One of the key ingredients in trying to shed extra pounds and maintain a healthy lifestyle is protein, protein, and more protein. But, sometimes, trying to get enough protein can feel like it's your full-time job—like you need to raise your own cattle or buy stock in chicken breast in order to get enough in.

If you've ever stared at the protein shake aisle wondering whether you're buying a diet-friendly superblend or just expensive chocolate milk, you're not alone. The world of protein shakes can feel like trying to choose a movie on Netflix—so many options, but which one will hit the spot?

If you've been in the diet world long enough, you might have heard about the concept of a cheat day. This is typically considered a day off from your diet. On the so-called cheat day, you can eat whatever and whenever you want, then you'll return to your regular menu the following day.

No doubt you've heard of and maybe even tried intermittent fasting since it has numerous scientifically proven benefits. But during your fasting journey, have you come across terms like clean vs. dirty fasting and been left wondering what they mean? Don't worry, we're here to clear up any confusion!

When you hear the words dry fasting, what do you think of? Do you wonder if this is a fasting schedule where alcohol is prohibited for 16 hours, and then it's whiskey, gin, and vodka for the next eight? Maybe an image of you on a sandy desert, sweating while you fast under the beating sun pops into your head.

So, you heard about the Eat Stop Eat method of intermittent fasting: two days of 24-hour fasting five days of eating as you wish to and you're intrigued. It's low on rules and high on flexibility, plus the results look promising. Maybe this is the schedule for you!

On the face of it, it seems that intermittent fasting is incompatible with exercise. You need energy to move, let alone grow new muscle or push yourself through a tough cardio session. Surely, training while fasting is a recipe for tanking your energy levels and becoming a crabby, injured, tired mess.

In this world of 30-day abs, Instagram filters, and juice cleanses, there's a ton of pressure to look a certain way — and to achieve that look as fast as possible — even if it means sacrificing your health and well-being. Knowing how to burn fat in a smart, sustainable way is quite the challenge.

Fat loss vs. weight loss: They're not the same thing. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they mean something quite different, and it's more than just a linguistic distinction. Weight loss is what you see on the scale. It's the sum total of all the stuff in your body … and when you weigh less, you have less of all that stuff.

From workouts to working hours, most of us enjoy a little flexibility. So it's no wonder that when it comes to what we eat, a little wiggle room goes a long way. A flexitarian diet (think flexible + vegetarian) is a food routine that involves eating primarily plant-based foods but still accommodates occasionally eating meat and other animal products in moderation.