Give me red meat!

[Robert Z]

A trick I have learned to ensure peak romantic performance: When I have been dieting and working out hard - I've been cutting for the last month - I always reach a point where I start feeling run down and craving red meat. I don't know why this would be. I am getting enough calories. I should be getting all of my essential and nonessential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, including iron now, I eat plenty of protein from various sources and eat tons of vegetables, but there still seems to be something about red meat - I need some from time to time. After a good steak or quality burger of significant size I feel my energy begin to return. I have also learned that this has a large effect on my ability to perform.

 

Haven't managed to figure this one out yet.

 

 

On my way to Wendy's for a quarter-pound Baconator!

Edited April 4, 2014 by Robert Z

[contact1]

You should get the new Jack in the Box sandwich, bacon inside the meat, bacon on top, and bacon inside the mayo Or hell, just go to In n Out and get a 4 x 4

[pink_sugar]

Maybe you're lacking protein. Try alternatives like peanut/almond butter or meat alternatives to help with that craving.

[liquid_amber]

you probably need iron. red meat is high in iron, and cravings for red meat often mean an iron deficiency. i think you can also get iron from spinach and certain other green veggies if you're trying to limit your red meat intake. but as with most things, red meat is fine in moderation.

[amaysngrace]

Since when is Wendy's meat?

[tbf]

The craving happens to me around my period. Iron.

[Robert Z]

Hmmmm, I recently started a thread about iron because I determined low iron was likely causing me to get the chills after a workout. I have added iron to my supplements but have also been vary sparing about the dosage. I've only been taking a quarter of a 65 mg pill per day. But that should be enough for a man my age. But then again, that is probably non-heme iron, which is less efficient than sources of heme iron. Maybe I've been too conservative.

 

 

I am due to get a blood panel done soon but I can't run to the doctor for blood work every time I need to adjust things.

[gaius]

Since when is Wendy's meat?

Blasphemy.

[gaius]

I refuse to pay what they charge for a baconator at Wendys but I do get 2 Jr. Cheeseburgers and a vanilla frosty once in a while. God Wendy's is good.

 

Sometimes your body just likes to reward itself I think.

[SolG]

I generally eat paleo--five meals a day--including lots of high protein sources and regular red meat. Including a protein shake religiously post workout. But OMG, after a really good weight session or rigorous, fantastic sex... I could swallow a cow whole! I just crave red meat on these occasions! I'll have to explore the iron angle. Thx :-)

[Arieswoman]

Robert Z,

Your craving tells me that you lack iron in your diet.

 

There are planty of sources of iron that aren't meat based ;-

 

Viva! Health

 

I haven't eaten meat for 20+ years and never crave it.

 

Just my 6penneth......

[lollipopspot]

I am due to get a blood panel done soon but I can't run to the doctor for blood work every time I need to adjust things.

 

When was the last time you had your iron checked? It's not like it's going to be changing a lot for you, as you don't bleed. Have them check the ferritin level, not just iron.

[thefooloftheyear]

Forget about the iron deficiencies....People crave meat because it tastes damn good....and its good for you...

 

I eat several pounds of red meet weekly, yet I have Cholesterol and LDL/HDL readings that are more favorable than most vegetarians...I just passed a full cardiac workup with flying colors...No blockages, no heart hypertrophy....nothing...

 

Got a nice fillet waiting for me later on....mmmmmm

 

TFY

[dichotomy]

If you like beef - try grass fed beef. It tastes awesome and is very good for you.

 

One brand below.

 

Better For You

 

 

As for bacon - "center cut" !

Edited April 5, 2014 by dichotomy

[Phoe]

I'm a carnivore to the core.

 

I don't crave sweets, I crave meat. Meat and protein make up the bulk of my diet.

 

 

And what's kinda twisted is that I absolutely adore cows. Haha

[TylerDurdenn]

McDonalds double cheese burgers are my crack cocaine..

