You guys, life is crazy busy. Between full-time jobs, long commutes, families and relationships, friends, chores, and everything else, it seems like I’m always on-the-go. Oh, and add in trying to eat right and maintaining a fit, active lifestyle on top of that?
My on-the-go lifestyle means I need to be able to eat healthy wherever I am. For me, that means portable protein snacks. In the real world, not even I can carry around sliced chicken breast or a tub of protein powder with me at all times!
While everyone needs a healthy balance of carbohydrates, fats and protein, (the 3 main macronutrients) lean protein is my most important recommendation for women looking to carve a toned and sexy physique. But 1 out of 3 women isn’t getting nearly enough!
“Bro-tein” is a Myth, Protein For Women is a fact!
Our moms were right about a lot of things, whether or not we want to admit it. That haircut during junior year. That boyfriend junior year…really, pretty much all of junior year. One thing she probably got wrong, however, is thinking that protein will make you bulky like a man.
It’s not her fault, that’s just what people used to think!
For years, the idea went that since protein’s amino acids form the “building
blocks” of your muscles, that if you consumed more protein, you’d get
more muscles. Women became terrified of looking like “Bro-tein Bros” like
Schwarzenegger or Stallone, so they settled for salads and slogging through endless cardio sessions, often winding up in subpar shape.
Fortunately, that thinking went the way of most other bad 80’s trends (looking at you fanny-packs). Today we know better. Strength-training programs and high-protein diets are as common as leggings (not all 80’s trends were bad!) and there is lots of science out there that confirms what we’ve been saying at IdealFit for awhile:
Lean protein is not just for bodybuilders and gym-rats, but for everyone.
Women simply cannot become that bulky and built without undergoing obsessive dieting and training, in addition to hormone therapy. Lifting some weights and adding a low-calorie protein shake won’t immediately give you “Gun Show” arms!
The benefits of protein for women can even outweigh men’s. Several common health problems affecting women, like anemia (low iron levels), low bone-density, vitamin-D deficiency and low folic acid can all be improved by supplementing your protein levels.
Getting enough protein daily (for active women, 1 gram to 1 pound of body weight) can however:
- Boost your fat loss faster than just cutting calories
- Aid in maintaining your weight and lean muscle
- Increase your resting metabolism
- Help you recover faster from tough workouts, injuries and illness
- Improve immunity, hormone balance, and even cell function
So if you are a busy 130-pound woman, you should strive for 130 grams of protein each day to reap the full benefits of your hard work.
