Do You Really Need That Much Protein?

Mmmmmm…  protein!

That picture always makes me laugh.  It comes with a whole essay about how to "cancel out your vegetarian friends" by eating three animal proteins every time your veggie friend doesn't eat one!

Before people start sending me hate mail, I've had lots of vegetarian clients (I actually prefer "plant based diet" to "vegetarian" -thx John Berardi and Craig Ballantyne for that distinction). 

And before the World Wildlife Fund comes after me, I've also never stewed up a koala.  All bets are off on the toucan! 

Do You Really Need That Much Protein?

Or the flipside of that question – Are carbohydrates really evil?  A little evil?  Sometimes evil?

The answer to both questions is yes and no.

You're welcome.

What Protein Is Good For

Protein does two super awesome things

1.) Most people feel more full with more protein in their diets.  Most people are going to be hungry if they don't get protein at most meals.

2.) You need protein so you hold on to muscle while you lose fat.  Straight carbohydrate diets are a pretty sure path to skinny-fat (or fat-fat).

What Protein Doesn't Do

1.) 90% of the population will do better on a diet that includes at least 30% carbohydrates.  In other words, most people will die on Atkins.

2.) Good carbs are real food.  Fruit, vegetables, brown rice, oats, ect.

3.) Evil carbs come out of boxes, have 19 ingredients, and include high fructose corn syrup.

The Magical Ratio of Carbs to Protein

Once upon a time, I recommended the Zone Diet.  It's 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fat.

It's also low calorie, and favors better, cleaner food over processed food.

People, who follow it for realz, get great results.

The only problem – lots of people feel super hungry on the Zone.  At the time (six years ago) I'd just tell them to suck it up and be stoked they were getting results!

It turns out there was a better way.

Rig The System So You Feel Full

Look, you're never going to be on a diet and get that overfull feeling of plowing through a four course meal.

But you don't have to be suffering all the time either.

I have a super awesome system for having people feel more full:

1.) If you feel full with slightly more good carbs, then we add more good carbs to your diet.

2.) If you feel full with slightly more protein, then we add more lean proteins to your diet.

3.) If you feel full with slightly more fat, then we add more healthy fat to your diet.

And experience has shown me that it works.

I've had clients get down to 20% body fat eating 60/20/20 – 60% carbs, 20% protein and 20% fat.  The carbs were just all good, clean, caveman carbs like fruits and vegetables.

That was what had her feel full, so it made the whole process that much easier.

Josh Hillis, RKC2, NASM-CPT/PES, Z-R/I

***********************************

Tell me what you thought about the Triple Fat Loss Results with 5 Sneaky Tricks report!

Did you catch the followup "Lose 25 Pounds in 25 days" audio?

What about the other Xtreme Fat Loss articles?

Post to comments and tell me what you learned!

***********************************