Building Muscle - Weight Gainer vs Whey Protein -High vs low calories

[TechBoyJK]

I'm getting ready to buy some more protein. My last batch was a 6lb bag of MuscleMilk protein. It's $40, low cal, 78 servings and 27grams of protein per serving.

http://www.amazon.com/CytoSport-make.../dp/B003U0FFCU

Specs

6 LbS
78 Servings
27G
140 Calories per serving

$6.70 per pound
$.51 per serving



This is a really good deal. However, I found another deal, but it's for a high calorie weight gainer that has protein.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/univ/real.html

It's $58 for a 10.6lb bag and is a little cheaper per pound, but it seems the servings are 'bigger' so you don't get as many servings. The other stuff (for 27G of protein) is 51 cents per serving. This stuff for about 27g of protein, is 90 cents per serving. So I'm paying more to have more calories (mostly carbs) in my protein shake.

I'm trying to build muscle mass. I have a normal diet that I supplement with about 3 protein shakes per day. Should I go to a high calorie gainer? Do the extra calories help me build muscle? Or should I go with a low calorie protein mix?

Or should I do a little of both? Do the high cal shake in the morning, and mid day, and low cal shake at night (less carbs when I sleep?).

Thoughts?

 

[Ventanni]

I'm no dietitian, but I doubt you'll build muscle at the same rate had you gotten that protein from a higher caloric diet. Those drinks are meant to be supplemental, not your primary source of protein.

From my own experience, I didn't start putting on real muscle mass until I started eating more protein (lots of chicken and vegetables). Unless you get the calories, your body will just utilize that protein for energy.