Is it possible to hit macros without supplements?

Hendrix7

If it was "just powdered milk" I could drink real milk for the same effect - but I can't......

Yes you could.

30 grams protein from milk is the same as 30 grams protein from whey powder........the only difference is they whey comes without the fat + carbs the milk would have.

Whey is torture on the digestive tract, not to mention needless calories - I can't believe people on the boards suggest it as a necessary food product, especially for people who are currently overweight, and/or are not in any sort of training.

How are they useless calories.......is the protein from chicken useless calories? What about the protein from eggs, fish etc?Are these useless? Protein is protein.

I'm not saying they are necessary for everyone...but to dismiss it as inferior or of no use whatsoever is equally foolish.

Monny287

Wait no, 30/30/60 is not possible. That's 120%.

They're just REALLY motivated.

bombedpop

How are they useless calories.......is the protein from chicken useless calories? What about the protein from eggs, fish etc?Are these useless? Protein is protein.

I'm not saying they are necessary for everyone...but to dismiss it as inferior or of no use whatsoever is equally foolish.

You are right, it is not necessary for everyone, that was my point.

Obese/Overweight people tend to be so for a reason - over consumption of calories and usually unhealthy eating habits. Re-learning (or even learning) to eat real food, regular food is a big enough task, and probably a hard one.

A protein shake is not a real food, it is a supplement, one that carries calories and a lot of times artificial sweetener, and artificial flavors. Touting it as some miracle product that needs to be used, along with selling this idea of eating at strict macro levels is foolish and short sighted. Adding a protein replacement in and of itself will not magically make anyone lose weight, nor will eating x carbs, x protein, x fat make anyone magically lose weight.

SuffolkSally

Hi MrsAgi,

and welcome to MFP.

You will find there is lots of advice here (sometimes too much, with so much to learn and also with people thinking that they really need to instruct people in the rules they are following, rather than listening to you and thinking about where you are).

Some posters with rather hectoring advice believe they know what's right; some need to find a better website for them (probably called basicmanners.com or such), others should go to another site for their needs, (probably basicventing.com), some find it builds them up more to be rude to fellow members (just think about what they're most likely to be like in real life, you won't be far off); others will try to be as helpful and supportive as they can, but won't necessarily be quite so certain.

I hope you'll love this site - once you get into it, there's lots of fun, it's a great motivational tool, and you'll find a group of people to support one another.

Anyway I just wanted to say that really.

Regarding your question. Well - my calorie goal is about the same as yours. I walk quite a lot, and I do very very mild weightlifting. I aim for 100g protein per day on average, have a target of 50g fat max on average and 20g fibre on average. I'm using average so often to stress it's importance - you don't have to hit every target every day. MFP has great tools for looking back over a week, a month, a year.. and seeing how you're doing, in weightloss, calorie targets, macros, the lot (even vitamins etc).

So I'd just let yourself settle into using it, log everything until it becomes a habit you don't even think about. Otherwise with the challenges you have in daily life you'll get discouraged and give up, and that would be a real shame because you sound like a remarkable lady.

Regarding protein - well getting it up some is easy enough. Like you I won't use protein bars or shakes, and I don't believe they're necessary unless perhaps for serious weightlifters/bodybuilders.

Google high protein foods and make your own plans, but really the way is to eat more lean meat and fish, plus seek out other protein sources. It doesn't have to be expensive - easier if you have a freezer! Look for special offers of chicken (forget the MFP obsession with chicken breast meat; legs and thighs are cheaper and tastier), turkey, salmon - remember the frozen stuff! Nothing wrong with it, and very handy. Tins of tuna are often on offer. Lentils and beans of all sorts are good sources are great for protein and fibre - I buy them tinned in water as they're great time savers. Look out for special offers and buy in bulk when and/if possible.

Eggs are cheap and great. Cheese!

It would be easy to incorporate more protein in your diet - friend or message me if you'd like a chat.

You've taken a huge first step.

Good luck with the next ones.

Don't mind the odd stumble too much.

chuisle

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Obese/Overweight people tend to be so for a reason - over consumption of calories and usually unhealthy eating habits. Re-learning (or even learning) to eat real food, regular food is a big enough task, and probably a hard one.

A protein shake is not a real food, it is a supplement, one that carries calories and a lot of times artificial sweetener, and artificial flavors. Touting it as some miracle product that needs to be used, along with selling this idea of eating at strict macro levels is foolish and short sighted. Adding a protein replacement in and of itself will not magically make anyone lose weight, nor will eating x carbs, x protein, x fat make anyone magically lose weight.

Please, enlighten us with your definition of 'real food'. I understand where you are coming from - I'm big on trying to eat 'clean' myself. But as you get up on the pulpit I would like to remind you there is no one definition of 'real' or 'clean' food. It's individual. Further - there are protein powders that do not have added sugar or artificial ingredients.

The rest of your arguments are literally ALL straw men. You are setting up false arguments to knock them down. No one here is a proponent of any of those ideas so give it a rest.

You don't like think protein powder is useful/good in a diet. Great. Plenty of other disagree. Great. Let the OP take the information and her own decision.

MrsAgi

interesting article on the BBC News this morning, which kind of debunks he whole sports spplments concept (although I'm not saying tryng t reach maro's whichever way you prefer is bad!)

But the Oxford research team and the British Medical Journal said the science does not back up that claim.

Dr Heneghan said: "The evidence does not stack up and the quality of the evidence does not allow us to say these do improve in performance or recovery and should be used as a product widely."

Nutrition expert Professor Mike Lean of the University of Glasgow described what little evidence there is that certain amino acids, which form part of proteins, may improve muscle strength as "absolutely fringe evidence and I think that that is almost totally irrelevant, even at the top level of athletics".

Prof Lean said the market for supplements is "yet another fashion accessory for exercise… and a rather expensive way of getting a bit of milk."

full article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18863293

Doubt I'll bother/have time to to watch Panorama later, but it'll be on iplayer....

mcarter99

I decided to hit 100g protein today after failing yesterday. It was pretty easy and I don't eat much meat. 1.5c cottage cheese and 1 can tuna = 95g.

chuisle

interesting article on the BBC News this morning, which kind of debunks he whole sports spplments concept (although I'm not saying tryng t reach maro's whichever way you prefer is bad!)

But the Oxford research team and the British Medical Journal said the science does not back up that claim.

Dr Heneghan said: "The evidence does not stack up and the quality of the evidence does not allow us to say these do improve in performance or recovery and should be used as a product widely."

Nutrition expert Professor Mike Lean of the University of Glasgow described what little evidence there is that certain amino acids, which form part of proteins, may improve muscle strength as "absolutely fringe evidence and I think that that is almost totally irrelevant, even at the top level of athletics".

Prof Lean said the market for supplements is "yet another fashion accessory for exercise… and a rather expensive way of getting a bit of milk."

full article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18863293

Doubt I'll bother/have time to to watch Panorama later, but it'll be on iplayer....

Interesting article. I agree that I don't know how much sports supplements actually change performance. Though, the article is highly unclear about what kinds of sports drinks they are taking about. They clearly mentioned protein. Then mention carbohydrate drinks. Regardless, if you are taking as a nutritional option (so taking whey powder in instead of eating 4 ounces of chicken) this doesn't really apply. I don't drink protein to increase my performance, I drink it because it's easy and convenient and I can only eat so much chicken.