I’m trying to lose weight and was told that hwo I eat about 800-1000 calories a day is too low and lowers my metobolism which will prevent weight loss. I’ve looked up some meal plans and can’t really afford stuff like chicken breast, steak, or salmon every week. So that is why I’m wondering how I can eat 1500 calories a day. Are there some alternatives that I can do?
Also I’d like to ask, say I exercise and burn say 500 calories would I have to eat those calories back or no? I ask cuz I’ve been told yes and told no.
For protein would protein powder be a good option? And I’ll try a diary too see if that helps
Also I usually try not to eat them all back I’ll sometimes eat like 100-150 back but trying to stop
Whole food is generally preferable, but protein powder is absolutely fine if that’s the best you can do. Just take the route that’s easiest to adhere to. You’ll get much bigger benefits from simply hitting your macros than optimising their source and micronutrients and all that other jazz.
Like the other person said, getting the ratio and amount is more important than the source. But you should ask yourself why you are taking the supplement? Are you sure you’re not getting enough from your food? Your body can really only prices 20-40 grams of protein at once, so if you are loading up more than that at a time, you are just piking on calories.
Personally, depending on your current weight, you might think about focusing more on weight loss than bulking muscle mass. Absolutely work out of it is helpful, but don’t worry about mass gains while trying to lose fat. You will develop muscles regardless of whether you micromanage your protein intake or not, and you can optimize better after losing some fat.
But again, you need to check, with, and measure the calories in every portion of food until you develop an accurate read on the calories in things. Like peanut butter having about 100 calories per tablespoon (half ounce).
I don’t care for protein powder, I’d rather eat actual protein but just curious if it could work lol but what you say about the protein makes sense.
And I’m currently 240 lbs I’m lifting weights because I want to get muscle, help improve my health, and from waht I know muscle can help you lose fat (unless I’m misunderstanding).
Muscle mass burns more calories at rest but the effect is very slight. Eating back any calories from exercise will absolutely outweigh any slight change in base total energy expenditure.
Focus first of what you eat, then sustainable exercise, then specific tuning of both.