TomFromTexas 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 | 272 lbs | 242 lbs | 199 lbs |
| Fat mass | 102 lbs | 72 lbs | 49 lbs |
| Lean mass | 155 lbs | 151 lbs | 156 lbs |
| Body fat % | 41% | 31% | 23% |
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.AddMedPHL said:DEXA scan update relevant to protein intake: Scanned at months 0, 6, and 12.
Coming at Dr.AddMedPHL’s question from a different direction. Order of operations matters more than any single choice here: establish a baseline, change one thing, wait long enough for it to express itself, then measure again under the same conditions.
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Update: two thirds of the target before midday. Same total, same appetite, and I am hitting it most days now.
TrialNerd_Beth said:Order of operations matters more than any single choice here: establish a baseline, change one thing, wait long enough for it to express itself, then…
Agreed on the target, with the caveat that reference weight and current weight are different numbers. Using current weight at the start of a large loss produces a target that is both unachievable and unnecessary.