Methodology

Protein Needs After 40

Francesco Zen, founder of ZTraining · Last updated June 19, 2026

Why the underlying logic doesn't change

Protein needs are still calculated from lean mass, not total bodyweight, the same approach that applies at any age. That part of the method doesn't shift just because someone's turned 40.

What does shift

The real difference is margin. A protein target that's slightly off matters more after 40, because recovery has less room to compensate for it. Combined with the recovery and hormonal changes that come with age, getting protein right becomes a higher-leverage decision than it was a decade earlier, not because the number changes dramatically, but because the cost of getting it wrong is higher.

The exact ratios and adjustments Mr Z applies for clients over 40 are part of the proprietary methodology, built from 18 years of real coaching results rather than published as a generic formula.

Francesco Zen is the founder of ZTraining and ZLIFE, with 18 years of coaching experience working with executives across the UK, US, and UAE. He built Mr Z, an AI coach trained on his methodology to bring the same approach to a wider audience.

Protein Needs After 40

Why the underlying logic doesn't change

What does shift

Audit your performance.