Protein-Sparing Modified Quick PSMF (Calculator + Meal Plan + 97 Meals)
The whole newbie’s information to a protein-sparing modified quick that’s designed that will help you to reduce weight quick.
Obtain your FREE protein food regimen meal plan, PSMF calculator, and 97 simple issues you may eat.



You possibly can obtain the free printable PDF guidebook, meal plan, PSMF meals record, and PSMF calculator.
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Medical Disclaimer -Earlier than embarking on any change in food regimen, way of life or exercise, you could must be below the supervision and care of your major healthcare supplier. This text shouldn’t be construed as medical recommendation, nor ought to it’s substituted for medical recommendation out of your healthcare supplier. By persevering with to learn this text, you assume all tasks and dangers for instituting way of life administration.
🏆 What’s a Protein Sparing Modified Quick (PSMF)?
The protein-sparing modified fat is a high-protein very low-calorie food regimen designed that will help you reduce weight quick whereas not dropping any muscle.
The PSMF food regimen was designed to assist overweight sufferers kick-start fast weight reduction earlier than bariatric surgical procedure within the Nineteen Seventies.
The commonest scientific PSMF food regimen seems to be like this:
- Protein-rich food regimen
- Hold fats and carbs low
- 800 energy per day
- Medically supervised PSMF: Intensive section for as much as 6 months adopted by a refeeding section for 6-8 weeks.
- Cussed weight reduction: PSMF 3 days per week, average keto food regimen or low-carb food regimen 4 days per week
- Deal with entire meals
- Take ample electrolytes and fluids
- Take into account taking a multivitamin
Why is it referred to as Protein Sparing Modified Quick?
Consuming a high-protein low-calorie low-carb low-fat food regimen, permits your physique to lose physique fats quick whereas sparing muscle from being misplaced. A extra correct identify ought to be muscle-sparing protein quick, however as an alternative, it’s referred to as PSMF, protein-sparing modified quick.
Is the PSMF food regimen the identical as keto?
PSMF and the keto food regimen have completely different macronutrient ratios, however each depend on carb restriction.
The keto food regimen has average protein, increased wholesome fat, under 20g web carbs, and doesn’t concentrate on energy.
Protein-sparing modified fasts are high-protein, low-fat, low-carb, and depend on calorie restriction for quick weight reduction. There’s an intensive section to lose fats and a refeeding section which is analogous to the ketogenic food regimen.
Does a protein-sparing modified quick work?
Once you wish to reduce weight, you actually wish to lose physique fats (not muscle).
The PSMF food regimen works to lose physique fats as a result of it’s a very low-calorie food regimen and a low-fat food regimen. Your physique has to burn its personal physique fats for power however you’ll retain lean physique mass since you are consuming a high-protein food regimen.
How a lot weight are you able to lose on PSMF?
Most individuals who begin a protein-sparing modified quick repost dropping 1kg – 3kg per week within the intensive section. (Supply)
How a lot weight and the way rapidly you may reduce weight will rely on numerous elements akin to:
- How a lot weight do it’s important to lose?
- Are you energetic or sedentary?
- How lengthy will you keep within the intensive section or the refeeding section?
- Are you insulin resistant?
Is the PSMF protected?
All of the research counsel that the protein-sparing modified fat are protected, and efficient, so long as it’s medically supervised and properly formulated. It’s best to base your PSMF meal plan on entire meals (unprocessed meals) and never depend on junk meals or protein bars, protein shakes, or meal replacements.
What are the advantages of a PSMF?
Not solely do you reduce weight quick, however you keep lean physique mass. You might also expertise:
- Diminished cravings
- Diminished starvation
- Elevated satiety
- Elevated nutrient density
- Elevated power
- Higher temper
- Improved muscle achieve
What’s the facet impact of a PSMF?
Whereas very low-calorie diets are typically properly tolerated, there could also be some transient (momentary) negative effects.
All of those are just like the keto flu. The keto flu will be prevented, or signs relived, by growing fluid and electrolyte consumption.
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Elevated thirst
- Fatigue
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Unhealthy breath
Who should not do a PSMF food regimen?
