Protein powder makes me Fat

Interesting phenomena which I've observed enough times now to be pretty sure, in an absolutely non-scientific way, is true for me.

I've been lo-carb for years so never really worried about protein. Every once in a while, say 6-7 times over the last 10 years I'll read something and get the bug to add some protein.

I did this again about a month ago and I swear every time I do it I start to what I call "blur out", as opposed to "lean out". Pretty easy to see this when your weight rarely fluctuates and your under 10%.

It could be the calories, I guess it adds 200 a day or so, but I don't eat that tight so i don't see that as the whole story. I will say I get no satiety from protein, so i think it is "extra" but not that much at all.

Could be the extra tax on the liver. Protien is hard to digest. Your liver is the prime worker in fat metabolism. Maybe the fat burning gets interferred with by the increased protien.

Don't profess to understand this but I cut out the protien about 10 days ago and the blur is gone.

Bill

[Jay76]

If you add protein, then you need to add more fat. In the protein shake, add some eggs, coconut oil, milk, etc..

I'd be interested in hearing the rational behind that. I don't agree.

[Rufus]

Supposedly fat aids in the digestion of protein, thereby addressing your concern that it is hard to digest.

Rufus

[humilispuer]

If you start upping your protein intake without upping your fat, you are bound to have problems. I notice if my protein intake drifts too high and my fat level remains grounded, I start to "blur out" just like you. Theoretically, if you are consuming too much protein without sufficient fat, your body will start to manufacture glucose from protein - gluconeogensis. At this point you are not burning fat primarily as fuel, rather protein (NHE: You are a sugar burner and not a fat burner: This is bound to affect your physique). I know this sounds out there but it really is not. As I said, I have had similar experiences in the past, myself.

-Humilis

[Rufus]

I'm enjoying shakes with a one to one ratio of one scoop chocolate flavored Designer protein, one tablespoon crunchy peanut butter, water and ice.

Yummy

[Connie Brown]

That's interesting Bill.

I am just rambling but here are some bits of data for you:

- fractioned protein

Just last night I was reading "Nourishing Traditions," a cookbook for pre-PC-nutrition like whole foods and organ meats and old-fashioned ways of handling organic clean food. Anyway, the author says the study pointed to by people who say "protein leaches calcium" was done with protein powder - that is, protein divorced from its whole-food delivery system.

And calcium is needed for burning calories. One of the tips for us middle-aged women is to add calcium-rich foods and you start losing burning the food better.

Sorry not to have real references. It would be an interesting thought to investigate.

Connie

Great Responses

I can see the NHE theory, but I get alot of fat and often right around the same time as the protien. I think my thing might be a combo of that and in line with Connie's that the protien "de-natured" is messing with a pretty nicely running machine. Both make sense in this context. At least my intuitive "fix", which worked, wasn't crazy.

I would caution agaist taking the "just add fat" idea too far - remember the first law of thermo dynamics - I would tend to cut a little protien before adding too much fat, those calories add up muy fast.

Where did you get that book - that's like the 3rd reference to it in a couple days.

Bill

[Connie Brown]

I just went to my local Barnes & Noble - same as you, I saw 3 references and figured it was time to check it out.

[humilispuer]

Nourishing traditions is awesome - a must read!

Bill, I agree that calories can get out of control way too fast. I have offered help to many people on low carb diets. A lot of them have said that they are not losing, feel like $hit, look like crap, etc. Most of the time they are eating WAY too much protein and not enough fat. I tell them to cut back on the protein a bit and add some fat. They start losing the fat and feel much better. If I don't eat enough fat I stall out and feel/look like crap. If I don't eat enough all around I stall out and feel/look like crap. Can't explain it, just know that's how it works :)

-Humilis