Should I use a protein powder?

[episodic]

I've started lifting, etc. I eat a decent amount of protein.

Should I add a protein shake to my day? Yes, no, and why for a beginner please

 

[SociallyChallenged]

No real need unless you're doing a lot of volume. If you're eating food afterward that has a fair protein content, it's really no different in the long run. Whey protein is useful for people who really destroy their bodies with a workout. It's not necessary for the cyclist/yoga man

 

[tomsmith2010]

I think no, just go to as usual...

 

[douglasb]

I think no, just go to as usual...

What?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

What?

I'm assuming he's saying no - just keep doing what he's doing.

 

[oogabooga]

I drink protein. I don't think it's all that important for someone just starting to get into it (and I didn't for my first two or three months) but I find it to be helpful and I don't think it hurts to start doing.

I try to take protein ~30min before and after a workout. I use the optimum nutrition 100% whey stuff which I think is pretty popular. On my off days I just drink it whenever (though I usually forget about it).

1) It adds protein to my diet in a non insignificant amount.
2) I drink before working out - gives me a bit of a calorie/energy boost
3) I drink after working out.

Mentally it's nice for me cause it frames my workouts, the start and end of it. It helps me get through them, and recover afterwards. Protein I believe is important for muscle recovery. Most of my protein still comes from food, but certainly it's nice having all the extra protein coming in from the shakes.

 

[Soul Reputation]

If you need to increase your protein level I wouldn't necessarily opt for protein powder. Of course it all hinges on how much more you need but if it's not a lot I'd opt to eat cottage cheese. Aside from egg whites c.cheese is one of the best proteins available. Plus you pay more for protein powder. More for the marketing, packaging, picture of the musclehead on the side of the can. And then you can't be sure that they aren't adding fillers. I would almost guarantee they add fillers. Vitamin companies do. Cheating and deceiving the consumer dates back to the early days and is as American as apple pie.

 

[Pantlegz]

If you need to increase your protein level I wouldn't necessarily opt for protein powder. Of course it all hinges on how much more you need but if it's not a lot I'd opt to eat cottage cheese. Aside from egg whites c.cheese is one of the best proteins available. Plus you pay more for protein powder. More for the marketing, packaging, picture of the musclehead on the side of the can. And then you can't be sure that they aren't adding fillers. I would almost guarantee they add fillers. Vitamin companies do. Cheating and deceiving the consumer dates back to the early days and is as American as apple pie.

Most companies, and all that I'd buy from, tell you how many grams of protein are in a scoop or serving. Of course you're not going to get pure protein, expecting such is absurd. The reason I got for whey over getting it from food is because it's good, cheap and low calorie compared to most sources. For example; one egg has about as many calories as a scoop of my powder and 1/4 the protein. That said, a majority of your protein should come from natural sources (food).

 

[brad310]

I like myoplex original cookies and cream if you want it in ready to drink form. For powder I like syntha-6 cookies and cream. I usually bring the RTD with me to the gym and drink it immediately after exercising. The powder is good for bringing to work as a snack or lunch.

 

[arrfep]

Most companies, and all that I'd buy from, tell you how many grams of protein are in a scoop or serving. Of course you're not going to get pure protein, expecting such is absurd. The reason I got for whey over getting it from food is because it's good, cheap and low calorie compared to most sources. For example; one egg has about as many calories as a scoop of my powder and 1/4 the protein. That said, a majority of your protein should come from natural sources (food).

First thing I look at when buying protein is ratio of protein in a serving to size of that serving. The wider the gap the more fillers.

 

[Soul Reputation]

The reason I got for whey over getting it from food is because it's good, cheap....

There is no such thing as "cheap" or inexpensive protein source.

All protein is high in price.

And that is coming from someone who made a complete body transformation: I bulked up from 165lbs to 210lbs.

