Protein Supplements: Energizing Your Weight Loss

While they are growing in popularity, protein supplements (shakes, bars, etc.) have lagged behind when it comes to weight loss products. Too many dieters still see them as the exclusive province of bodybuilders, who obviously have different goals to your average woman wanting to fit into a dress. While dieters have largely realized that counting calories is the one true path to weight loss success, giving up complex strategies that involve macronutrient manipulation, many experts believe that the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction. Eating 300 calories worth of carbohydrates isn't going to do the same for your body as 300 calories of protein. Here's why you need to make sure your macros are accounted for.

There are numerous reasons why protein supplements and regular foods packed with it have fallen out of favor. Meats, eggs, and the like are not particularly low-calorie. If you're counting every calorie and weighing the choice to have a cup of pasta or a steak, the choice is going to be obvious. Portability is another strong factor. If you're trying to pack up a lunch to eat at work, you're probably going to look for foods that don't require a great deal of preparation. This can lead to eating a lot of fruits and vegetables—good things—at the expense of your chicken, beef, and fish.

This is where protein supplements really shine. It takes far less work to eat a bar or down a shake than it does to even make a sandwich. When you combine these meal replacement products with a piece of fruit or some other carbohydrate, you're getting the benefits of a well balanced meal without increasing your preparation time. Best of all, you can do it without substantially increasing your calories. The best bars and shakes are designed to pack in the macros without upping the bad stuff. Of course, that means you have to read the label carefully. Look for products that go easy on the sugar, as that can really derail your diet plans.

The benefits of protein supplements are endless. The body takes more time to process this valuable macro, meaning you feel full for longer. It's easy to see how this can be a big benefit for anyone who tends to grab the potato chips when they need to start snacking. Additionally, it provides you with amino acids, which are the building blocks of your muscles. You may not have any interest in becoming a bodybuilder, but a well toned, muscular physique is going to be a fat-burning furnace. If you've ever wanted to become one of those people who can eat a lot more without gaining weight, the secret is to start building muscle. Along with weight training, protein supplements can help you do that.