How Can I Get Enough Protein If I Don’t Eat Meat?
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Breakfast Propaganda, Intermittent Fasting, Dog Attack During The Show | #AskLiveLeanTV Ep. 016
On episode 016 of the #AskLiveLeanTV show, we’re answering 10 common fitness and nutrition questions, including how can I get enough protein if I don’t eat meat?
What’s up guys, welcome back and thank you for tuning in to another episode of #AskLiveLeanTV.
This is episode number 16.
This is the show where we answer your questions from Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and beyond.
Jessica is in a crazy mood and acting a fool, while I’m staying low key and mellow as I try to keep this show professional.
At the time of filming, Jessica was excited because our baby girl was about to come out of her belly, any day.
In fact it could potentially happen on this show, as we are due this week.
Since we’re waiting for her water to break, we even have a little mat down on the floor to keep the hardwood floors protected.
Jessica may even start wearing diapers.
Let’s Keep This Show Going
Since we’re getting so many good questions from you, and we’re still have a lot of fun, we just going to keep this show going.
I wonder what episode number will we get to before we stop.
Imagine if we reached 100 million Q&A shows!
If you are an OG, you’re probably aware that we originally did this Q&A show, way back in the day, on our second YouTube channel called BGTV.
To make it work, we filmed a few episodes on Skype when Jessica was living in California and I was living in Toronto.
We completed 29 Q&A episodes on that channel, and we’re now rocking and rolling onto episode 16 on our Live Lean TV YouTube channel.
Since you seem to be loving it, and we’re still having fun, we’ll keep it going as long as you continue talking and engaging with us, and smashing that like button.
If you do this, we’ll keep going.
However, if you don’t, we’ll be done with the show, and it will be pulled off the air.
We’ll then go on with our life, and you’ll never see us or talk to us again ;).
With that said, let’s get into the questions.
Here Are Today’s 10 Viewer Questions
- How can I get enough protein if I don’t eat meat?
- What is a good protein meal replacement shake or bar for breakfast?
- What spices do you recommend to help elevate the taste of meats and vegetables?
- Do coconut milk, cream, shavings, and oil have the same benefits? Grass fed butter and yogurt or coconut oil?
- Can you give us new cheat meal ideas?
- Is it a necessary to take a pre-workout or BCAAs?
- Do spin classes count as a leg day? What is your normal weekly workout schedule? How often should I be resting each muscle?
- Is it better to do full body or split workouts to build muscle and burn fat?
- Why are you based in Los Angeles?
- Which vegetables should I count calories for?
Question #1: How Can I Get Enough Protein If I Don’t Eat Meat?
@demetzy on Instagram asks:
I have never eaten meat, however I do eat some seafood. What would you recommend for me to Live Lean? I find it hard to eat enough protein.
Is it ironic that your name is De-meat-zy, even though you’ve never eaten meat? 😉
I’m kidding 😉
We had a similar question from one of our coaching clients on a recent Live Lean coaching call.
The client said he was mostly vegan, but wanted to know how to get enough amino acids and vitamin B12.
Since we get this question a lot, I’ll reiterate what I said on the coaching call.
If you feel a strong love for animals and don’t want to support the killing of animals, I get it and respect it.
Although you never mentioned what your body transformation goal was, you can still get skinnier, without eating meat and having a lot of protein in your diet.
I use the word “skinnier” rather than lean, because to me, they mean different things.
What Is The Difference Between Being Skinny And Lean?
Jessica and I had this discussion before about the definition of lean.
To me, being lean is having a beach body physique with good definition, and tight and full muscle mass.
Being lean is not somebody who is just skinny with abs.
The only reason the skinny person has abs is because they have very little body fat.
The combination of muscle definition and lower body fat is key to being called lean.
If you are skinny, but do not have muscle mass, we would recommend you eat more protein to gain muscle, since protein is the building block of muscle.
I think you understand that, which is why you are asking how you can get more protein without eating meat.
Food Pairing Is Key
The answer to that is food pairing.
Even though I’m not an expert on vegetarian or vegan eating, I do know the basics of food pairing to build a complete protein.
For example, when you pair certain foods together, including beans and rice, the combined amino acids from those foods create a complete protein.
Consuming a complete protein is essential, as it will help you build muscle more effectively.
However, are you going to eat beans and rice, every single meal, for the rest of your life to get protein?
That’s your choice.
Plus, the amount of beans and rice you would have to eat to hit your protein goals is a lot.
This means you are going to feel really full, because you’re going to have a ton of fiber in your belly.
The amount of carbohydrates is also going to be high.
That’s just the way it is.
Other Non-Red Meat Sources Of Protein
You can also supplement with protein powders, and you do say you eat some seafood.
Fortunately, seafood is a great source of protein.
Since it sounds like you are a vegetarian, who doesn’t eat red meat, rather than a vegan, you could also eat more eggs.
If red meat is the only form of meat you won’t eat, you could also eat poultry and chicken.
Even though we don’t need to know why you don’t eat meat, in order for us to give you a more clear answer, we would need more details on what you do eat.
Hopefully that answer gives you a little bit of insight on how to eat more protein, when you don’t eat meat.
Unfortunately, we’re not experts in optimizing vegan and vegetarian diets for protein.
The best way that Jessica and I, and our clients, hit our higher protein intake goals is to consume animal protein sources.
Bottom line.
If you’re missing, or can’t get enough of, a certain nutrient, especially protein, from the food sources you are eating in your diet, you need to include other food sources that have higher amounts protein.
This is why we obviously eat animal meat.
It’s the best way to consume protein rich foods, without extra carbohydrates.
