Sometimes our medical weight loss clients, or those maintaining their weight after a significant loss, are surprised to hear us say that they need to eat more of something. But that can often be the case if your body isn’t getting the correct balance of certain nutrients. In particular, protein is incredibly important to maintaining muscle tissue and keeping your blood sugar levels even, while also preventing cravings. But some people aren’t eating enough of it.
If any of these situations apply to you, it is possible that you’re not eating enough protein.
You’re following a medical weight loss plan. These nutritional plans are specifically designed to put you into a calorie deficit, meaning you’re burning more calories than you consume through your diet. But because calorie deficits will usually trigger hunger, you need to include plenty of protein in your diet to ward off cravings.
You’re over age 65. If your appetite has waned, you might be eating less than before. But you want to make sure that you’re still getting enough protein, and that you follow a strength training regimen, because muscle loss is common in older people.
You exercise a lot. Those who follow a moderate exercise routine are probably eating enough protein, especially if you follow your medical weight loss plan meticulously. But if you’ve started to get more serious about exercise, especially if you’re lifting heavy weights or working out more than an hour per day, you probably do need more protein in your diet.
You’re going vegan. Contrary to popular belief, most experienced vegans are very aware of their protein intake and get enough of this important nutrient. But many “newbies” tend to rely upon packaged foods marketed toward vegans, which are sometimes heavy on grains and low on protein. If you’re new to veganism, play close attention to your protein requirements.
If any of the above situations apply to you, come see us to discuss your dietary requirements. We can discuss a medical weight loss plan or weight maintenance, depending upon your goals, and help you determine how much protein you should be eating.
