How do you all feel about

B

Bonne

Active Member
Protein powders. The kind that you can add to smoothies and other drinks? Is there a particular brand that you prefer?(Iam trying to lose weight, but definately need to have sufficient protein to get me through the day, let alone my cathe workouts!) If I remember right at the end of Cathe's Wedding Vid there was info on a protein powder...was it MetRX?? (I'll have to pull this vid out to check) have any of you tried it or others that you like? Also, is it too much to add a protein smoothie midday(instead of say an actual meal replacement??), for instance to have reasonable breakfast, lunch, then a smoothie for a snack, then dinner or is this too much..any advice would be appreciated, I am really trying to get my eating in check these days, and I have a lot to learn!!!

Thanks in advance!

Bonne
 
Hi, Bonne! Frankly, I think protein powders are way overrated, although in all honesty I've never bought any brand.

I recently decided I too needed to upkick my protein intake, so what I've started doing is adding a raw egg white to my lunchtime yogurt; I think you could also do that with a smoothie. The egg white doesn't affect the taste at all; it does change the consistency and texture a little bit, but I don't think that would be the case for you with a smoothie you mix up in a blender.

I'll suggest you try that little trick before you plunk down any hard-earned money on fancy, (probably) overpriced powders whose quality you can never fully trust.

Just my $.02 . . .

Annette
 
Hi Bonne! I have used a protein powder for over a year and wow what a difference. I can only speak to the brand I use, Shaklee. I did research before I bought any product and I chose to use Shaklee for 2 reasons: 1. They are an actual science & research company. 2. They are respected by the FDA. Actually, I won't buy any product sold at a GNC because I couldn't be guaranteed quality of product in too many cases.

I use a protein drink two times a day in adddition to breakfast lunch and dinner, sometimes three if I make a desert smoothie. Sometimes I do a breakfast smoothie when I've forgotten to go shopping or if I am running late. Mine is actually a soy protein product and it is also the one lower in carbs. I've found that even with the increased calories, I lost body size which I attributed to increased, SUSTAINED energy I had. I could go on and on about additional benefits to your health...but I won't...unless you ask!

Hope this helps!
 
I'm giving protein powders a whirl and the only one Ive tried so far is Designer Whey Protein Powder in Choc. and vanilla flavor. I mix mine with water and bought this really cool shaker bottle at GNC. They arent that bad tasting, better than I expected. My teenage son is a very picky eater, and Im always worried that he doesnt get enough protein, so for him I mix it with ice cream or milk and throw in some ovaltine. He loves it. I think a protein smoothie for a snack sounds perfect (depending on what you mix it with of course!) it keeps me from reaching for the chips and cookies. Judy
 
I also use Designer brand protein, French vanilla; I really like the taste. I usually mix it with skim milk, and when the weather's warm or I want to make it more like an ice-cold milk shake, I'll add some frozen fruit rather than ice cubes and mix it in the blender. I buy a big bag of the fruit and keep it handy in the freezer. Fresh fruit is also yummy to add in a blender mixture--I really like strawberries, peaches and mango. De-lish!

I find protein shakes to be particularly effective for me if I'm going to be doing a heavy weight workout. I like to drink one about half an hour beforehand and I find that my energy and endurance levels increase significantly. Some people drink them after working out or throughout the day; I think it's really a matter of finding what works for you. Good luck.
 
I am ABSOLUTELY committed to supplementing with protein powder.

I have been using one for about 2 years. For the past 1 1/2 years I have been using "Bomber Blend" manufactured by Dave Draper, the "Blond Bomber" of the 1960's. It is only available online at www.DaveDraper.com. It comes in chocolate and vanilla (vanilla is my favorite). Both taste good--excellent in the world of protein powder though-- even mixed with water.

If you are exercising regularly, your plan of a reasonable breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a smoothie snack sounds ok to me. That would be 4 meals a day. But I think a key word here is "reasonable". And you should watch out for how many calories are in your "smoothie". Too much fruit, yogurt, or juice can really add up calorie-wise.

I have mixed my vanilla Bomber Blend with low calorie drinks like Crytal Light. A dash of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice or vanilla extract also helps add some interest without a lot of calories.

Jeanne
 
yuck

Hi,
I tried protein powder years ago and was so disgusted. I remember it was french vanilla and I got it at GNC (it may have been Designer- I know it was a popular brand). Just the smell of it made me want to puke- drinking it was another story. It literally made me gag. Just thinking of that smell turns me off! Needless to say, I returned it.

Maybe they've changed since then, but I doubt it. I'm sure some people love it, some hate it. I wish I did love it, but there's no fun in having to force yourself to drink something.
 
RE: yuck

I drink Met-rx chocolate flavors and I actually like them. For all protein shakes they're much better prepared in a blender rather than shaken in my opinion. Cathe does mention Met-rx in her wedding video. I've found A. Scott Connelly's book Body-rx to be very useful as far as "what to eat" recommendations. He's the founder/creator of Met-rx.

