How Protein Can Aid Fat Loss

Protein is crucial for building muscle mass, and as such has turned into an absolute essential for every bodybuilder. However, when it comes to fat loss, it appears that people give more importance to fats and carbohydrates. More precisely, the amounts they should not consume. All that really matters is counting calories and eating low-carb meals. As for protein, it tends to get forgotten somewhere in the whole equation. This is why today we will concentrate on the benefits that this macronutrient offers.

One of the biggest problems for everyone on a diet is the constant feeling of hunger. This can easily lead to frustration, anxiety and a lack of concentration at work. The solution many go with is to have a snack. That would not have been such a bad idea if the snack was not a bag of crisps or a bar of chocolate. By making sure you have adequate protein in your main meals you will feel fuller for longer. This is due to the fact that protein is a macronutrient that is harder to digest and thus the process takes longer.

Protein is made of amino acids, which are essential for muscle building and maintenance. When you consume good amounts of protein, you will also supply your muscles with a good amount of amino acids. Muscles, aside from making the person more aesthetically attractive, provide another great benefit – they burn more calories. The body uses a significant amount of calories to maintain muscle mass, so the more muscular you are, the faster your metabolism will be.

A mistake that many people do is to go on a diet and be concerned with only what the scale shows. It doesn’t matter whether they have lost fat or muscle, as long as they drop their weight down to the desired number it is all good. The problem with such approach is that by losing muscle mass, you are losing not only definition, but also slowing down your metabolism. So when you get back on your regular diet (that is before the fat-loss diet), you will quickly add the lost weight and quite possibly some more.

Let us start by saying that protein bars are not meal replacements. Nor are they the perfect food. However, they can be of great help if used at the right time. Generally, most people crave something sweet in the afternoon. This is due to a drop in sugar levels, which will depend on a number of factors. One of which is what you had for lunch, so you will certainly not be the only one craving a snickers bar in the afternoon!

In these cases, it is alright to reach for a low-calorie high-protein bar. The technology has advanced in recent years and you can now get a protein bar packed with 20g of protein with less than 200 calories. Again, we need to stress that those bars are suitable when you crave something sweet and to prevent snacking on unsuitable food, not as an everyday snack.

Being on a fat-loss diet doesn’t have to be torture. If you are eating plain chicken with cold vegetables then don’t expect to be on your regimen for long. Protein rich foods, such as poultry, beef and fish, to name a few, can be cooked in many different ways, each of which can guarantee you a great tasting meal. If you don’t enjoy the taste of your food, then make sure you check out our Blog section, where you will find some great-tasting high-protein recipes.

By now it should be apparent that good quantities of protein should be present in every meal plan. It is an important macronutrient that can greatly enhance not only your muscle-building progress, but also turn out to be a valuable ally against unwanted fat.