Anybody who has a preexisting medical situation that wants fixed medical supervision throughout weight reduction wants permission from their common medical skilled to start out.
This isn’t to say PSMF shouldn’t be protected for these sufferers, however they may want medical supervision and monitoring as they reduce weight and their well being markers might enhance. Some drugs may have lowering or adjusting. For instance (however not restricted to), individuals with:
- Coronary heart palpitations
- Angina (chest pains)
- Coronary heart assault
- Coronary heart illness
- Hypoglycemia
- Kidney illness
- Consuming problems
- Thyroid problems
- Being pregnant, lactating
- Gallbladder problems
How a lot protein to devour on a PSMF?
Throughout the intensive section (weight reduction section), you typically devour 0.7g – 0.9g of protein per pound (1.5g – 2g protein per kg) of physique weight.
Throughout the refeeding section (upkeep section), protein is slowly decreased as you add high quality carbs and wholesome fat again to your food regimen.
Your protein ought to be lean protein meals akin to skinless rooster breast, lean floor beef, white fish, egg whites, shrimp, tuna, and turkey.
How a lot fats to devour on a PSMF
In comparison with a standard low-calorie food regimen, you may get pleasure from some wholesome fat however solely eat the fats that comes alongside together with your dietary protein supply.
It’s the mixture of high-protein and low-fat that permits you to reduce weight rapidly whereas sustaining lean physique mass.
What number of carbohydrates to devour on a PSMF
It is best to maintain carbohydrate consumption as little as attainable to reduce weight rapidly. The PSMF calculator under exhibits 10g web carbs per day in the course of the intensive section.
What number of energy are in a PSMF?
Throughout the intense section, it’s a very low-calorie food regimen of solely 800 energy per day, primarily from dietary protein, minimal carbs, and minimal fats.
🏆 Protein-sparing modified calculator





There are a lot of keto calculators for the protein-sparing quick, and every one offers you a barely completely different set of macros.
For many protein-sparing modified calculators, protein consumption ranges between 1.5g-2g per kg physique weight per day.
This desk is a fast abstract for somebody with a sedentary way of life on a PSMF quick day.
- Protein consumption of 1.75 grams of protein per kg (0.8g per lb).
- The ratio of protein, fats, and carbs shouldn’t be crucial, so long as you decrease them as a lot as you may.
- Carbs and grams of fats have remained fixed.
- As you reduce weight, your energy additionally drop.
- Calculations on complete physique weight, not perfect physique weight.
WEIGHT | PROTEIN (4 energy/g) | CARBS (4 energy/g) | FAT (9 energy/g) | CALORIES |
---|---|---|---|---|
70kg/154lb | 119 (476) | 10 (40) | 30 (270) | 786 |
75kg/165lb | 131 (524) | 10 (40) | 30 (270) | 834 |
80kg/175lb | 140 (560) | 10 (40) | 30 (270) | 870 |
85kg/187lb | 148 (592) | 10 (40) | 30 (270) | 902 |
90kg/198lb | 157 (628) | 10 (40) | 30 (270) | 938 |
95kg/210lb | 166 (664) | 10 (40) | 30 (270) | 974 |
What are you able to eat on the PSMF food regimen?
With only a few energy allowed, PSMF diets encourage lean dietary protein with just a few added extras.
- Low-fat protein akin to skinless rooster, tuna, turkey, shrimp, prawns, white fish, further lean beef, and lean pork (see full record under)
- Non-starchy greens akin to spinach, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, broccoli, mushrooms, zucchini,
- Low-fat cheese akin to cottage cheese and Greek yogurt
- Egg whites
What must you keep away from on the PSMF food regimen?
To maintain energy, carbs, and fats extraordinarily low, it is best to keep away from or strictly restrict these meals.
- All sources of sugar (honey, coconut sugar, maple syrup, and agave)
- All starchy greens (carrots, potatoes, sweetcorn, parsnips, pumpkin)
- All fruit and fruit juices
- All junk meals, chocolate, and sweet
- All muffins, ice cream, and cookies
- Restrict dairy to low-fat dairy or whey isolate protein powder
- All grains, cereals, oats, granola
- All legumes, peas, beans, and chickpeas
- Nuts and seeds
What are the perfect high-protein meals to eat?
