zlacker

I started tracking everything I ate, every single bite.

The average western diet may over consume meat, but I have to work my butt off to hit my protein goals for strength training.

A slice of bacon has 3g of protein. 150 calories though. Eating enough protein through bacon isn't the best of ideas, even if someone is doing a ketogenic diet!

60-80g of protein is about right for a man who has a moderately physical job or who exercises some small amount. 100g is the minimum for putting on muscle and getting stronger.

The average western diet over consumes everything, it could do with less sugar, less processed foods (which are hyper palatable and don't satiate hunger), and more pure protein.

>>com2ki+(OP)
Why are you quoting raw protein grams instead of using a g/kg of body weight metric?

>>NewJaz+L
Because American men average around five nine and given the average lean muscle mass needs on that frame size, something within 60-90g (which is a huge range!) will work for most American men.

Like if someone is a 6 foot 10 body builder, they know their needs.

Also the suggested range of g/kg ranges from .8g/kg to 1.2g/kg, which is also a huge range, but that is primarily for building strength, not maintaining.

Given the goals here are "rough guidelines on eating healthy", I'm fine saying most men should aim for 60-90g of lean protein a day. That isn't exactly a hot take.

>>com2ki+(OP)
> strength training

why do you think you need to do that? most people don't.

>>zabzon+zA
That question is, honestly, kind of stupid. It is akin to asking why eat healthy or why go outside in the sun.

But hey, here we go.

1. Intense physical exercise is the only known way to increase IQ. (Admittedly pure strength training is not the best for this, HIIT workouts are better)

2. Muscle mass is a huge factor in the early death in seniors. Basically people who lack muscle mass are more likely to fall over and fracture something, at which point they are much more likely to die.

3. Lean muscle mass, up to a certain point (e.g. extreme body builders have worse mortality numbers), decreases mortality across the board.

4. I like living w/o pain, and you can choose to either have your joints take the load or your muscles take the load.

5. I enjoy being able to move my body and be active in the world.

6. I'm vain and I like to look good.

> most people don't.

Most people in America die of a heart attack. Most people in America are obese and have troubles moving around. Most people in America don't read books. Most people in America don't enjoy mathematics. Most people in America don't go to art museums.

People should have aspirations to do more than average.

>>zabzon+zA
Most people experience severe mobility problems in old age that would likely have been preventable by strength training.

>>zabzon+zA
you don't need to do anything. why try? sit at home and watch tv.

i can hike elevation all day which is great for backpacking, i look great with a shirt off, and i can stand up from the couch without using my hands.

yes, im taking it a bit far at this point, but really that just means eating the average american's protein intake and then a protein shake or two on top