 

Nothing beats eating a couple of these after a big gym session once (or twice..) a month.

 

[Robert Z]

Robert Z,

Your craving tells me that you lack iron in your diet.

 

There are planty of sources of iron that aren't meat based ;-

 

Viva! Health

 

I haven't eaten meat for 20+ years and never crave it.

 

Just my 6penneth......

 

Look at your list of sources of iron. I have done the math and can't get enough iron without eating bran or other fortified cereals, and I can't eat those. Also, when you get iron from cereal you are really just adding an artificial iron supplement to your diet. In which case you might as well just buy iron pills.

[Robert Z]

Forget about the iron deficiencies....People crave meat because it tastes damn good....and its good for you...

 

...because we need things meat supplies, like iron. Cravings like this have a biological basis. We crave sugar and fat because eons ago these things and food energy were relatively hard to come by. Our ancient ancestors didn't have Twinkies.

Edited April 7, 2014 by Robert Z

[kiss_andmakeup]

From the time I was very, very young...3 or so...I refused to eat red meat. My mom is Italian and cooked with beef, pork, and lamb often, but from an early age I would insist I didn't want it. I'd clean a plate of vegetables but meat was off-limits for whatever reason. Now here I am at age 26, and as far as my memory stretches I've never eaten red meat (I'm now completely vegetarian). I struggled with iron deficiency for a long time, but there are so many great supplements now. Leafy greens like spinach and kale can also provide some (although probably not enough unless you eat some HUGE salads).

 

I'm not about to insist that everyone become a vegetarian...but most health professionals agree now that red meat is healthier when eaten in moderation (rather than the 1-3x per day that many Americans seem to prefer). Maybe you could still eat your steak or burger once or twice a week, and then fill in the gaps with an iron rich supplement and lots of leafy greens?

 

Edited to add: soybeans and lentils are also decent sources of iron.

Edited April 7, 2014 by kiss_andmakeup

[Ninjainpajamas]

I'm a big red meat lover myself, there's just not a level of normalcy and power I get without it.

 

I can eat everything else under the sun to supplement the protein and iron but there's something about meat, specifically steak..maybe it's just because it's such a high concentration that it gives me an extra gear but I actually do FEEL much more alert and energetic after I eat it, It's the only thing I can actually eat and feel that way about.

 

With that being said, I eat it in moderation not endlessly like I used to when I was in my 20's, a nice steak or grilling up some beef patties is very nice on occasion.

[suladas]

Since when is Wendy's meat?

 

Don't diss Wendy's

[thefooloftheyear]

...because we need things meat supplies, like iron. Cravings like this have a biological basis. We crave sugar and fat because eons ago these things and food energy were relatively hard to come by. Our ancient ancestors didn't have Twinkies.

 

Im not disagreeing by my statement...but I dont think an iron deficiency is going to make something tasty...thats all..

 

TFY

[regine_phalange]

Men do seem to crave red meat quite often. I feel more energized with chicken or fish though. I rarely get the craving for red meat, but I do eat a beef dish once a week (either stew or mince, almost always with cinnamon, cloves, allspice). With this frequency, my iron levels are very good. For iron, beef liver is also considered a sufficient source, but I don't really like it.

[Canucklehead]

Don't diss Wendy's

 

Used to be a big fan of the bacon/cheese Big Classic..... but "5 Guys Burger & Fries" has wrecked me for any kind of fast food burger place

[Robert Z]

Im not disagreeing by my statement...but I dont think an iron deficiency is going to make something tasty...thats all..

 

 

TFY

 

Iron deficiencies are known to cause cravings. I don't know if craving for red meat has ever been demonstrated. I do know that when I feel run down, when I crave red meat, I always feel stronger and energized the next day after eating some.

 

I eat tons of vegetables like spinach and broccoli, but I am low carb so bran and flakes are out, and those artificial sources are about as good as anything. It is hard to get enough iron from anything but red meat.

Edited April 10, 2014 by Robert Z