My question is: everyone supposedly loses muscle/bone over the years and gains x pounds fat per decade — so how much less should I weigh now than I did as an ordinary teenager?

My doctor thought my menopausal/quit smoking/hypoglycemic weight gain was genetic and ok. When type 2 diabetes arrived, she changed her mind. I lost the weight quickly on Dr. Bernstein’s 30 gr carb diet — I had to laugh when she thought I might become anorexic especially without much more complex carbs — my cravings would easily enable to regain in a minute.

For me, the ticket to muscle gain is not an increase in protein consumption, but fat, especially saturated fat. I am 75kg in body weight. I’ve gained quite a bit of muscle while eating only 60grams of protein, in addition to alot of saturated fat. I think the ticket is that a high fat diet provides energy so that my body doesn’t need to degrade my own muscle for fuel.

In relation to another readers comment, yes it is true that a high carb diet can make one’s muscles look “fuller”, but it is only a facade. If one follows a low carb diet rich in fat, there body might look small for a few weeks as it loses retained fluid, but then suddenly the body will take on a much fuller look once it has fat-adapted.

I recall a bodybuilder back in the day who gained alot of muscle (and loss body fat) eating a diet low in carbs, lowish in protein and extremely high in fat, so much so that he was eating in the neighbourhood of 8000 calories daily as he “dieted” for a contest. That is no misprint. I cant recall his name, but it is indeed true.

i didn’t remember the wrist, for obvious reasons.

It’s not quite the same. The one in PP requires men to obtain a wrist measurement, which is a stand in for bone structure size.

If I am gaining instead of losing, isn’t reasonable to cut back on the amount of protein?

I have been eating low carb (under 100 gr) for the last 5 years. Could I have adapted to a lower need for protein?

Marilyn

It’s difficult for me to tell what’s going on with you without knowing a whole lot more. The protein calculations are not ‘not to exceed amounts.’ If you are having difficulty in consuming 120 g of protein, back off a little until you find an amount that is satisfying and stick there. Make sure you take in plenty of good quality fat, too.

Not much exercise in either group. Wasn’t a big part of the study.

There are a bunch of different methods to calculate body fat. Most come up with figures that are reasonably accurate. The important thing is to use the same methods to determine improvement in body composition and not jump from method to method.

No problem. I thought that’s what it was, but wasn’t sure.