What About Protein Shakes and Bars?


THE SLENDERNESS SERIES

The Meso Proteins

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A reader once asked me:

“Doc, I get it. To start optimizing my weight, I eat a palm-sized serving of clean animal protein whenever I’m hungry for three days.
So… to keep things interesting, I can have a protein shake for breakfast, maybe some beans here and there, and a protein bar for a snack, right?”

No.

No!

And no!

EAT GOD-MADE ANIMAL PROTEIN ONLY

The Protein Days are designed to place you into a fat-burning state.

The Meso-Menu is designed to keep you there.

During the Protein Days, you will eat a palm-sized portion of animal protein whenever you become hungry. You may eat one serving a day, or you may eat six servings. Hunger, not the clock, determines frequency.

Animal protein has a minimal impact on blood sugar, which means insulin is far less likely to spike. However, overeating anything, including protein, can raise insulin. And insulin is the culprit here. Elevated insulin shifts the body into fat storage.

Animal protein is also unique in that it stimulates glucagon, the hormone responsible for releasing stored fat for us to use as fuel.

During your Protein Days, the following animal proteins are on the menu.

THE MESO PROTEINS

Fowl(pasture-raised preferred)

  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Eggs
  • Wildfowl (dove, pheasant, quail, etc.)

Fish(wild-caught preferred; young, small, and white are best)

  • Cod
  • Flounder
  • Haddock
  • Halibut
  • Mahi Mahi
  • Monkfish
  • Salmon
  • Snapper
  • Sole
  • Whitefish

Shellfish(wild-harvested)

  • Abalone
  • Clams
  • Mussels
  • Oysters
  • Scallops

Crustaceans(wild-caught)

  • Crab
  • Crayfish
  • Lobster
  • Shrimp

Red Meat(wild or pasture-raised preferred)

  • Beef
  • Bear
  • Boar
  • Buffalo
  • Elk
  • Kangaroo
  • Lamb
  • Pork
  • Venison

Organ Meats (my personal favorites—and the most nutrient-dense)

  • Liver
  • Heart
  • Kidney
  • Brain
  • Tongue
  • Tripe (stomach)
  • Sweetbreads (thymus/pancreas)
  • Spleen
  • Intestines
  • Gizzards
  • Testicles

Have you ever watched a lion eat in the wild?

It goes straight for the organs, leaving the muscle meat for the scavengers. There’s a reason for that, it's more nutritious.

And if you had a grandfather who grew up in the Midwest, you already know what I’m talking about, grandfathers love organ meats. I may be a Californian grandfather, but my father was raised in Oklahoma, and some wisdom travels well because there is nothing like a meal of liver and onions.

EAT DIFFERENT PROTEINS AT EACH MEAL

You will get better results if you rotate your proteins throughout the day.

Eating the same protein repeatedly may cause sensitivity or metabolic adaptation over time.

Here’s an example of a typical Protein Day:

  • Eggs for the first meal
  • Chicken for the second meal
  • Steak for the third meal

The next day, change at least one protein:

  • Eggs for the first meal
  • Chicken for the second meal
  • Lamb for the third meal

If there are proteins you don’t eat, eat only the ones you enjoy. This program encourages joy mixed in with every meal.

QUALITY MATTERS—BUT DON’T LET IT STOP YOU

Do your best to eat animal proteins as close to nature as possible:

  • Beef: pasture-raised and grass-fed
  • Fish: wild-caught (avoid farmed fish)
  • Poultry and eggs: pasture-raised
  • Organic whenever possible

Some people tell me they can’t afford organic, pasture-raised, grass-fed, wild-caught animal proteins.

Here’s the truth.

You always have a choice:

  • Eat foods that slowly degrade your health
  • Eat foods that give you the best chance at vitality and longevity.

That said, do not let cost stop you from optimizing your weight.

Conventional animal proteins will help you lose weight, and losing weight dramatically improves hormones, health, and mindset. Once those improve, better food choices often become affordable.

There is, however, one category worse than conventional meat:
processed industrial meats

  • salami,
  • sausages,
  • hot dogs
  • etc.

Order of Preference

  1. Organic, pasture-raised, grass-fed, wild-caught animal proteins
  2. Conventional animal proteins
  3. Processed conventional animal proteins

WHAT ABOUT BACON?

Ah yes. Bacon.

Some bacon comes from properly raised pigs and contains simple, clean ingredients. Other bacon is industrialized and filled with preservatives, chemical smoke, and artificial additives.

Read labels, choose wisely.

A NOTE ON SOURCING

Local farms are often the best source of clean meat.

You can also use an online source for pasture-raised, grass-fed meats. I know when my box arrives, I still get excited like a little kid. I know, I’m a dork. Here are two highly rated meat deleiery companies listed below.

​GOOD CHOP​

​BUTCHER BOX​

"The Protein Days will get you into a fat-burning state. The Meso-Menu will keep you in it."

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REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS SERIES

  1. ​​Eat God-Made Food​​
  2. ​​Eat Gourmet God-Made Food​​
  3. ​​Eat When You're Hungry​​
  4. ​The Insulin Glucagon SeeSaw​​
  5. ​The Protein Day Part One​
  6. ​Lose the Bloat First​​​​​​

US-IE

Vicky and I are retired, and our passion, besides teaching others how to optimize their hormones and weight through this newsletter, is traveling.

This Usie was taken at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, Italy

Standing where Medici grand dukes and even Napoleon once resided! The sheer scale and history of Palazzo Pitti is incredible, right here in Florence's Oltrarno district. From the banker's home to the royal residence, it's a must-see

Yes, wherever you are, find joy. It's there, right in front of you.

🇪🇸 The Macs

Hormone and Weight Optimization Author and Coaches

​HOPE isn’t just a feeling. It’s a protocol

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DISCLAIMER

The information contained in this newsletter is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, nor should it be construed as medical advice or a substitute for professional medical care. No doctor–patient relationship is created by this content. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider before beginning, modifying, or discontinuing any supplement, medication, diet, or health program, especially if you have a medical condition, are pregnant or nursing, or are taking prescription or over-the-counter medications. Individual responses and requirements vary, and any reliance on the information provided is solely at your own risk.

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Hi! I'm Doc Mac.

I have practiced hormone and weight optimization for over forty-five years. I retired 10 years ago; at least, that is what I thought. When I retired, my wife and I owned and operated several medical clinics specializing in hormone and weight optimization. We discovered that as a woman enters menopause, her hormones become disrupted, causing many women to gain weight rapidly, and no matter what they do, not be able to lose it. If that has happened to you, text me at 209-345-9799. I have found that those who text me are serious about creating the body they desire. Once I receive your text, I will find a convenient time for you to speak with me. During our conversation, I will customize a gourmet weight loss menu for you, and tweak it until it works. Our menus have no caloric restrictions or frequency of meals. There is no charge! 👍 Doc

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