lisa_labSD said:The RDA is the wrong reference and it is worth understanding why.
That reframing is the part I needed. I will report back once I have actually tried it.
Clinical perspective, offered as context rather than as advice.
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 | 250 lbs | 220 lbs | 207 lbs |
| Fat mass | 110 lbs | 70 lbs | 42 lbs |
| Lean mass | 148 lbs | 153 lbs | 154 lbs |
| Body fat % | 43% | 33% | 21% |
Lean mass preserved — actually GAINED 1-2 lbs thanks to progressive overload + 1.4g/kg protein. The protein intake discussion needs to include body comp data, not just scale weight.
TrialTracker_MD said:The gap between trial results and real-world results is consistent and it is not fraud.
This is where I part company with the consensus forming above. I would add the less popular caveat: these trial populations under-represented several groups, older adults and the highest BMI categories among them. The results probably generalise, and "probably" should be stated as an assumption rather than dropped.
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View ResultsAdding the numbers, since they settle part of this. The boring version of this is the one that works, and the boring version is: measure a baseline, change one variable, wait, measure again under the same conditions. Nobody wants that answer and it is still the answer.
Worth separating that from the trial evidence, which this thread keeps folding into the same question. They behave differently and the advice does not transfer.