Still Not Seeing Results Despite All That Protein?

01 Apr Still Not Seeing Results Despite All That Protein?

You’ve been doing everything right: you chalked out an expansive workout regimen in your training journal and, in fact, you’ve even narrowed it down to the number of sets and reps you’re going to aim for in any each successive session.

As the months go by, you realize that the hard work you’re putting in at the gym isn’t paying off the way you had hoped.

Puzzled, you start to run a checklist of all the things you could be doing wrong.

You continue to wrack your brains but can’t seem to figure out what’s holding you back from physically growing or progressing.

Results Are Only as Good as the Foods You Consume

Go to any gym today or approach any “fitness enthusiast” and almost everyone will enthusiastically tell you the same thing: cram your system with as much protein as possible in each meal.

Well, you’re doing just that, but not making progress.

So, is protein overrated?

Is your body not processing it correctly?

Let’s understand how nutrition works within the human body: protein is just one aspect of the whole equation.

By dumping endless protein calories into your meals, you will not make much progress – in fact, you may very well end up feeling nauseated, bloated and even gain unwanted weight.

When it comes to eating for better physical fitness, more strength, improved endurance and cardiovascular fitness – all that good stuff – it pays to understand the importance of macronutrients.

Now, protein is an essential macronutrient required for muscle tissue growth, recovery and regeneration.

However, it needs the ‘aid’ and support of other macronutrients such as healthy fats, fibre and simple as well as complex carbohydrates to work its magic.

If each one of your meals is loaded with fibre, for instance, then your body can very easily digest all that protein, provided there are also carbohydrates present in the equation.

Another thing to consider are carbohydrates – despite what dieticians tell you, they are your friends – if you time the intake just right, that is.

Carbs act as a shuttle to push all that replenishing protein straight into your muscle, where it is stored as glycogen, aiding in recovery and ready to be used the next time you get physically active.

And then there are healthy fats – your Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids – which play a major role in regulating your body’s hormonal environment and keeping inflammation down.

If your hormones are not firing off properly, you will have a tough time getting in shape and staying in shape.

How to Balance Nutrition to Reap the Most Rewards from Exercise

Knowing that protein requires the help of other macronutrients to do its job is important; however, it’s also equally important to know how much you need.

This strictly depends on your goals – and the best way is to experiment with different protein:fats:carbs ratios to see how your body responds.

Take home: balance your nutrition properly and you’ll start to see results.

For optimal protein intake, calculate your lean body weight – 0.8-1g of protein per pound of ‘lean’ bodyweight is a good starting point.