Where’s the Beef…or Chicken…or ?
Where’s the Beef…or…?
Question: 
Have you heard of the term “macronutrients?” 
Write down what you think macronutrients are.
Did you list the following 3 things? 
Proteins 
Carbohydrates 
Fats 
These are the 3 macronutrients our bodies need to function on a daily basis.
Today: Proteins 
Proteins are necessary for every one of the trillions of living cells in the body. 
Life would not be possible without protein. 
Next to water, protein makes up the greatest portion of our body weight… 
18-20%!
What does protein do? 
Regulates all bodily processes 
Assists in exchange of fluids in cells, 
tissues, blood and lymph 
Provides energy 
Maintains the correct internal pH 
levels 
Passes on genetic codes for DNA 
Provides feeling of fullness
How does the body use protein? 
When you eat protein, your body breaks it down through the digestion process into 
amino acids.
Amino Acids Make Up Our Proteins 
There are 20 types of amino acids, and each one is important. 
However, your body can only produce 12 of those amino acids 
on it’s own. 
That leaves 8 essential amino acids that must come from foods – 
If we don’t get them, our body will function less efficiently and eventually shut 
down.
Constant Replenishment Required! 
Your body cannot supply ALL of the necessary amino acids for itself. 
YOU must take the appropriate amount of protein each day to supply your body 
with the amino acids it requires for all of your body’s functioning.
Where do you get your protein? 
List as many food/drink protein sources as you can think of. 
Put a star next to the proteins you eat most frequently.
“Complete” proteins 
A complete protein is one that provides ALL 8 essential amino acids. 
These are ideal sources to have daily! How many were on your list? 
Animal sources: 
 Meat 
 Poultry 
 Eggs 
 Fish 
 Milk 
 Cheese 
Plant sources: 
 Quinoa 
 Buckwheat 
 Hemp Seed 
 Amaranth 
 Tofu/Soy 
 Tempeh
2 Simple Protein Rules 
Protein is not limited to just breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner! 
Rule #1: 
EVERY meal and snack during your day should include a complete, lean protein.
2 Simple Protein Rules 
Rule #2: 
Women should aim for 20-30 grams of protein at each meal 
(1 palm-sized portion) 
Men should aim for 40-60 grams of protein at each meal 
(2 palm-sized portions)
Defining “Lean Protein” 
Look back at your list of protein sources that you wrote down earlier. 
If you have any of these things written down, circle them! 
If you have a few missing, add them! 
Meats: 
Lean ground beef 
Chicken 
Turkey 
Bison 
Venison 
Fish: 
Salmon 
Tuna 
Cod 
Roughy 
Mahi Mahi 
Lowfat Dairy: 
Cottage cheese 
Yogurt 
Part skim 
cheese 
String cheese 
Low-fat milk 
Vegetarian: 
Tofu 
Tempeh 
Soy 
burgers/sausage 
Seitan 
Protein 
Powders: 
Whey 
Casein 
Soy 
Hemp protein 
Pea protein
Strategies for Success 
Preparation is KEY! 
Most proteins have to be cooked to be eaten, which makes advance preparation 
critical. 
Don’t overcomplicate it! 
Choose the protein sources you enjoy eating…. 
And then when you cook them – 
cook extra for additional meals!
Make a Plan 
Grilled chicken breast: 
How many different ways can you use it this week? 
With the person sitting next to you, brainstorm as many meal ideas as possible 
using grilled chicken breast as your main protein source.
Did you include… 
Tacos? 
Enchiladas? 
Nachos? 
Stew, soup or chili? 
Kabobs? 
Sandwich or hoagie? 
Huevos Rancheros? 
Served with rice? 
Tostadas? 
In a salad? 
Served with sweet potato? 
Served with steamed vegetables? 
Soft tacos? 
In an egg omelet? 
Served with salsa or hot peppers? 
Stir fry?
Designate food prep time 
You don’t have to cook every day to eat healthy! 
