Protein, Carbohydrate, and Fat. Our three macronutrients.
They all serve unique functions in the body but one is especially queen when it comes to fat loss.
And it’s probably no surprise to you that protein is it.
But today’s post is to explain WHY protein is the best macronutrient for fat loss.
Because understanding why it’s the best will help you see why it’s prioritized and talked about so much.
Protein needs are high in a calorie deficit.
And that’s because when you’re in a calorie deficit, we want to make sure any “weight” you lose is coming from your fat stores and not your muscle mass.
The body will try and break down both fat and muscle in a calorie deficit. This is normal for anyone.
But we don’t want this.
It takes years to build muscle and having more muscle means having a faster metabolism.
To decrease muscle loss in a calorie deficit we provide the body with more protein so it can hold on to muscle and focus on burning fat stores.
Consuming enough protein in a calorie deficit helps achieve optimal fat loss.
This is why fad diets and skipping meals is not helpful when you’re trying to lose weight.
Since protein needs are high during weight loss, skipping meals and not eating enough means you are likely not meeting your protein needs.
Not meeting protein needs in a calorie deficit can mean weight loss but not necessarily fat loss.
You’ll be losing weight by losing BOTH muscle and fat while simultaneously decreasing metabolism and setting yourself up for rapid weight gain later on.
This is the ultimate recipe for yo-yo dieting.
That’s why protein is emphasized so much. It’s the only macronutrient that has this cool unique function to directly help you with your fat loss goal.
Prioritizing protein intake is key for short-term AND long-term success weight loss success!
