subject: Protein Shakes - A Great Breakfast Supplement [print this page] Are you having a hard time losing weight? If you have been lurking in health forums recently, you would have come across someone recommending a high protein diet. Just make friends with these health enthusiasts and observe them consuming lots of protein.
What makes protein so important?
You see, protein is the building blocks for our muscles. Strength training is needed to build lean muscle mass. With more lean muscles, our metabolism will be boosted. You will feel better as your metabolism improves. That is because having a higher metabolism means our body is more efficient at converting food and oxygen into energy. Thus, we feel more energetic and can put fatigue behind us once and for all.
Your muscles are not growing as you are exercising. While you workout, stress is placed on your muscles, forcing them to respond. So our muscles start to respond and grow accordingly. However, remember that muscles grow only after the workout - while you are resting.
How do your muscles feel the next day after your workout? That is a sign that your muscles are repairing and growing. A quick recovery is necessary if you wish to continue at the intensity that you are training. When your muscles are still sore, it's best not to continue working on those muscles. Exercise another body part if necessary. Your weakened state means that you are prone to injury if you ignore the soreness.
The key here is to get plenty of rest and consume the necessary amount of protein so that your muscles repair and grow quickly. As you continue to workout, your metabolism will improve and you find that you don't take as long to recover from sore muscles. That is fitness.
In reality, not everyone takes in the amount of protein that they need. Protein already exists in our daily meals. Usually, most people don't keep track of the amount of proteins they consume. As a general guide, you should eat 1g of protein for every pound you weigh. For example, if you weight 150 pounds, you should consume 150g of protein each day.
Professionals always take smaller meals each day to condition their body. This will help super charge your metabolism. A body that is used to starvation will start to store fat. The reason is simple - the body stores fat as an alternative energy source as it doesn't know when it's getting it's next meal!
You don't grow fatter eating more meals. You grow slimmer because your metabolism increases! That means you will be eating a small meal every 3 hours or so. Divide the protein you need by the number of meals you will take each day and you will get an idea of how much you should eat.
In the midst of your daily activities, you can always sneak in one or two shakes to supplement your protein needs. This will ensure your protein intake never fall below what you really need. Don't skip a meal just because you don't have the time. Find the time.
Protein shakes are one of the easiest supplement to prepare. Just mix the powder with water or milk and you are good to go. It's easy to get addicted to the taste that you love!