Set aside one or two afternoons/evenings 
to do your cooking, and cook in large batches. 
Do you do food shopping on weekends? 
Cook your proteins for the next several days 
right when you get home from the store.
Portion Meals in Advance 
Once you have cooked your proteins, 
portion out your serving sizes and 
store each portion in it’s own container. 
*Add in your veggies while you’re at it! 
Now it is Grab-N-Go! 
You have created “fast food” that feeds you well!
Proteins in Portable Sizes 
Some complete protein sources can be found already packaged in “portable” sizes: 
Yogurt 
Cottage Cheese 
String Cheese 
Turkey Jerky 
Hardboiled Eggs 
…Can you think of others?
More packaged proteins… 
Tuna and salmon, as well as some chicken, can be found in portion-sized 
packages that make it easier to make sure you get your complete protein EVERY 
TIME you eat!
Another on-the-go option… 
Protein powder can be a lifesaver for busy lives, too! 
Just be sure to read the labels and get the correct portion sizes: 
(20-30 grams protein = 1 serving for women) 
(40-60 grams protein = 1 serving for men) 
Do not rely completely on protein powders, though! 
Focus on WHOLE foods, and complete protein sources.
Your homework: 
1) Figure out what complete proteins you enjoy eating (refer back to your list). 
2) With your protein sources identified, write down a variety of ways you can enjoy 
that protein in your meals for this upcoming week….brainstorm meal ideas for 
breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. 
3) Write out your shopping list – what else do you need to pull those meals together 
around your protein? 
4) Pick up some small containers when shopping if you need them, so you can portion 
out your proteins as soon as you cook them. 
4) Designate your shopping and cooking day, so you have time set aside in your 
calendar to get your food prepared for the week ahead.
Remember, habits ARE hard to break… 
so put the steps in place that will help you to SUCCEED! 
Making one small change each week will ensure your success.
Bottom line for weight loss & health: 
EVERY meal or snack should include a complete, lean protein. 
Protein is not limited to breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. 
Cook your proteins in large batches and 
portion them out for quick-and-easy meals during the week. 
Preparation is key to healthy eating!

Eating Meat to Lose Weight: Weight Loss Tips from Downsize Fitness

  • 1.
  • 2.
  • 3.
    Question: Have youheard of the term “macronutrients?” Write down what you think macronutrients are.
  • 4.
    Did you listthe following 3 things? Proteins Carbohydrates Fats These are the 3 macronutrients our bodies need to function on a daily basis.
  • 5.
    Today: Proteins Proteinsare necessary for every one of the trillions of living cells in the body. Life would not be possible without protein. Next to water, protein makes up the greatest portion of our body weight… 18-20%!
  • 6.
    What does proteindo? Regulates all bodily processes Assists in exchange of fluids in cells, tissues, blood and lymph Provides energy Maintains the correct internal pH levels Passes on genetic codes for DNA Provides feeling of fullness
  • 7.
    How does thebody use protein? When you eat protein, your body breaks it down through the digestion process into amino acids.
  • 8.
    Amino Acids MakeUp Our Proteins There are 20 types of amino acids, and each one is important. However, your body can only produce 12 of those amino acids on it’s own. That leaves 8 essential amino acids that must come from foods – If we don’t get them, our body will function less efficiently and eventually shut down.
  • 9.
    Constant Replenishment Required! Your body cannot supply ALL of the necessary amino acids for itself. YOU must take the appropriate amount of protein each day to supply your body with the amino acids it requires for all of your body’s functioning.
  • 10.
    Where do youget your protein? List as many food/drink protein sources as you can think of. Put a star next to the proteins you eat most frequently.
  • 11.
    “Complete” proteins Acomplete protein is one that provides ALL 8 essential amino acids. These are ideal sources to have daily! How many were on your list? Animal sources:  Meat  Poultry  Eggs  Fish  Milk  Cheese Plant sources:  Quinoa  Buckwheat  Hemp Seed  Amaranth  Tofu/Soy  Tempeh
  • 12.
