Protein shakes

MRSchultz

MRSchultz

Cathlete
Hello, to this wonderfully educated crowd:

I am starting to do some stength training-SERIOUSLY-and was wondering about protein shakes. Are they very helpful? In what ways? Do they give you too many added calories? Help you lose weight? Help with muscle definition?

I suppose I should tell you that I'm starting this with Power Hour and working from there.

Any suggestions/advice??

Thanks, Marcia :)
 
Hi Marcia,

I drink a Designer Protein shake (with fat free milk) almost every day. I buy the two pound containers from affordable supplements: http://www.affordablesupplements.com/designer.asp

It's not high in calories and it tastes pretty good too. It's a quick and easy way to get in enough protein each day. I never drink more than one a day, because I think it's really important to get protein from other food sources as well.

Margie
 
Hi Marcia,

Have you tried Spirutein? I have used it for years and LOVE it. I always have one shake pre workout. I use soy milk and one scoop of powder. It's yummy!!:9 The caloric total is 200. I really notice a difference in the way I feel when I run out. Of course, this might just be my imagination. HTH!!

:)Sherry
 
I LOvE them and usually drink at least 1 daily:) I don't eat meat so they give me the much needed protein that I find difficult getting in daily. I usually use the EAS Myoplex Lite chocolate and vanilla. I throw a banana, milk and juice in there. For the chocolate one only a banana and milk. They taste pretty yummy if you are into the flavor of powdered shakes. Takes some getting use to for some people though. They average less than 200 calories a shake and give me 25 grams of protein and only 12 carbs so they are awesome for my goals.

I also buy the already mixed 4 packs. I usually try to slam at least 2/3 of one before my workout in the morning. They only have approx. 110 calories and lots of protein and only 2 carbs. They are also great for an afternoon stack when you get that oh so terrible chocolate craving:) Throw a piece of fruit with it and you have everything you need for a 4th meal in the afternoon:)

I would take a look at your goals, both diet and workout and then do some label analyzing and figure out what ones are best for you:)

By the way, GNC usually has their 10% off the 1st 7 days of the month for Gold Club members. I find their prices the best on EAS stuff here in Colorado:) Not sure if you have one where you are.

Also, be careful of the EAS pre-made shakes in the grocery store. They are different and lower quality tasting than the ones you'll get at a health store or vitamin store. They look similar but have different sub-brand names. The ones I like are the AdvantEdge I think and the powder packets are the Myoplex LIte.

Hope this helps:)
-Pammer
 
I love them! Couldn't have built or kept the muscle mass I have without them. I can only take so much chicken breast, tuna, egg whites, etc... in a day. The protein powders are great.

Upon rising I have a pure Whey pro. powder with flax seed oil and water, Whey is the fastest protein to be absorbed by the digestive tract. This is good in the a.m. after going all night without protein.
Then in the eve. before bed I'll have a protein powder made from a blend of egg, casien (sp?)=milk protein and whey mixed w/water and maybe more flax if I need more fat for the day. This kind of protein helps it digest slower so your muscles have protein while you sleep. The brand I use is ProBlend 55 by ProLabs. Great flavors with no aspartame.
A site I order from is cheap and awesome in customer service. Located in Ca it's a family buisness. Old Regis Philbin is a regular customer. It's http://www.nutritionexpress.com

It may seem like much but I found it hard for me to get the muscle I wanted without doing this. Both of the above help keep my body in an anabolic state so no muscle wasting is happening.

Whey protein has been in many interesting studies. If you do a search. I remember reading how it and glutamine supplements are given to burn victims for muscle and tissue growth. It's also supposed to help in the weight loss area. Of course helping you cut fat and keep muscle.
 
I wonder why people prefer the protein shakes they do. My favorite is Myoplex Deluxe by EAS.

It comes in packets which are 300 calories each. I use a third of one (or so) to add to skim milk in my cereal in the morning pre-workout. Or to add to oatmeal- it has some sweetness without using honey or sugar like I used to. I only blend it for 5 seconds for this so it won't thicken up.

To drink it straight, I usually just blend it with water as directed, but I use ice for part of the water. I don't blend it as long as they tell you to - 45 seconds- because it practically turns into instant pudding that way. You know, like the old McDonalds "shakes." (Do they still have those hard thick shakes?)