Question #2: What Is A Good Protein Meal Replacement Shake Or Bar For Breakfast?
original_murphy on Snapchat asks:
Hey Brad, quick question. I’m not to big of a breakfast person. Is there any type of protein, meal replacement shake, or bar that can replace breakfast? If so, what do you recommend?
Check out the full post: 3 Fast Meal Replacement Breakfast Recipe Ideas
Question #3: What Spices Do You Recommend To Help Elevate The Taste Of Meats And Vegetables?
@KarlaGaytan42 on Twitter asks:
What spices do you recommend to elevate the taste of meats and vegetables?
Check out the full post: Best Spices And Seasonings To Make Your Meat And Vegetables Taste Delicious
Question #4: Do Coconut Milk, Cream, Shavings, And Oil Have The Same Benefits? What About Grass Fed Butter And Yogurt Or Coconut Oil?
@zinskykat from Twitter wants to know:
Do coconut milk, coconut cream, coconut shavings, and coconut oil have the same benefits? Grass fed butter, yogurt, or coconut oil?
Check out the full post: Do All Coconut Products Have The Same Nutrition Benefits?
Question #5: Can You Give Us A Few New Cheat Meal Ideas?
@CiscoBalls on Twitter says:
Give us a cheat meal!!
Check out the full post: New Cheat Meal Ideas
Question #6: Is It A Necessary To Take A Pre-workout Or BCAAs?
sarasmile1984 on Snapchat asks:
Hey Jess and Brad, is it a necessity to take pre-workout or BCAAs? I hear fitness people talking about these supplements all the time. I really have no clue what they are or the purpose they serve. Thanks!
Check out the full post: Do You Really NEED Pre-Workout or BCAAs for Gains?
Question #7a: Do Spin Classes Count As A Leg Day?
kat on Snapchat says:
Do spin classes count as “leg days” or should I count my lifting days as “muscle days” and just let cardio be cardio?
Check out the full post: Spin Class vs. Leg Day Dilemma
Question #7b: What Is Your Normal Weekly Workout Schedule? How Often Should I Be Resting Each Muscle?
kat on Snapchat says:
What is your normal weekly workout schedule? How many days a week do you do legs, abs, chest, back, shoulders, etc.? How often should I be resting each muscle?
Check out the full post: Your Workout Schedule, Workout Split, And Rest Days Depends On This One Thing
Question #8: Is It Better To Do Full Body Or Split Workouts To Build Muscle And Burn Fat?
sarasmile1984 on Snapchat says:
Hey guys, my question is: why do most of the fitness people I follow on social media workout specific muscle groups at a time? Is that necessary in order to build muscle? I usually mix it up within one workout, for example some legs, shoulders, back. My goals are fat loss and muscle gain. Thanks!
Dog Attack During Our Answer: in the middle of answering this question, we heard a crazy dog, which sounded like a wolf, attack our upstairs neighbor. This was very strange because our neighbor didn’t own a dog. Since it sounded like someone was being mugged, I was getting ready to man up and go handle “the business”. Then we heard a knock on our door. It was our upstairs neighbor. She told us that she was actually attacked by a dog she was hired to dog sit. She had two teeth mark punctures on her forearm, but she was ok.
Check out the full post: Is It Better To Do Full Body Or Split Workouts To Build Muscle And Burn Fat?
program, not a split muscle group training program.
Question #9: Why Are You Based In Los Angeles?
CiscoBalls says:
Why are you based in Los Angeles now. I know Brad is from Canada. I thought Jess was from New York. So why LA?
Why not LA is the question.
LA is freaking awesome.
It’s beautiful here.
Yes, I grew up in Canada and love it.
Jessica is American.
I used to make fun of Jessica for saying I’m from Canada, rather than the specific city or province I’m from.
I would tell her I’m from Halifax, which is a city in Canada.
Just to be clear, Canada has many different cities and provinces.
If a Canadian asked an American where they are from, they would probably say New York, rather than saying the United States Of America.
However, I’m assuming the question is coming from someone who lives in the US.
The simple answer is Jessica is originally from LA, so she has family in California.
We Love California
I also love California, so it was a no-brainer to be here.
Plus, California is the fitness capital, so most of the connections are here.
We also love big cities.
Jessica spent 11 years in New York and I lived in Toronto the year before I moved to LA.
While we were dating I was living in Toronto and Jessica was in New York.
We would fly back and forth between those two cities, which was a blast.
We loved both of those cities and had so much fun.
We definitely considered settling in New York City or Toronto, and are still open to it.
When we made the decision, we had the conversations about if I was going to apply for US residency or was Jessica going to apply for Canadian residency.
Another good point is, since we originally met in LA and had such an amazing time, it was always a positive sign that stuck out to us.
Plus, the way our business is, we like filming outdoors for a lot of the year, it just made sense.
The weather was really the deal sealer.
Also, having Jessica’s family close by was nice too.
Ultimately, we just love LA and California.
The beach lifestyle was calling to us.
Question #10: Which Vegetables Should I Count Calories For?
@ZinskiKat on Twitter says:
Which vegetables should I count calories for? I know sweet potatoes and carrots, but what about squash, snap peas, bell peppers, and green beans?
Check out the full post: Which Vegetables Should I Count Calories For?
That’s Another Episode Of The #AskLiveLeanTV Show
There you go, that’s another show.
Thank you for tuning in.
Today’s question of the day is, what type of pet do you have?
Do you have a cat, dog, mouse, snake, lizard, or hippo?
Tell us down below in the comment section.
Thank you for watching and see you at the next episode.
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Brad Gouthro is the founder of Live Lean TV, a media company focused on helping men and women “Live Lean” 365 days a year. Brad’s programs and content have helped millions of people all over the world learn how to get in shape, and more importantly, sustain it for life.