The Beef Checkoff 30 Day Protein Challenge: My Protein Adventure Begins!

This post is brought to you by The Beef Checkoff and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

Over the years, my husband and I have gone through various phases of trying to improve our lifestyle. This usually consists of us making a bet on who can lose the most weight the fastest. It typically ends with me winning (Yay!) or us totally forgetting about it because it's taking way too long to see results.

Either way, it ultimately is an epic fail. “Why?”, you ask. In the end, we never end up with the results we truly want. It's just a quick fix that has no real long-term sticking power. We don't learn how food affects our mood or what foods make us fuller for longer. Just imagine what you could do with knowing this information. It would help you stick your health goals, wouldn't it? It would me! That's why…

I'm happy to announce my participation in The Beef Checkoff 30 Day Protein Challenge!

Pre-Protein Challenge Me

I am a 33-year-old female that eats healthy for the most part. I like a lot of foods but don't always eat them in the right proportions. For most of my adult life, I have always weighed within a 5-7 pound range of my ideal weight yet I still have moments of feeling fat. I blame this on childbirth and the extra body fat it gives you. That mommy pouch is here to stay it would seem AND I hate it!

I am not a morning person by any means, either. I don't pop out of bed singing like some fairytale princess. I force myself to get up and out and would still consider myself not awake even 5 hours later. I believe this has a lot to do with me being a breakfast skipper. I've never really given in to “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” concept but I do see how it affects me. I'm just not hungry right after waking up.

Not only am I a breakfast skipper, I really only eat one “real” meal a day during the week and snack the rest of the time. Whereas on the weekends, I tend to snack even more and throw in some cocktails as well. As you can see I need some help in the meal planning department!

Why Protein?

Protein puts the wheel in your hands and gives you the control you need to take on the day. Avoiding that “I'm STARVING!!” feeling encourages you to make the right food choices, not just at that particular meal but all day long!

Did you know most Americans consume almost all (about two-thirds) of their daily protein at dinner? Not a big shock, right? But some research has shown it may be beneficial to spread out your protein intake over the course of the day rather than just having it all at one meal. It can help with weight loss, building/protecting your muscles (for you exercise freaks), and energy levels (now that's what I'm talking about!).

Preparing for the 30 Day Protein Challenge

From September 24 through October 24 I have committed to taking the 30 Day Protein Challenge. As I am in the first week right now I've been tracking the protein in my food, my hunger levels, and corresponding moods. So far I have noticed, that my eating schedule is really out of whack but most of my foods do contain protein.

I can't wait till next week when I'm going to make Beef and Egg Breakfast Mugs. It's a recipe from Beef It's What's For Dinner. It totally sounds fun! I can't wait to buy some cute mugs for it!!

My Protein Challenge Goals

I hope by doing the protein challenge I will see an improvement in my energy levels and maybe even a little weight loss. My ultimate goal is to get on a better eating schedule and I think this challenge will get me on the right path. Plus I'd love to reap all the benefits of eating a balanced amount of protein.

Here's How The Beef Checkoff 30 Day Protein Challenge Works:

The Beef Checkoff has developed the Protein Challenge, a fun, step-by-step 30-day plan to help you get a balanced amount of protein at each meal. You keep track of your food, hunger, and moods to see how simple diet changes can make a difference in your overall health and wellness for 30 days and beyond. Simply follow this calendar:

You can find everything you need to get started with the Protein Challenge at Beef It's What's For Dinner – Take Control HERE.

It's a Twitter Party!

Join us for a Twitter party on Thursday, October 20 at 1 p.m. ET using #ProteinChallenge. We’ll be talking about tips and inspiration for quick and easy protein-rich meals and snacks as well as The Beef Checkoff’s Protein Challenge itself. For example, did you know, a 3-oz serving of meat or fish is about the size of an iPhone or deck of cards? Great tip, huh?

Throughout the chat, we’ll be asking trivia questions and giving away prizes to 5 lucky winners! Prizes include a $50 Visa gift card. Please RSVP HERE for a chance to win.

[tweetthis url=”http://vite.io/ProteinChallenge”]Join us for a #ProteinChallenge Twitter party 1pm EST 10/20 for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card. 5 winners![/tweetthis]

One small change in your diet can make a big difference in the way you feel. The 30 Day Protein Challenge is a fun, step-by-step way to help you get an optimal amount of protein throughout your day. Join the Protein Challenge and you'll receive goals, tips, and inspiration to keep you on track.

Check back toward the end of October to see my results!

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by The Beef Checkoff and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.