Should I skip the gym in middle when I can't take enough protein

Question

I have been working out in gym for the last 3 months.... [ 4 days week , 30 minutes per day ]

I want muscle , shape & want to be fit....

I did't see any major improvements as I did't workout out intensively & did't take enough protein. (maximum I was taking is 50 g protein from food per day (no other protein supplements) , but I need at least 120 g protein per day for my body weight.)

Also, due to another reason, I can't take more than 50 gm protein per day for the next month. After one month, I can take up to more than 120 g protein per day.

So, is it better to go and workout in gym for next month, or is it better to skip gym for next month? Is there any advantage in going to the gym for next month ?

Answer 1

There is a great article of Bayesian Bodybuilding (see here) conferring the results of various studies. They are stating that

[...] 1.8g/kg (0.82g/lb) is the point at which additional protein intake ceases to yield any benefits.

and

no differences in whole body protein synthesis or indexes of lean body mass in strength athletes consuming either 0.64g/lb or 1.10g/lb over a 2 week period

and

The authors suggested that 0.55g/lb was sufficient for bodybuilders.

Following that data, your optimal protein intake would be something between 80 g and 100 g, but this does not mean that you should skip the gym altogether. On the one hand there will still be neural adaption (depending on the weight/reps) and on the other hand there is still an effect on protein synthesis if you are at 1 g per kg bodyweight (there is a ugly but very informative graphic at the end of the Studies on the optimal protein intake section of the article).