Whey Protein Shake -
Viewing:
Are Whey Protein Shakes Good For Losing Weight?
This question has been discussed to death - are whey protein shakes good for losing weight? The answer is yes, and no. Interesting right? Read on.
What does whey protein do for your body? If you have been reading some of the other articles on this site, you quickly learn that the primary function of whey protein is to help with muscle repair and growth.
Now, here is the interesting part. If whey protein is taken as a food supplement, that means you are essentially consuming more calories. So how does that lead to weight loss?
To answer the question accurately, I ask that you be as discerning as possible. When it comes to losing weight, there are 3 parts of the body that can cause the weighing scales to show a smaller number - 1) water weight, 2) fat weight, and 3) muscle weight. Of the 3, water is lightest, and muscle is the heaviest.
When you go for a long run, you sweat an awful lot and if you weight yourself immediately after the run, you realize that you have lost 1 KG! This is usually water weight. Don't be too happy yet because you will gain back the weight in a matter of hours.
Most of the whey protein supplements are targeted at building muscle and burning fat. That's why bodybuilders use them. They want to look ripped. When you have higher lean muscle mass, you actually weigh more because muscle is heavier.
In other words, you end up weighing more when you work out and consume whey protein powder on a regular basis!
For this reason, whey protein products are usually NOT marketed as weight loss products. Rather, they are marketed as FAT BURNING products. Yes, these products will help you burn fat faster so you achieve the look you want.
But bear in mind that you are putting on weight for the right reasons - more lean muscle mass.
A piece of muscle is a lot denser compared to a lump of fat in the body. Therefore, when you exercise regularly and consume your proteins, your body composition starts to change. You look a lot more compact and slim instead of looking flabby. And yet, you weigh heavier. But that is completely fine because you now feel healthier, stronger, and you are at lower risk of a wide variety of heart related diseases.
Moreover, lean muscle mass boost your metabolism so that even while you are at rest, your body burns more fat. That is why some people can eat more and still maintain a great figure. This is the only long term solution to burn fat and look great.
So, should you drink whey protein shakes if your primary aim is to lose weight? Well the answer is yes if you are looking to lose (fat) weight for the long term.
The answer is no if you purely want to look slim. You end up building up more lean muscle mass. Some people take to starving themselves to achieve the slim look. But this is a short term solution and usually, they gain back all the weight they have lost and their overall health suffers.
So be wise, get a well tone body and enjoy good health for years to come (with the help of high quality protein shakes, of course).
