Think You’re Getting Enough Protein? Think Again!

Eating protein isn’t just for bodybuilders; it’s actually equally important whether your goal is fat loss, muscle building, or just trying to optimize your health.

Here are three MAJOR reasons why eating a diet high in protein is a crucial component of achieving and maintaining a healthy body composition:

1. PROTEIN PROMOTES SATIETY more than the other macronutrients, meaning that when you eat it, it keeps you more full than carbs or fats.This is key because if you’re in a calorie deficit, it’s going to make it much more comfortable, and therefore easier to stick to.

2. PROTEIN BUILDS AND PRESERVES LEAN MASS 
Whether your goal is to preserve the lean mass you have, or to build as much as possible, your body needs protein to do it. In a fat loss phase, it’s important that we are preserving as much muscle mass as we can to protect our metabolism and to make sure we end up with as much definition as possible.

3. THE THERMIC EFFECT OF FOOD
Protein actually takes more energy to digest than carbs or fats, meaning that you can eat more of it without your body storing the calories as energy. All calories actually aren’t equal when you account for the thermic effect of food!

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HOW MUCH PROTEIN SHOULD I EAT?

A good basic rule of thumb is that you should aim for around 1g of protein per lb of current bodyweight, per day. This means if you’re a 160 pound female, you’re eating around 160 grams every day.

BUT REMEMBER…

There are always exceptions to the rule, and your coach will take your individual goals, lifestyle and preferences into account to prescribe the right protein target for you.

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Watch this video to learn more about determining your ideal protein target: