December 5, 2025
Total daily protein explains most outcomes in muscle gain, fat loss, and recovery. Timing still matters—but only after you hit the right total and per‑meal doses. Here’s the evidence-based playbook.
Total daily protein is the primary driver; timing is secondary but useful.
Hitting a per‑meal protein dose 3–5 times a day outperforms grazing or one big hit.
The workout window is wider than you think; 1–2 hours pre or post is sufficient.
Special cases—older adults, cutting phases, and plant-based diets—benefit more from timing.
We ranked protein strategies by: 1) strength of human evidence for hypertrophy, strength, and recovery; 2) expected effect size once total protein is adequate; 3) generalizability across populations; 4) practicality and adherence. Rankings reflect the order you should prioritize changes for real-world results.
Most people overestimate minute-by-minute timing and underestimate daily totals and per-meal dosing. This framework helps you allocate effort where it produces the biggest return, then layer timing to squeeze out extra gains.
Without enough total protein, timing tweaks have little effect. Adequate daily intake explains most variance in muscle and strength gains.
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Muscle protein synthesis peaks with a sufficiently large dose (leucine threshold) and returns to baseline in a few hours. Repeating quality doses beats grazing or one large bolus.
Total protein explains most results; timing refines the signal. Think 80/20: totals and per‑meal doses first, timing refinements second.
The effective window is a meal-to-meal cycle, not a 30-minute sprint. A solid pre-workout meal often covers the post-workout need.
Leucine is the trigger; complete proteins or smart blends ensure each meal crosses the threshold for maximal MPS.
Timing gains compound when recovery is constrained—during cuts, with aging, or in high training loads—making placement more valuable.
Daily protein: ~1.6–2.2 g/kg. Meals every ~4 hours with 0.4–0.6 g/kg per meal. Ensure one meal is within ~1–2 hours pre or post workout; add pre‑sleep protein if you only hit three meals.
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Daily protein: ~1.6–2.2 g/kg. Three main meals at ~0.5–0.6 g/kg, plus one 20–30 g snack (e.g., Greek yogurt or whey) to top up totals and leucine hits.
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Daily protein: keep the same, but push per‑meal dose to the higher end (0.6 g/kg) and use high-leucine proteins. Position one large meal around training; consider a pre‑sleep feeding.
Use 0.4–0.6 g/kg per meal for 3–5 meals. Example: 75 kg person targets ~30–45 g per meal. Older adults or cutting phases use the higher end.
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Whey shake (1–1.5 scoops) + fruit; 200–250 g Greek yogurt + nuts; 150–200 g cooked chicken or firm tofu + grains; 2 whole eggs + 200 g egg whites + toast; 200 g cottage cheese + berries.
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Combine soy, pea, and rice proteins; add 2–3 g leucine or EAAs to lower-leucine meals; emphasize tempeh, seitan, lentils, edamame, and fortified plant yogurts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. If you ate a protein-rich meal within ~1–3 hours before training, you’re covered. If you trained fasted or your last meal was more than ~3–4 hours ago, have 20–40 g protein within ~1–2 hours post workout.
There’s no hard cap. Bigger meals still contribute to daily needs. However, MPS plateaus after an effective dose (~0.4–0.6 g/kg, 2–3 g leucine). Spreading protein over 3–5 meals yields more total MPS peaks than one large meal.
Use goal body weight or estimated lean body mass. Practical approach: set daily protein to ~1.8–2.6 g/kg of goal weight depending on training status and whether you’re cutting.
Yes, but less. You still benefit from 3–5 effective protein feedings to support remodeling and maintain a positive net balance, even without a workout.
In healthy individuals, higher-protein diets are generally safe. If you have kidney disease or risk factors, consult a clinician and follow individualized guidance.
Nail your daily protein first, then layer in smart distribution and a sensible workout window. For most, 1.6–2.2 g/kg/day split into 3–5 meals at 0.4–0.6 g/kg each—plus a pre‑sleep option—delivers the bulk of the results. Start with totals, keep meals consistent, and only then fine‑tune timing to match your training and lifestyle.
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Leucine triggers MPS; complete high-leucine proteins are consistently superior per gram for driving MPS.
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The ‘anabolic window’ is broader than once thought. A solid pre‑workout meal covers you; otherwise, a post‑workout dose helps.
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Pre‑sleep protein supports overnight MPS and next‑day performance, adding a small but meaningful edge over time.
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With fewer calories, preserving lean mass gets harder. Precise distribution and training-adjacent protein help retain muscle.
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Anabolic resistance raises the threshold needed to maximally stimulate MPS.
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Most plant proteins are lower in leucine and EAAs; targeted choices close the gap.
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Primary benefits are for endurance and multi-hour events; limited upside for typical lifting sessions.
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Beyond totals, distribution, and a sensible workout window, minute-level precision rarely changes outcomes.
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