Protein, fullness, body composition, mommy-shape
Argh! I find it very challenging to eat my target percentage and number of grams of protein. I feel like I should just carry a can of beans wherever I go. And I'm bumping it up with some protein shakes. For all the working out I have done over the years, I've never changed my body composition and I think it's because I've never gotten enough protein to support the growth of muscle.
When I'm hungry, I head for carbs. Lately I've been paying attention and carbs don't fulfill me. I'm still hungry after I eat them. So my mouth says sugar and my stomach says that wasn't it. When I grab some protein I am satisfied with far fewer calories, for longer. I am adding protein in the morning, tracking my nutrition, I am eating to support my level of activity. I am not calorie restricted in any way. I know how much I've eaten and generally what I plan to eat. I'm working to increase protein and vegetables and reduce meat. Right now there are just a lot of carbs sitting in there not doing much. Not that I'm gonna cut them out, I just really like the changes I'm seeing my my body and want to support those.
I'm not thinner, I don't weigh less and I could give a shit. I have muscles in my thighs that I didn't have when I danced five days a week. I'm starting to feel my hamstrings and glutes activate when I call on them during a run. I can still carry my toddler on my back for miles, sometimes without a carrier, just piggyback or on my shoulders. I can do side plank again! I choose to include lunges in my yoga practice that do not include my back knee on the ground.
I freaked out last week when I stood on a scale and I was three and a half pounds heavier than the last time I stood on that scale. So there's some work to do!
Good, got all that out. Onward!
When I'm hungry, I head for carbs. Lately I've been paying attention and carbs don't fulfill me. I'm still hungry after I eat them. So my mouth says sugar and my stomach says that wasn't it. When I grab some protein I am satisfied with far fewer calories, for longer. I am adding protein in the morning, tracking my nutrition, I am eating to support my level of activity. I am not calorie restricted in any way. I know how much I've eaten and generally what I plan to eat. I'm working to increase protein and vegetables and reduce meat. Right now there are just a lot of carbs sitting in there not doing much. Not that I'm gonna cut them out, I just really like the changes I'm seeing my my body and want to support those.
I'm not thinner, I don't weigh less and I could give a shit. I have muscles in my thighs that I didn't have when I danced five days a week. I'm starting to feel my hamstrings and glutes activate when I call on them during a run. I can still carry my toddler on my back for miles, sometimes without a carrier, just piggyback or on my shoulders. I can do side plank again! I choose to include lunges in my yoga practice that do not include my back knee on the ground.
I freaked out last week when I stood on a scale and I was three and a half pounds heavier than the last time I stood on that scale. So there's some work to do!
Good, got all that out. Onward!