High Protein+Strength Training

Why do I need to eat a lot of protein and strength training when I have a body composition goal?

This is a question that Coach Katie and I were asking the members of Best Life Fitness a weeks ago. 

Here are a few of the answers we heard.

• helps you be injury free

• feel satiated 

• muscle repair

• build muscle to burn more fat

Yes, all of these answers are correct.

These are all answers we would give our members when we work with them to eat more protein.

The goal of what we wanted to teach our members was a little more scientific than this.

We were trying to answer what was going on in our bodies. 

The way we see it is if you don't know the WHY behind doing something. Then why would you do it? 

Here is the answer we were giving our members.

The reason why you eat protein while your strength train is to send a new signal to your body.

Your body is made up of protein and fat with protein being most of it. Protein is all the lean mass. Lean mass being bones, organs, muscles, hair… pretty much everything except fat. This lean mass is stored protein.

Body fat is a stored long-term source of energy, and it is extremely valuable. Your body does everything it can to store more and hold on to this stored energy.

Before you start to use this fat for energy you will burn off carbs and protein. This includes your lean mass. 

Why should you eat a lot of protein?

You need to eat a lot of protein so your body will burn off that excess protein instead of our lean mass.

When you add in strength training you will be telling your body that not only do I need my muscles to survive. You also need excess protein to heal your body from the work you are doing. 

With the demands you are placing on your body, you will start to burn off fat for energy. 

It’s that simple. You strength train and eat a lot of protein so you can trick your body into burning excess fat. 

Do you need help dialing in your protein intake? Let me know and I will help you with your daily intake.