes from.
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Shop Reference StandardsOP back with an update, since a thread like this is useless without one.
Front-loading was the answer. Same total intake, same drug, but two thirds of the protein before midday and I am hitting the target most days now.
Dr.EndoIndy said:The useful move here is to separate what is established from what is widely repeated.
True, and anyone with reduced kidney function needs that target set by a clinician rather than a forum. High protein is safe in normal kidneys and is not automatically safe in impaired ones.