Oooooooo-weeeeeee it's time to talk about my favorite macronutrient (and perhaps the most misunderstood) PROTEIN.
Out of the 4 macronutrients sources (protein, carb, fat, and alcohol), protein is the one that makes you feel the most FULL. And added bonus, so many of the best things are packed with protein. I mean, look at that picture and tell me that at least one of those foods doesn't speak to you (protein packed foods often carry fat too, YUM).
Okay so how much do we need? The most accurate way to determine how much protein (in grams) you need daily to support muscle maintenance and growth is to use your lean body mass (your weight in lbs minus your fat mass in lbs). However, this requires a special type of scale/device that not everyone has access to. So, a more generalized (and totally do-able) approach is this: if you are within a healthy weight range for your gender (less than 30% body fat for females and less than 20% for males), eat your body weight in grams of protein. If otherwise, multiply your weight by 0.6, and that's how many grams to shoot for to sustain muscle growth.
I know when you do the math, it may seem like a big undertaking to eat that much protein per day, but I assure you that if you're eating plenty of unprocessed foods, you'll get there easier than you think! Things like protein bars and protein shakes are convenient ways to consume 20+ grams of protein quickly. Just watch out for extra additives like sugar and sugar alcohols (they can make your tummy feel EW).
As always, if you have any questions or suggestions for future posts on topics like these, I'm all ears! I would love NUThing more than to continue to help MEAT your needs through EGGcellent discussions like these. Eat your protein, cheese. I mean, please.
Sorry for the puns. No I'm not.
-Lee Ann