Stacy
 
>I've started doing
>is adding a raw egg
>white to my lunchtime yogurt;
>I think you could also
>do that with a smoothie.
> The egg white doesn't
>affect the taste at all;
>it does change the consistency
>and texture a little bit,
>but I don't think that
>would be the case for
>you with a smoothie you
>mix up in a blender.
>

Thanks Annette for the suggestion, I hadn't thought of doing that. One question though, what about salmonella (sp??)how do you protect yourself from that when using raw eggs?? Thanks again for the help!

Bonne
 
I like to use 'em for the convenience factor if nothing else. I don't have time to make egg white omelettes every morning. The only one that I really like right now is Designer Protein Chocolate, mixed with skim milk in a blender. Sometimes I'll throw in a banana with it.

I tried the EAS meal replacement stuff a few years ago, but didn't like it too much. It was kinda heavy, with an aftertaste.

Tammyspq - Where do you get the Shaklee powders? I'd be interested in trying those.
 
Mine is
>actually a soy protein product
>and it is also the
>one lower in carbs.
>I've found that even with
>the increased calories, I lost
>body size which I attributed
>to increased, SUSTAINED energy I
>had. I could go
>on and on about additional
>benefits to your health...but I
>won't...unless you ask!
>
TammySPQ,
Thanks for all the info, I have never heard of the Shaklee brand before, but I do like the fact that they are respected by the FDA, and are involved in research and development...and also that it is a soy protein..I have just started reading about the benefits of soy, so I am a newbie in that area but this product sounds pretty interesting. Does it have any flavor to it at all? The energy factor sounds great to, especially towards the end of the day! And since you brought it up ;) ...if you have the time I wouldn't mind hearing about those additional helth benefits...

Tanks again!

Bonne
 
>
>If you are exercising regularly, your
>plan of a reasonable breakfast,
>lunch, dinner, and a smoothie
>snack sounds ok to me.
>That would be 4 meals
>a day. But I think
>a key word here is
>"reasonable". And you should watch
>out for how many calories
>are in your "smoothie". Too
>much fruit, yogurt, or juice
>can really add up calorie-wise.
>
>
Jeanne,

Thats exactly what I was worried about...too many calories...though I know it will be a good source of fruits for me, as I don't get enough of those now, but I really don't want to increase my calories too much more, but I really feel I need the protein...

Thanks!

Bonne
 
Thank you all for your opinions and advice, you have been more than helpful, now I just need to figure out which powder to try first, I have a feeling its going to be a trial and error thing on my part, I am glad to hear that so many of you benefit from the powders!

Thanks again all!

Bonne
 
RE: To Bonne -

Hi, Bonne! In all honesty, I've never worried about contracting salmonella from raw egg whites; maybe I should be.

I always thought you got salmonella either from chicken OR from the egg YOLK. I've seen liquid egg whites sold in the grocery store, but maybe those are used for whites-only omelets where you cook them.

Oh well. To be candid, my innards are made out of old army boots - haven't had a real tummy-sick-day in about 25 years - so I'll continue to push the salmonella envelope.

Annette
 
Hi Bonne! I used to use all those fancy name brand protein powders and I never saw a difference in my physique. Its just a very convenient way of getting in more protein when you don't have the time to cook up a meal. I tried the Bomber Blend. DISGUSTING!! But its a personal taste. Everyone is different. I've been making my own fruit smoothies after I read the book "Eat Smart Play Hard" by Liz Applegate and when you make your own its the most delicious and nutritious shakes you'll ever drink. I mix mine with 6 oz. soy milk, 4 oz. cranberry juice, 1 Tbsp. flaxseed (ground), frozen blueberries, 1/2 frozen banana, 1/4 cantaloupe and 3 egg whites for the protein. Its SO DELICIOUS!! The possibilities to these shakes are endless. Try making your own instead. I've been comparing for years now and this worked and tasted the best for me. Happy blending! Kathy
 
Hi Bonnie,
Ive been using a brand named Spirutein for about 8 months now, I love it. It is a soy protein, and has spirulina in it as well, which is wonderful for your body.
I like to mix the chocolate with soy milk, a bannana, and some wheat germ for a full meal---or just use the drink as a snack.
I would feel better about protein drinks than raw eggs--thats just scary to me!!

Jayne
 
Kathy: Wow! I can't believe you thought BB was disgusting! I think it is so good. I guess it's like you said, we are all different. I am really sorry you wasted your money. You probably heard me rave about it.

Bonne: If you have 4 meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a smoothie) that each have ~400 calories you'd still be at a reasonable calorie level. I easily do 2000 a day myself. Not that I lost weight though. But with the smoothie, if you did 200 calories juice (which is probably only 2 cups), 100 protein powder, and 100 fruit you'd still only be at 400.

Jeanne
 
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