Lipoly

Your Fat Loss Sprint Guide

High protein for fat loss. How much is enough — and what the research actually specifies.

Most 'high protein' diets still fall short of the lean mass preservation threshold. The Fat Loss Sprint calculates your exact target from your lean body mass — not a generic RDA.

How Much Protein Is Actually Needed for Fat Loss?

Most people underestimate their protein requirements during a caloric deficit. Here's what the research shows:

RecommendationProtein TargetContext
General RDA0.8 g/kg body weightMinimum to prevent deficiency — not optimised for fat loss
Standard "high protein" diet1.2–1.6 g/kg body weightBetter, but below the threshold for aggressive deficit
PSMF clinical minimum1.2–1.5 g/kg ideal body weightEstablished in the 1970s Harvard PSMF research
Longland et al. high-protein group2.4 g/kg body weightProduced lean mass gain during 40% caloric deficit
**Fat Loss Sprint target****2.2–3.0 g/kg lean body mass**Calculated from actual LBM — most precise, highest protection

The difference between 0.8 g/kg (RDA) and 2.5 g/kg LBM is significant. For a 75 kg person with 60 kg of lean body mass:

  • RDA: 60 g protein/day
  • FLS target: 132–180 g protein/day

This is not a marginal distinction. It is the variable that determines whether you lose fat or fat-and-muscle during a caloric deficit.

Why Lean Body Mass-Based Targeting Matters

Most protein recommendations use total body weight. The Fat Loss Sprint uses lean body mass — the weight of everything except fat.

Why does this matter? Because the purpose of high protein during restriction is to preserve lean mass. The calculation should be based on the lean mass at risk, not total body weight (which includes the fat you're trying to lose).

For a person with 30% body fat at 80 kg:

  • Body weight-based: 2.5 g/kg × 80 kg = 200 g protein
  • LBM-based: 2.5 g/kg × 56 kg LBM = 140 g protein

Both are high. But the LBM calculation is more precise — it doesn't inflate requirements based on the fat mass you're eliminating.

Protein + Resistance Training: The Combination That Works

Protein alone does not preserve lean mass. It requires the mechanical stimulus of resistance training to signal the body to maintain muscle during restriction.

Willoughby et al. (2023): The combination of adequate protein (above 1.2 g/kg) and resistance training is required to substantially mitigate lean mass loss during VLCDs. Either alone is less effective than both together.

The Fat Loss Sprint mandates both: protein at 2.2–3.0 g/kg LBM and 2x/week structured resistance training. Neither is optional. Both are tracked in the app.

Science Highlights

Longland et al. (AJCN, 2016): Participants in a 40% caloric deficit consuming 2.4 g/kg/day protein plus resistance training gained 1.2 kg of lean mass while losing 4.8 kg of fat. This is the FLS model validated.

Mettler et al. (2010): Athletes on identical caloric deficits — high protein (2.3 g/kg) vs. standard (1.0 g/kg). High-protein group retained significantly more lean mass.

Your protein target. Calculated from your lean body mass. Not a generic table.

2.2–3.0 g/kg LBM. Resistance training required. Lean mass protection built in.

See your numbers

Run the calculator on your own stats.

Sprint level, calculated macros, and a recommended duration — based on your body composition.

Sprint Level 1
Lean Body Mass: kg
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—g
Protein
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—g
Fat
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—g
Carbs
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Calories
Recommended:
Training
  • 2× strength training per week
  • 8–10K steps daily
  • No running or HIIT
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