    2 Simple ProteinRules Protein is not limited to just breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner! Rule #1: EVERY meal and snack during your day should include a complete, lean protein.
  • 13.
    2 Simple ProteinRules Rule #2: Women should aim for 20-30 grams of protein at each meal (1 palm-sized portion) Men should aim for 40-60 grams of protein at each meal (2 palm-sized portions)
  • 14.
    Defining “Lean Protein” Look back at your list of protein sources that you wrote down earlier. If you have any of these things written down, circle them! If you have a few missing, add them! Meats: Lean ground beef Chicken Turkey Bison Venison Fish: Salmon Tuna Cod Roughy Mahi Mahi Lowfat Dairy: Cottage cheese Yogurt Part skim cheese String cheese Low-fat milk Vegetarian: Tofu Tempeh Soy burgers/sausage Seitan Protein Powders: Whey Casein Soy Hemp protein Pea protein
  • 15.
    Strategies for Success Preparation is KEY! Most proteins have to be cooked to be eaten, which makes advance preparation critical. Don’t overcomplicate it! Choose the protein sources you enjoy eating…. And then when you cook them – cook extra for additional meals!
  • 16.
    Make a Plan Grilled chicken breast: How many different ways can you use it this week? With the person sitting next to you, brainstorm as many meal ideas as possible using grilled chicken breast as your main protein source.
  • 17.
    Did you include… Tacos? Enchiladas? Nachos? Stew, soup or chili? Kabobs? Sandwich or hoagie? Huevos Rancheros? Served with rice? Tostadas? In a salad? Served with sweet potato? Served with steamed vegetables? Soft tacos? In an egg omelet? Served with salsa or hot peppers? Stir fry?
  • 18.
    Designate food preptime You don’t have to cook every day to eat healthy! Set aside one or two afternoons/evenings to do your cooking, and cook in large batches. Do you do food shopping on weekends? Cook your proteins for the next several days right when you get home from the store.
  • 19.
    Portion Meals inAdvance Once you have cooked your proteins, portion out your serving sizes and store each portion in it’s own container. *Add in your veggies while you’re at it! Now it is Grab-N-Go! You have created “fast food” that feeds you well!
  • 20.
    Proteins in PortableSizes Some complete protein sources can be found already packaged in “portable” sizes: Yogurt Cottage Cheese String Cheese Turkey Jerky Hardboiled Eggs …Can you think of others?
  • 21.
    More packaged proteins… Tuna and salmon, as well as some chicken, can be found in portion-sized packages that make it easier to make sure you get your complete protein EVERY TIME you eat!
  • 22.
    Another on-the-go option… Protein powder can be a lifesaver for busy lives, too! Just be sure to read the labels and get the correct portion sizes: (20-30 grams protein = 1 serving for women) (40-60 grams protein = 1 serving for men) Do not rely completely on protein powders, though! Focus on WHOLE foods, and complete protein sources.
  • 23.
    Your homework: 1)Figure out what complete proteins you enjoy eating (refer back to your list). 2) With your protein sources identified, write down a variety of ways you can enjoy that protein in your meals for this upcoming week….brainstorm meal ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. 3) Write out your shopping list – what else do you need to pull those meals together around your protein? 4) Pick up some small containers when shopping if you need them, so you can portion out your proteins as soon as you cook them. 4) Designate your shopping and cooking day, so you have time set aside in your calendar to get your food prepared for the week ahead.
  • 24.
    Remember, habits AREhard to break… so put the steps in place that will help you to SUCCEED! Making one small change each week will ensure your success.
  • 25.
    Bottom line forweight loss & health: EVERY meal or snack should include a complete, lean protein. Protein is not limited to breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. Cook your proteins in large batches and portion them out for quick-and-easy meals during the week. Preparation is key to healthy eating!