You will have to know the way a lot protein is in meat (and the perfect meat to decide on), how a lot protein is in greens, and the perfect high-protein dairy to eat.
Every of those charts will allow you to formulate a protein-sparing modified quick that can be a really low-calorie food regimen.
What’s soiled PSMF (lazy PSMF)
If you need the simple model (cheat’s model) of the PSMF, and wish to attain your macro objectives simply, soiled PSMF is for you.
You should use protein powders, drink protein shakes, and eat protein bars.
However whereas the lazy PSMF is simple, it isn’t nutrient-dense and won’t create wholesome newfound consuming habits.
And since ultra-processed meals is so fast and simple to digest, you’ll be hungry a lot sooner after consuming a protein bar than when you had eaten a skinless rooster breast.
Whilst you may attain your macro objectives simply, you’ll not attain your vitamin and micronutrient objectives. As well as, ultra-processed meals is simple to digest so you’ll really feel hungry sooner. Attempt to eat entire meals as usually as attainable.
As you reduce weight on any food regimen, you’ll require fewer energy.
However as a result of the protein-sparing modified quick will keep muscle mass, which is metabolically energetic, the impact in your metabolism ought to be minimal.
The PSMF calculator above exhibits a small calorie discount as weight reduction continues and you start to hit your purpose weight.
How lengthy are you able to do a protein-sparing modified quick?
The standard medically supervised protein-sparing modified quick has an intensive section for 3-6 months, adopted by a refeeding section for 6-8 weeks.
Nonetheless, for these on the keto food regimen who simply have to hit the reset button and need fast weight reduction, you may wish to have 3 or 4 PSMF days every week, with a extra average ketogenic food regimen on the opposite days.
Why are micronutrients so essential?
Whereas energy and macronutrients in a protein-sparing modified quick are restricted, it could briefly cut back the nutritional vitamins and micronutrients you might be consuming.
For long-term well being, it’s good to guarantee you might be assembly your minimal each day necessities.
It is advisable formulate a high-quality food regimen product of entire meals which can be wealthy in nutritional vitamins and micronutrients. Or you could select to take a great high quality multivitamin.
Do you want dietary supplements on a PSMF?
To keep away from any dietary deficiencies you could wish to take a great high quality multivitamin. Some individuals prefer to take a magnesium complement and sodium dietary supplements to assist ease any muscle pressure, forestall muscle cramps, and ease complications.
It’s possible you’ll want to take a multivitamin and electrolytes that comprise:
- Salt (sodium)
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Calcium





🏆 The straightforward PSMF food regimen plan





That is one other instance of what to eat on a protein-sparing quick.
DAY 1 – PSMF
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and egg whites
Lunch: 2-4 burger patties with lettuce
Dinner: Baked rooster breast wrapped in bacon with broccoli
DAY 2 – PSMF
Breakfast: 2 burger patties with a fried egg
Lunch: Canned tuna wrapped in lettuce
Dinner: Pork chops within the air fryer with broccoli or cauliflower
DAY 3 – PSMF
Breakfast: Protein-sparing bread with turkey and mustard
Lunch: Cooked prawns in a lettuce wrap
Dinner: Mexican rooster burger patties with lettuce
Snacks (elective):
- Canned tuna in water
- Slices of cooked rooster, turkey, or roast beef
- Boiled eggs
Lean meat protein sources for PSMF days





The keto food regimen requires fatty cuts of meat, whereas the protein-sparing modified fat require lean protein for fast weight reduction.
- Skinless rooster breast
- Lean floor beef,
- Skinless turkey
- Egg whites
- Whey protein isolate powder
- Tuna, cod, shrimp, or prawns.
- Fats-free cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, or
Can I snack on the PSMF?
Whereas most individuals report decreased starvation on a high-protein food regimen, you could end up extra hungry due to the decreased fats than whenever you have been on the standard high-fat keto food regimen.
