What's with all the protein?

skinnysushicat
skinnysushicat Posts: 138 Member
edited January 25 in Food and Nutrition
Newbie, please bear with me.
I'm veggie, and thought I was doing ok with protein - but not aCcording to mfp! A few people on another thread said I should focus on eating more protein. Why, exactly, is protein good for weight loss? And how can I increase my intake?

Replies

  • SPeffer1
    SPeffer1 Posts: 74 Member
    I think the idea is that protein helps keep you full longer. At least it certainly does for me! If I eat oatmeal for breakfast I'm hungry in an hour or two. Oatmeal and peanut butter - I'm full for much longer. I try to have protein at every meal/snack.
  • TimeForMe99
    TimeForMe99 Posts: 309 Member
    Protein intake helps to prevent muscle loss from dieting and it does keep you full longer than carbs, etc. It can be a controversial topic, however, especially with regard to vegetarians. Also, many folks here are trying to build muscle which does require more protein.

    Have you looked into the veggie groups here on MFP? They can give you more specific guidance than the general populous.
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    And protein takes a little more calories to digest - protein with fiiber and good fats together keeps me satiated for hours
  • goodtimezzzz
    goodtimezzzz Posts: 640 Member
    you do not need to increase protein to lose weight..trust me..im a professional
  • goodtimezzzz
    goodtimezzzz Posts: 640 Member
    hey post pics fill out your stuff and I will help:) This is EZ
  • Silver14
    Silver14 Posts: 141
    I find I lose quicker when I swap carbs for protein and fats. I make a protein shake w peanut butter for breakfast and it keeps me full till 2pm! Longer even, I just eat then because I need too! Also I'm very carb sensitive, too many carbs and I don't lose. It also allows me to eat more fats (almonds, pb, avocado, seeds, olive oil). I find reducing carbs also makes me eat more veggies. Instead of a bowl of stir fry with meat, rice and veg, it's meat, LOTS of veg, and sesame seeds (example)
    Good luck :)
  • SuffolkSally
    SuffolkSally Posts: 964 Member
    I looked at your diary and your protein intake doesn't seem out-of-the-way low. I think the main reasons people want to eat more protein are

    - because they are starting with a poor diet featuring very high carbs and low/poor quality protein
    - because they are struggling with hunger. Protein is great for satiety
    - because they are weight training

    There's lots of advice on here about how to up your protein intake as a vegetarian, if that's what you want - use the search facility on the message boards.

    I see that you are breastfeeding, so do (as I'm sure you would, of course) make sure you follow respected medical advice about your diet - there's a lot of well informed and sincere people who have useful advice on here, but then there's also quite a few who fall into other categories!

    Best of luck.
  • skinnysushicat
    skinnysushicat Posts: 138 Member
    Thank you all for your answers. I am only interested in healthy weightloss, don't worry! No mad diets or supplements. I don't want a perfect body, I just want to shift a few pounds after 3 babies in 5 years! I'm a relatively healthy eater ( whole grains, try to get plenty of fruit and veg, not too much alcohol or junk). I like my diet, and I feel healthy, so I just want to tweak things so I can get to a healthy BMi and maintain it. I do eat too much sugar (from a mix of healthy and unhealthy sources!) so that is another area to work on.

    You have helped me understand why everyone seems obsessed with protein! It's good to know it helps with feeling full, as at the moment I am struggling with hunger. I will check out the veggie groups for more support. Thanks!
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