This week, in keeping with the weight loss theme I have been addressing, I will discuss flexible dieting and protein shakes.
Flexible dieting
One of the worst things about an extremely restricted diet is the inevitable binge or cheat day. Constantly being strict and saying no to things just isn’t sustainable for most people, I know that for a fact when it comes to me. With flexible dieting there’s no need to binge. If you crave a certain food, then you can easily work it into your macros.
You can enjoy social occasions without feeling guilty and miserable after demolishing a burger when you’re out with your friends. If you know you have a social outing coming, you can plan your day around it, so it can still be within your daily macro requirements. Your outing would be a happy day since you would be able to eat ANYTHING.
No single food would be off limits. This doesn’t necessarily mean you should fill your diet with nothing but doughnuts and pizza. But you can enjoy these types of things in moderation if you want to. That’s the beauty of it
Skipping a social outing with friends so you can eat your chicken and broccoli is more unhealthy than factoring a burger into your macros.
Placing unnecessary and ridiculous restrictions on yourself all the time is more unhealthy than sneaking a piece of chocolate into your daily intake.
Starving yourself through the week and avoiding all the foods you enjoy only to binge on the weekend is more unhealthy than satisfying yourself in moderation each day. See where I’m going with this?
No need for skipping.
No need for starving.
No need for restricting
There’s an easier and less miserable way to enjoy the foods you love in moderation and continue making great progress in a happy manner.
Should I drink protein shakes?
I get this question a lot. So I thought I’d put my thoughts out here.
Protein shakes aren’t necessarily better or worse than whole food sources. The benefit of shakes is that they are convenient, they are usually low in carbs and fats and they are priced a lot cheaper than most lean protein sources when you compare them pound for pound.
For some reason though, people have it in their heads that protein shakes are magic muscle builders. That is far from the truth.
The only difference between eating 30g from a chicken breast and drinking 30g from a shake is how long it takes you to eat and digest it. The result is the same.
So are protein shakes necessary?
Absolutely not.
Are they convenient and more affordable? Yes!
Verdict: Take protein shakes for the convenience, or because you’re struggling to hit your protein intake, or because you want to look cool walking out of the gym shaking your protein around for everyone to see (I have been guilty of doing that), but not because you think they’re going to magically produce gains.