In case you are hungry, you could have to eat 3 or 4 instances per day. It’s possible you’ll wish to have pure protein snacks or cut up your meals.
5 indicators it is time to swap to ‘upkeep’
- You retain falling off the PSMF food regimen and having cheat meals. This means the PSMF is probably not sustainable for you.
- For those who’re too hungry on a regular basis, you could wish to return to a better fats strategy with the keto food regimen or low-carb food regimen.
- It has triggered consuming problems akin to binging, purging, or emotional consuming.
- You feel dizzy, cannot focus, or have complications that simply will not budge.
- You simply really feel awful. The goal of any change in food regimen is to enhance your well being, not be the detriment of it.
🏆 PSMF FAQ
You possibly can obtain the free printable PDF guidebook, meal plan, PSMF meals record, and PSMF calculator.
For cussed weight reduction and people who are on a keto food regimen, you solely have to eat PSMF 3 days per week. For overweight sufferers who want appreciable weight reduction, it’s good to be medically supervised and should must be within the intense section for weeks or months.
It’s possible you’ll want some high quality carbs for an intense coaching session on the gymnasium. However do not go and eat a muffin or a slice of cake simply since you’re coaching. Hold it nutrient-dense, entire meals, unprocessed, is filled with nutritional vitamins and minerals. Perhaps some low-sugar berries in a high-protein smoothie, nut butter, or high-protein yogurt.
It may get boring fairly rapidly and the low-fat may take a little bit to turn out to be used to when you have been on the keto food regimen. However so long as you may stick to three days every week, it’s simple to stay to.
Once you wish to keep muscle mass. A water quick can usually give dramatic weight reduction and allow you to attain your purpose weight BUT it’s nutritionally depleted of any protein, fats, carbs, fiber, and nutritional vitamins. Dietary deficiencies are simple to happen with water fasts (intermittent fasting).
As a result of an elevated protein consumption is so satiating, it’s tough to overeat protein. Protein meals are filling so naturally allow you to to cut back your calorie consumption to shed extra weight out of your fats shops.
Protecting a meals diary is essential to watch how a lot fats, carbs, and energy you might be consuming. Meals monitoring will assist to you make higher meals selections and see the place you may reduce on pointless carbs or needed fat.
Meals monitoring is usually an eye fixed opener to see which cuts of meat have the very best and lowest fats, which greens have the very best and lowest carbs, and which meals are excessive or low calorie.
Most individuals keep their perfect physique weight by sticking to a normal keto food regimen with ample dietary protein, wholesome fat (for important fatty acids), and high quality wholesome carbs. Weight upkeep and weight achieve are managed by different elements akin to exercise, emotional consuming, and good blood sugar management, greater than any crash food regimen.
You possibly can anticipate some weight regain within the refeeding section, most of this shall be water, not moreover saved fats.
While weight reduction on very low-calorie diets will be fast initially, most individuals settle into dropping pounds slowly by week 2. Fast fats loss is usually adopted by a mean weight lack of 0.5-1kg per week.
Consuming a high-protein low-carb food regimen that can be a really low-calorie food regimen will encourage your physique to burn physique fats for gasoline and go into dietary ketosis.
Muscle is metabolically energetic and helps to keep up your metabolism. Your lean muscle mass helps to control a quick metabolism as a result of muscle tissue burn energy, even at relaxation. Muscle mass is your metabolic forex that determines your metabolic fee.
Many bodybuilders prefer to have shred days (dropping fats) adopted by bulk days (gaining muscle). They cut back their calorie consumption on the shred days, adopted by a high-protein food regimen designed to cease weight regain.
The soiled protein-sparing modified quick makes use of protein powder, protein shakes, and protein bars. Whilst you may attain your macro objectives simply, you’ll not attain your vitamin and micronutrient objectives. As well as, ultra-processed meals is simple to digest so you’ll really feel hungry sooner. Attempt to eat entire meals as usually as attainable.
