Eat Your Protein!

Hey there! 

I used to be a big, chubby kid. Then I became a really slim kid. Now I pack on some meat on my bone, but it took a while to get here. 

When I first started cutting I was all about the calories. I didn’t care about the protein at all. Now looking back I think it made it so much harder for me to lose the fat simply because my muscles weren’t getting the necessary fuel from protein to really tighten up my body and help burn off the fat. 

I’ve seen people that think that the best way to lose weight and fat is to cut back on calories all the way; to barely eat. And although that is the fastest way to lose weight and body fat, it isn’t necessarily the healthiest. 

We want to remain healthy while still being able to achieve our goals. At times I would see that I would pass my calorie limit by 50 or even 100 calories and I wouldn’t eat it, even though it had a good amount of protein. 

I was scared of those calories stacking on top of each other throughout the day and causing me to end up not losing or even gaining more fat on me. But now that I’m more versed on the subject I understand that my mindset was wrong.

If I could go back in time I would force my younger self to eat that damn protein. 

Eat the protein!! 

Feed your muscles and feed them right!! Eat that protein. And also eat your carbs. Of course don’t overdo it, and don’t eat the bad carbs like junk food and highly processed foods. I’m not saying to completely remove them, but make sure to take things in moderation. 

Try not to go on an extreme diet, because what we are trying to achieve is a healthy, maintainable lifestyle. Of course there will be days where you will eat more than you should. Just make sure those next few days you keep your foods healthy and maybe up the amount of exercise you do.

Some proteins will be higher in calories than others. Most fish based proteins are low in calories. These lower calorie high protein foods I would recommend for cutting and/or maintenance.

These include:

• Cod Fish

• Tuna (preferably in water)

• Sardines

• Tilapia

Other protein sources are also available and known to be low in calories and high in protein. I think things like chicken breast and eggs are pretty low, but of course they aren’t the lowest in calories; although chicken breast is pretty dense and contains a lot of volume which is why it is so widely used in the fitness and bodybuilding space. Eggs can also be pretty good but the yolk contains quite a bit of calories.

Protein sources can also be high protein high calories, which sometimes can be used to dirty bulk, but if eaten in proper amounts can be beneficial for bulking up and gaining mass.

These include:

• Plenty of whole eggs (the yolk is important)

• Dairy products

• Red meats

• Nuts and seeds

• Peanut Butter (especially PB&J’s)

• Chicken wings (or other parts of the chicken with the skin on it)

When eating more calories though make sure you exercise more. Make sure you lift weights as well. It will make it easier for you to burn off calories later on. This is because the more muscle you build, the more your body has to work, which in turn makes your body burn more calories. Cardio is definitely helpful so don’t neglect it.

If your aim is to bulk up still do cardio. The difference is that you don’t have to hit it hard at all. Moderate pace cardio is recommended, but even longer lasting low intensity cardio will do the trick to help you keep your heart healthy while also keeping on those necessary calories for the bulk.

Take care of your body. Life is all about balance so don’t overdo things. Don’t eat too much, but don’t eat too little. Make sure you also exercise plenty to keep your body in shape and to make it easier for you to achieve your weight loss goals! 

Have a great day!

PS.

Do NOT neglect your fruits and vegetables. Eat plenty of them.