Shake it

I often have patients ask about the use of protein shakes.  Usually because they want something quick and easy for breakfast and they cannot stomach another egg.  An ounce of protein in the morning is all it takes to level out your blood sugar.  We want you to eat first thing.  Why not a protein shake?  Well, I'm not a fan of the protein shake and here is why...

• I think we should chew our food.  Not drink it.  If I drink a meal replacement or a protein shake, I still want to eat.  And sometimes I do...right after I drink a meal replacement.  I've just had 2 breakfasts...FAIL!
• Protein shakes almost always contain sugar and carbohydrate along with the protein.  The body will burn those sugars and carbs first before going to fat stores for fuel.  I don't know about you but I want my body to use up my fat stores...the sooner the better.
• 1 ounce of lean protein from meat, eggs or cheese has about 100 calories.  Sometimes less.  Most protein shakes START at 200 calories and go up from there.  

 All that being said, if you still want to use protein shakes, do so at your own risk.  Shop around.  You want a shake that has 25 - 30 grams of protein (the equivalent of an ounce of chicken), low carbs (3 grams or less) and low sugar ( 2 grams or less).  If you find yourself hungry within an hour or two, don't be surprised.  Our minds don't tend to register calories we drink.  If this is the case for you, put down the shake and pick up a fork :)

Where am I?

Where have I been?  Two words for you.  Writers. Block.  OK, truly the two words should be Dieters Block cuz that's where I have been!  You know what I mean.  Everyday you start out with the best intentions and by dinner your heart is just not in it.  Every day since the first of the year I have been meaning to take off the 5 lbs (RE: 8 lbs) I put on through the holidays.  Every day I start out great, but I get no farther than dinnertime.  My blog has been the same...I start out great.  But after the first paragraph I come up blank!!!

The good thing, if there is one, is I have stopped GAINING weight.  Here is my new theory, it took me 5 or 6 weeks to put on the 5 lbs (RE: 8 lbs).  It will take me 5 or 6 weeks to stabilize and stop the upward trend of gaining (where I am right now.)  THEN, it will take me 5 or 6 more weeks to take the 5 lbs (RE: 8lbs) off.  I'll have you know that this entire process will take more than 4 months of my life....one third of a year.  Gosh, what a waste.  It is beyond frustrating.

For those of you trying to lose weight, this is not a good route to go.  It's a defeating path.  One that leads to nowhere and take months to get there!!!  A dead end.  How can you avoid it?  Don't put on the weight.  You know the adage about smoking, "The best way to quit is not to start."  The same is true for weight loss.  The best way to take off those holiday lbs is not to put them on.  Remind me next year, will you?!