The Importance of Protein

basschick

I've recently come to realize how important it is to get enough protein. I'm a picky eater, don't eat red meat or poultry, and I have to limit dairy due to a chronic sinus condition so getting enough protein has always been a challenge for me. I met my goal weight about 2 months ago, but still felt flabby in some areas and could tell I had lost some muscle. About a month ago, I started eating more fish, have started adding baked tempeh to my salads (an excellent source of protein for vegetarians and pescatarians), and am drinking more soy milk. I think it's made a difference. My belly flab is starting to go away, I'm finally starting to see some results from the weight lifting I've been doing, and I've actually lost an additional 3 pounds beyond my goal weight even though I'm eating the same number of calories.

This article explains it better than I could.

http://www.burn-body-fat-guide.com/protein-for-fat-loss.html

"When most people plan and structure an eating plan to burn body fat, they usually only focus on what they should be cutting down on, and not what they should be eating. For example, they say they need to cut down on sugar, or cut down on saturated fats.

Sure, it's good that you are targeting specific bad foods to avoid in your diet plan, but you also you need to focus as much on the types of foods you should be consuming. And protein should definitely be on that list."

mrsdauer

prtein shakes work? i also dont consume much in the "meat department". every now and then i will have hamburger or tuna, but thats about the extent of it....
i looked at some protein shake mix yesterday, but havent heard from many if its a waste of money or not....

basschick

prtein shakes work? i also dont consume much in the "meat department". every now and then i will have hamburger or tuna, but thats about the extent of it....
i looked at some protein shake mix yesterday, but havent heard from many if its a waste of money or not....

I've never tried commercially made protein shakes. I make my own strawberry banana smoothies with soy protein powder (you could also use whey powder).

flimflamfloz

Protein shakes are not particularly a waste of money, although it is certainly more expensive than buying tuna and eggs.

The problem is you will want to kill yourself if you keep eating tuna and eggs, so it's nice to have a protein shake in the middle of the afternoon rather than having to open a tin of tuna... (I personally have 2 shakes a day, normally).

Chocolate protein shakes with 100ml of milk, and the rest water, is gorgeous.

PS: just go to a bodybuilding shop and buy the protein powder over there... It's reasonably priced.

cutezombiedoll

Protein is what keeps you full, so it is important. I used to hardly ever eat meats, but now that I eat them a little more often, I feel tired less often and I eat less junk food.

Also, protein doesn't have to come from meat. There's also soy (Only eat soy that has been fermented! Non fermented soy, I've found out, is bad for you), nuts, seeds, and beans.

Primrose1960

Interesting article, thanks.

velvetkat

I buy whey protein from Amazon and pay less than $20 for 2 lbs. If I have one protein shake a day it lasts me more than a month. I usually have 2 a day.. one for breakfast and one for an evening snack.
I use chocolate and add PB2(powdered peanut butter), a cup of water and crushed ice and end up with 32 oz of chocolate/peanut butter milk shake.. sometimes I add a half a banana or banana extract.

I see so many diaries that are lacking in protein and packed full of carbs. Seems that so many people just worry about the calories and not about the nutrition. One step at a time and i hope these same people are learning about nutrition as they go. I know I have.


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catdoc1

I watched the documentary Forks Over Knives, which disagrees with this article. It will be interesting to see how these conflicting ideas all plays out over the next 5-10 years and see if we can get a closer concensus. It is certainly a contentious issue!

I personally follow a vegan diet of about 10% protein and feel much better than I did when I tried the Paleo diet. My body loves low glycemic carbs (vegetables, fruits, unprocessed whole grains) and this works for me. It's also better for the planet, my weight, my cholesterol, my blood pressure, and my wallet.

Laura

basschick

I see so many diaries that are lacking in protein and packed full of carbs. Seems that so many people just worry about the calories and not about the nutrition.

Yes! I do too, which is why I posted this. I hope others will learn from my mistake. :happy: