When a friend of mine told me she added whey protein shakes into her diet, as suggested by her trainer, I thought, “There is no way that I will never drink protein shakes!”
Not knowing much about the product, my mind grabbed onto the only memory that I could associate it with. I remembered all those guys in college that had huge plastic bottles of protein powder in their cramped dorm rooms. I was not trying to bulk up, I wanted to slim down. That was not a product that I needed. At least that was what I thought.
As I got a little more serious about weight loss and nutrition, I decided I should give the protein shakes a chance. I would learn more about this supplement, find out how it could help me reach my weight loss goals and decide if I was willing to give it a try.
I learned that, “amino acids in protein may help keep blood sugar levels stabile, which can be helpful in keeping you feeling good all day and stops your craving for food that occurs when your blood sugar level drops." For me, that would be the time that I reach for something that would not be in my best health interest.
Here is what I researched and learned about whey protein. According to the Whey Protein Institute, “Protein is an important nutrient needed by everyone of a daily basis. It is made up of essential and non-essential amino acids, which are the building blocks for healthy bodies. Protein has a number of different roles in the body including repairing body cells, building and repairing bones and muscles, providing a source of energy and controlling many of the important processes in the body related to metabolism. Whey protein is a high quality protein powder from cow's milk. Milk has two proteins: Casein (approximately 80 percent) and Whey Protein (approximately 20 percent). Whey protein is more soluble than casein and also has a higher quality rating. It is often referred to as the gold standard of protein, as it is the most nutritious protein available.”
My next question, how would whey protein help me lose weight?
“Whey protein is a key ingredient in numerous weight loss and meal replacement products and whey protein isolate (with no fat or carbohydrates) is often the preferred choice. Studies have found that individuals who combine diets with leucine rich protein foods, like whey protein, and exercise have more lean muscle tissue and they lose more body fat. As they lose fat their metabolic rate increases and they naturally burn more calories each day. Another way that whey protein helps manage weight is by promoting satiety, or a feeling of fullness.”
So I gave it a try. I changed my diet and included one to two whey protein shakes a day. My diet was strict. I stuck with fresh fruits, raw vegetables and sources of lean protein. Without changing my exercise schedule, the change in my diet allowed me to lose six pounds in a five week period. By then, I was used to my new eating habits and as I continued eating a healthier diet, the lost weight stayed off.
I no longer crave the Belgium waffles or buttermilk pancakes that my kids want me to make almost everyday. I like my whey protein shakes just fine for breakfast.
Learn more about whey protein: http://www.wheyoflife.org/faq.cfm