Bodybuilders Aren't the Only Ones Who Need Protein

Every time you engage in an intense workout, you are tearing down your muscles at a microscopic level and creating tiny little tears. Your muscles depend on YOU to feed them high quality protein to do the healing, repairing and rebuilding of those muscles to create MORE muscle. The benefit goes beyond muscles; protein also dulls hunger and can help prevent obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Most people do not consume enough protein. To keep it simple, you should shoot for 100 grams of protein a day. That means each meal and snack, (5 per day), should have 20 grams of protein. That's why some people do not see the numbers on the scale that they want even though they are working out; it's because you are replacing FAT tissue with lean muscle mass, which weighs more. This will have the result of actually increasing your metabolic fitness, so if you find you are getting hungrier as you continue on your weight loss journey don't hesitate to eat accordingly. Plus keep in mind that timing is everything. Think about when you probably consume the most protein…..At dinner, right? That means you could be fueling your muscles for only a few hours a day, and breaking down muscle the rest of the time. Instead, you should spread out your protein intake so with patience and perseverance, you can create a FIT, STRONG, CALORIE BURNING machine!

Below are some excellent sources of protein. ENJOY!!!

Fish and seafood: High in protein and also low in fat.

White-Meat Poultry: The white meat is a better source of lean protein and is lower in fat than dark meat. Also, avoid the skin. It is high in saturated fat. You can purchase skinless chicken breast or you can remove the skin prior to cooking.

Milk, Cheese, and Yogurt: Great source of protein and calcium. Calcium is beneficial in preventing osteoporosis and keeping teeth and bones healthy.

Eggs: Eggs are one of the least expensive forms of protein.

Beans: One-half cup of beans contains has much protein as three ounces of broiled steak. In addition, beans are high in fiber. Fiber allows you to feel fuller for longer periods of time. However, don’t go over board because we all know the song “beans, beans the magical fruit , the more you eat the more…” well you know the rest…LOL

Soy

Lean Beef: Lean beef has only one more gram of saturated fat than a skinless chicken breast. Lean beef is also an excellent source of zinc, iron, and vitamin B12.

High Protein Post-Workout Recovery Drinks: Whey and soy protein powder supplements are great sources of protein. Recent studies, show that whey protein reaches the muscles quicker than soy protein. Therefore, it may be the better choice.