(no subject)
Thinking about re-introducing meat into my diet again, for a couple reasons:
1. I think I'm eating too much processed food. The only protein sources that aren't processed are beans and eggs, but I don't feel comfortable eating a ton of eggs everyday and beans honestly aren't really high in protein (7g of protein per cup, with 20 g of carbs). Other protein sources are tofu (still processed but not too bad) and mock meats. Mock meats really are the worst, being packed with preservatives, and then they have to add the oil so it tastes good. In general, I guess relying on eggs, beans, and tofu for protein isn't too bad, but this is where #2 comes in.
2. I'm trying to cut body fat. I found a meal plan calling for 40% of caloric intake from carbs, 40% from protein, and the remaining 20% from fat. The idea is that this plan is optimized for fat loss, while preventing muscle loss. I can easily get my 40% of carbs, but only can get to 20% protein unless I want to walk around eating tofu constantly all day (which is impossible when you're at the hospital all day). The easiest way to make up the difference is to drink whey protein shakes, but then I have to have at least 2 or more a day, not to mention that it's highly processed. If I added meat back into my diet, I could easily bump up my protein intake to 40%, so that my carb - protein intake ratio is more balanced.
I'm beginning to recognize that I'm not going to have more time to exercise any time soon (I'm at once a week right now because of my schedule), so the only other way to improve my health is through cleaning up my diet.
If I do add meat back, I'll probably stick to poultry. The last time I smelled beef I felt like I was sitting in a barn.
1. I think I'm eating too much processed food. The only protein sources that aren't processed are beans and eggs, but I don't feel comfortable eating a ton of eggs everyday and beans honestly aren't really high in protein (7g of protein per cup, with 20 g of carbs). Other protein sources are tofu (still processed but not too bad) and mock meats. Mock meats really are the worst, being packed with preservatives, and then they have to add the oil so it tastes good. In general, I guess relying on eggs, beans, and tofu for protein isn't too bad, but this is where #2 comes in.
2. I'm trying to cut body fat. I found a meal plan calling for 40% of caloric intake from carbs, 40% from protein, and the remaining 20% from fat. The idea is that this plan is optimized for fat loss, while preventing muscle loss. I can easily get my 40% of carbs, but only can get to 20% protein unless I want to walk around eating tofu constantly all day (which is impossible when you're at the hospital all day). The easiest way to make up the difference is to drink whey protein shakes, but then I have to have at least 2 or more a day, not to mention that it's highly processed. If I added meat back into my diet, I could easily bump up my protein intake to 40%, so that my carb - protein intake ratio is more balanced.
I'm beginning to recognize that I'm not going to have more time to exercise any time soon (I'm at once a week right now because of my schedule), so the only other way to improve my health is through cleaning up my diet.
If I do add meat back, I'll probably stick to poultry. The last time I smelled beef I felt like I was sitting in a barn.