During the ascension I would have my bodyfat level tested annually by using the water immersion process - which is the best way to accurately ascertain bodyfat. Calipers are nowhere near as reliable, ditto for the electrical meter process. Amazingly my bodyfat level stayed the same. My bodyweight slowly went up, but my bodyfat level did not go up. Which meant I built a lot of muscle along with some bulk as opposed to adding all fat (bulk is a combination of fat and muscle - bulk is a good thing for a strength athlete). It took about 4, 5, 6 years to make the transformation. Protein is expensive. And the most expensive protein is the powdered junk sold in a can. That's right. Junk. During my transformation process my main source of protein was milk. Lots of milk. And tuna fish. Lots of tuna fish. If a person needed to know what the ambient temperature was all they have to do was look at me. People say that the junk protein in a can is good for when you're on the road. No it ain't. Tuna fish, milk and cottage cheese is just as easy if not easier to transport. Think about it. With tuna you don't need spoons, cups, packets of protein to transport all you need is a can opener and a fork (note that if you're a Navy SEAL or an Army Ranger you don't need no can opener). And when you're done you toss the can in the garbage. And the cans are small which means they're easy to stash. Milk and cottage cheese is easy to transport in a cooler. During the transformation there were times when I had to run out the door to get to the gym. No problem. After a hard workout I'd hit a convenience store and buy a quart of milk. And then I'd slam it down. That was a good way to saturate my body with nutrients after a hard lifting session. If you're a cubicle worker you don't need to use junk protein in a can since you probably have a fridge at work. LOL just yesterday I saw some guy parked at the gym standing outside of his SUV at the rear bumper going through the multi-step process of mixing a protein drink. What a waste of time. Inefficient. A waste of money. And then when he's done he's gotta go into dishwasher mode and clean his little plastic cup. If he had a pint or a quart of milk all he'd have to do is down it and then toss it in the trash. Who cares if it ain't whey protein. If you think whey will make a big difference in achieving your fitness goals then you've been had. Milk, cottage cheese, and tuna is all you need.

Note that if a lifters goal is to get bigger stronger then many are focusing on the wrong nutrient. Forget about protein or at least minimize it what you need to pay attention to is your CHO intake. Carbs are where it's at. You need to figure out how many grams of CHO you need on a daily basis and then meet that requirement without failure day after day after day. Which is why milk is a fantastic food source for lifters. Because it combines proteins with carbs and that's a one-two punch a hardcore lifter can appreciate. Milk is magic, was for me when I aspired to add size.

And I'll note that I tried different brands of creatine but learned that it was a non-factor and for me a total waste of money. Ingesting pure foods in combination with continually striving to pyramid weights on a regular basis on the basic core exercises (bench press, bent over rows, curls, etc, etc) did the trick for me. I live in San Diego where it's a crime to be indoors with the type of weather we're having. Later.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

And where does research show carbs are where its at? Research shows that no matter what the exercise, a protein drink alone tends to be more effective at building/restoring muscle than a carb drink. On top of that, lifters don't need carbs almost at all. They don't utilize much glycogen due to the short nature of the exercise. Protein, as stated in hundreds of research journals, is actually where's it at.

Also, per gram of protein, protein powder is cheaper than any organic source. Calculate it with a mid-priced protein powder.

 

[oogabooga]

And where does research show carbs are where its at? Research shows that no matter what the exercise, a protein drink alone tends to be more effective at building/restoring muscle than a carb drink. On top of that, lifters don't need carbs almost at all. They don't utilize much glycogen due to the short nature of the exercise. Protein, as stated in hundreds of research journals, is actually where's it at.

Also, per gram of protein, protein powder is cheaper than any organic source. Calculate it with a mid-priced protein powder.

I can't comment on the carb vs protein thing, but if you're trying to lose weight too protein powder + water is a pretty calorie efficient way to take in protein. Again, make sure this is true with whichever you decide to take, and that this isn't your only or even the main source of protein intake.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I can't comment on the carb vs protein thing, but if you're trying to lose weight too protein powder + water is a pretty calorie efficient way to take in protein. Again, make sure this is true with whichever you decide to take, and that this isn't your only or even the main source of protein intake.

Actually, while trying to LOSE weight, a chicken breast is way, way more filling for around the same calories as a scoop or two of protein powder in water. I suggest zero liquid calories while trying to lose weight. The research backs me.