Artificially increasing protein intake via supplements

Nutrition Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hi – I’m ~40 yo, ~190cm ~105KG, overweight, doing the beginner template, I eat ~2500 kcals (completely sedentary except for the training, post major weight loss, so TDEE is low), I don’t usually have problems hitting my protein macros on my usual omnivorous diet, I eat 4 meals of 40-60 grams of protein a day, I have a scoop of whey only on my training days after the training.
I’m going vegan for 2 months in 2 weeks, and I’m trying to plan the meals, and can’t figure put how to get enough protein, I don’t want to consume soy as I have a slight gynecomastia, I increased my meals to 6, 2 beans and rice, 2 lentiles and 2 oats, and I’m still at 100 grams of protein.
I’m planning to add 2 scoops of vegan pea+rice protein with the 2 oat meals and 2 protein bars, before and after the workout.
Is this acceptable practice in your opinion? Would you suggest other option for training while vegan?
Also, I’m supposed to finish the 1st phase of the beginner program in that timeframe, do you suggest continuing with it and move to the 2nd phase only after returning to whole foods diet?
Would you suggest eliminating the GPP portion of the program until after this period?

2

MicNaime,

Thanks for the post and I hope you’re well.

A few things:

  1. Consuming soy protein has no impact on gynecomastia.
  2. You’re very low on protein. I would try to get towards ~170-190g.
  3. I wouldn’t recommend 6 meals a day necessarily, but if that’s what you prefer, that’s cool. Rather, 3-5 meals per day, 3-5 hours apart.
  4. I would aim for ~40g of protein per meal.
  5. I would do the GPP in the program.
  6. I wouldn’t repeat phase I when you’re no longer consuming a vegan diet, as I don’t think this plays a signifiant role in generating training adaptations, provided you’re eating enough protein.

-Jordan

3

Thank you for the reply, all is well.
So from your experience, completing protein budget (up to additional 100 grams of protein) with concentrated from of protein to reduce the volume of food and energy intake, shouldn’t be a problem?

4

I don’t think it would be a problem…1-2 shakes per day is fine by me.