Will Eating Protein Make Me Bulky?

It's Holly here and I have a quick question for you....

Have you ever wondered if eating too much protein will turn you into a Fatima Whitbread or Jodie Marsh look a like, adding bulk and large muscles you may not want?

I certainly used too, but how true really is that statement....

There are many myths out there in terms of whether ladies should consume protein, or higher levels of protein than they currently consume.

Some of the myths are:

- Protein makes you bulky - High protein diets are hard on your kidneys - High protein diets compromise bone health

None of these are true and haven’t actually been proven in any studies, protein is however, an essential tool for any ladies out there wanting to improve their health, increase recovery, lose weight and get stronger….

Protein is something you can be sure to find all over the body, it’s job of growth and regeneration stretches way beyond just the muscles. Thousands of particles throughout your body are comprised of proteins….to mention a few; in muscle, bone, skin, hair, and virtually every other body part or tissue. It makes up the enzymes that power many chemical reactions and the hemoglobin that carries oxygen in your blood. At least 10,000 different proteins make you what you are and keep you that way. So, without adequate levels of protein, you can really see how your body’s going to suffer internally as well as externally.

Protein the Weight Loss Weapon

Firstly, the facts: Protein is an essential component of the muscle building process. A lack of protein in your diet can be very problematic for everyone, but for women on a path of weight loss, without the correct levels of protein, it can become an issue when trying to lose body fat.

Protein is essential for tissue growth and regeneration, it’s made up of 20 amino acids and of these, 9 are ‘essential’, meaning that your body has a pretty tough time manufacturing these amino’s on it’s own. They can be found mainly from the foods you eat/drink daily.

When trying to lose weight, your best friend is your metabolism…it controls the rate which you burn energy (KCAL) and, one of the best thing you can do is to try and increase your resting metabolic rate. One of the best ways of improving metabolism is building more muscle, which of course, you can do at the gym when lifting weights consistently. Part of the process is that after a good workout, your muscles are going to be crying out to be repaired. And, as we’ve already discussed, what nutrient do you think does this job the best….PROTEIN PEOPLE! So, be eating adequate levels of protein, you can continue to keep coming back better, stronger and leaner without having to rest your body so often.

Protein also has a high thermic effect on food (TER). TER is linked to the amount of calories your body utilises to digest foods and extract the amino acids from the protein source. Protein is at 20-35%, this means that your body uses 20-35% energy from the protein consumed, just to digest and absorb it. Put in another way, out of every 100 calories you get from protein 20-35% are burned in the digestion process.

Benefits of Eating Protein (apart from the above):

Stabilise your energy levels and appetite Helps you burn calories more effectively Leaves you feeling fuller for longer, as it takes longer to leave your stomach Helps regulate your blood sugar You have fewer cravings, as it evenly regulates your insulin and blood sugar levels

Protein is great for a huge number of things; therefore, why would you not want to include it within your diet.

Thanks for reading, and, as always, if you have any questions or ideas/topics you would like us to cover in later posts, please feel free to get in contact.

Dedicated to YOUR Success,

Holly & The Team