The reason it's my favorite is not just the ingredients but the taste. It's absolutely yummy. Even my ten year old son likes the taste (I gave him a little taste once) so I'll probably let him have a little in oatmeal one of these days. It tastes like cake batter and I love cake batter. It comes in 3 flavors, chocolate cream, vanilla cream, and strawberry cream.

Lately I have been having some every day but when I run out, I go for months without it. It's expensive unless you buy it in bulk.

Now the Rite-Aid right near my house carries it, so I probably won't be going without it much any more.
 
Designer Protein for me too. I have tried a few but end up not drinking them. I have a tub of whey isolate and EAS simply protein that I still can't make myself use. I get mad at myself when I try buying other stuff and end up wasting it.
 
Hi,

Designer is one of the only ones that have "natural " flavor in addition to the usual chocolate, etc. Has anyone tried the natural? Does it have an aftertaste?

GN
 
Just want to put in another plug for Spirutein. I love the vanilla, it's low calorie and high nutrients. I mix it with soy milk and I feel great when I use it, but I only use it after strength work, not cardio.
 
I drink Pro RX.It comes in a couple of different flavors but I always buy vanilla and put it in the blender with some water,orange juice, and strawberries.It calls for milk but I can save alot of calories buy using water.
I bought this one when I was doing BOdy for Life.I wanted to use the protein shakes that the book called for but I beleive they were really expensive.$80 for 10 days.Something crazy like that.
I also bought them b/c at the time I didn't eat enough protein and figured this was a easy way of getting it.But now I try to have some protein with each meal.And if I have one it is only 1 a day.The guy who sold it to me,told me that if I want to keep my definition just have one scoop, but if I wanted to put on size have 2 servings.No thanks.......
Hope I helped,
Lori
 
I have 2 sc. with about a 1/4 c. of water on my cereal every morning. I also eat protein throughout the day. I like it on my cereal though, because I get a great mix of fiber, carbs, and protein for breakfast. I use EAS Simply Whey.
Lori S.
 
Connie,

I just had a quick thought and idea for your protein powder. Since it tastes so much like cake batter, have you ever tried making muffins or anything of that sort with the powder mix. What a great way of incorporating the protein and having a great snack along with it...........I never tried the vanilla. I dont even like anything vanilla but when i read "cake batter" , it stuck with me , because that is the only thing vanilla that I loooovvve.

GN
 
Connie,
You are funny:) I wonder sometimes too why we all like the stuff we do. Anyway, that is soooo true about them tasting like cake batter! I love cake batter and everytime I make the vanilla one I always tell my DH it tastes like cake batter and he thinks I'm a bit a looney for it:) I am glad to know there is another cake batter loon out there too.

-Pammer http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung/sport/sport001.gif
 
These days, I have a protein drink every morning with my breakfast. I think it is an important supplement to the exercise that I do (both cardio and weights). My breakfast (usually just cereal) wouldn't be very high in protein otherwise. The body has to fast overnight, so if you don't get a good amount of protein until lunch time, I think you would lose muscle. It also fills me up, and stops me wanting junk food later in the day.

Sharon.
 
Pammer,

While we're on the cake batter thought, I mix one scoop of Optimum Whey Vanilla Ice Cream flavor with one packet of Jello FF/SF White Chocolate pudding mix and some skim milk. If you really feel like a treat add some FF Cool Whip. Yum.

FitnessRN
 
Protein Drinkers,

Can anyone clarify for me what "one scoop" means?? Is it one tablespoon???

I thought when I bought my first protein powder that there would be a 'scoop' enclosed, but there wasnt.......

GN
 
Hi GN,

That's odd it didn't have a scoop in it. Every protein powder I've used has a scoop inside. I measured my scoop and it's 1/4 of a cup, so that would be 3 tablespoons, right? (Haven't baked since home ec in high school.):) I would think they would all be standard. HTH!

Sherry:)
 
1/4c. = 4 tablespoons. The way I remember is that there is a four in the fraction and then of course that equals that same amount of tablespoons. I could never remember until I figured that out.
 
Oh great, now that i know I've only been taking 1/4 of a scoop(1 tablespoon), Im really gonna be gagging when I have to do the real thing tomorrow.

GN
 
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