In case you have plenty of weight to lose, have a cussed weight that’s tough to budge, or have hit a weight reduction plateau on the keto food regimen and need fast weight reduction, it could be price attempting the PSMF food regimen.
Overweight sufferers must be medically supervised on very low-calorie diets. Fast weight reduction might have an effect on their blood strain, and blood sugar management, and since medical PSMF is longer than a crash food regimen, they must be monitored for any dietary deficiencies.
Gaining muscle mass and dropping physique fats to achieve your purpose weight is the purpose of protein-sparing modified fasts and the keto food regimen. Lifting weights to burn energy and achieve muscle is inspired.
Anybody with a pre-existing medical situation akin to hypertension (or low blood strain) should search the approval of the medical skilled they see most frequently. Many individuals discover their blood strain normalizes and so may have their medicine reassessed by a health care provider.
BMI (physique mass index) is an outdated time period that offers a ratio of top to weight. It doesn’t mirror how a lot of the load comes from physique fats, or muscle mass. It doesn’t mirror the state of well being of that individual. A bodybuilder might have a excessive BMI as a result of their muscle is heavier (than somebody with extra physique fats) but be extremely wholesome.
To stop regaining the load misplaced after you end your protein quick, eat simply sufficient protein and nonstarchy greens with some wholesome fat. Observe a easy low-carb food regimen or keto food regimen.
🏆 97 PSMF meals to eat





What are the simplest meals to eat when on a protein-sparing modified quick? Listed here are the 97 best meals to purchase and recipes to make.
Attempt to base your meals and snacks on pure wholesome entire meals to assist forestall any dietary deficiencies.
To maximise weight reduction and lose fats quick, you need to test vitamin labels to make sure there aren’t any added sugars or pointless carbs. Attempt to restrict food regimen drinks, sauces, and higher-carb greens from the record to a minimal.
Lean protein meals
Strive to decide on protein sources from entire meals, relatively than protein shakes, powders, or bars.
- Skinless rooster breast
- Turkey slices
- Canned tuna in water
- White fish (cod and so on)
- Halibut
- Shrimp
- Floor rooster
- Prawns
- Additional-lean beef
- Pork loin (fats eliminated)
- Mussels
- Veal
- Trout
- Oysters
- Floor turkey
- Sirloin steak
- Pork chops
- Burger patties (no fillers)
- Lobster
- Crab
- Egg whites
- Flounder
- Snapper
- Sardines
- Roast pork (fats eliminated)
- Good high quality protein powder akin to whey protein isolate for snacks, earlier than exercises, or as a fast meal substitute. Don’t depend on protein powders for each meal.
Non-starchy greens
You may prefer to bulk up your meals with a choice of non-starchy greens.
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Mushrooms
- Lettuce
- Celery
- Cabbage
- Cucumber
- Spinach
- Silverbeet/Swiss chard
- Zucchini/courgette
- Radish
- Spring onion
- Asparagus
- Alfalfa sprouts
- Eggplant
Excessive-protein low-fat dairy and cooking oils
Bear in mind calorie restriction is the purpose so hold the added fats to a minimal whereas dropping pounds.
- Greek yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Butter
- Additional virgin olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Parmesan cheese
- Cram cheese
PSMF drinks
- Water
- Black espresso
- Black tea
- Mineral water
- Carbonated water
- Weight-reduction plan drinks (minimal)
- Inexperienced tea
- Natural teas (no sugar)
- Bone broth
PSMF desserts
- Sugar-free jello
- Protein-sparing bread made into buns, eclairs, and cinnamon swirls.
PSMF bread
The unique and best protein-sparing bread recipe needs to be that of Maria Emmerich. Protein-sparing bread is made utilizing egg white powder, allulose, salt, cream of tartar, and water.
PSMF condiments
- Actual mustard (no added sugar)
- Herbs and spices
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt, pepper, seasonings
- Tabasco
- Liquid smoke
- Inventory cubes (wheat free)
- Soy sauce (no added sugar)
- Wasabi paste (minimal)
Extra PSMF sources
You possibly can obtain the free printable PDF guidebook, meal plan, PSMF meals record, and PSMF calculator.