Protein powders - shakes..

RGv2

You can't really lose weight and build lean muscle (not sure what other muscle there is). Sure, you can have some noob gains when you start a new workout program, but after that you can lift to maintain muscle mass and eat in a deficit to lose fat.

After your noob gains, you need to eat in a surplus to gain substantial muscle mass. A protein shake is exactly that, a protein supplement that helps the user meet their protein needs for the day, which can help with muscle recovery, repair, and maintenance.

ibleedunionblue

My favorites:

Optimum nutrition - banana flavor.
Cellucor - peanut butter marshmellow flavor.

arghbowl

i like optimum nutrition, they have over a dozen DELICIOUS flavors. my favorite is the mocha cappuccino. mmmmmm

This 110%. Flavor is perfect too.

If you don't like that one, try Syntha-6 by BSN. Deeeeeeeelish.

sammniamii

Body Fortress - Walmart (16.00) peanut butter chocolate is ok.

I prefer ON Gold Standard - Rocky Road, Banana Cream and Cookies & Cream.

Mix w/ unsweetened almond milk & some ON Fitness Fiber.

NOM :drinker:

lwhite0503

Bump!

dewgirl321

My faves:
Dymatize Elite Whey chocolate fudge
Body Fortress chocolate peanut butter
Muscle Pharm Combat Powder chocolate peanut butter

srevels85

I use Endurox chocolate flavor after my hard running workouts. Love it!

CaptainHNNNGGG

My favorites:

Optimum nutrition - banana flavor.
Cellucor - peanut butter marshmellow flavor.

ON - Banana is disgusting

Almost all fruit flavored protein is gross

joevmware

Here is some info regarding Shakeology you can use for your research.

http://tinyurl.com/mcote3s

Some other info posted for recipes:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/joevmware/view/fall-recipe-ideas-for-shakeology-581740

Saucy_lil_Minx

It really comes down to taste! I Like Body Fortress, or Phorm 1. I usually go with the vanilla flavor, because I can always add a different flavor in if I want a little different.

Right now I am using Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey protein- vanilla. ($16.00 for 2 lb. container) vs. Phorm 1 ($40.00 per container)

If I want chocolate. I add 1 tbsp of Hershey's unsweetened cocoa. If I want coffee I added 1 tbsp of Folgers classic roast instant coffee granules.

Here are a few others I like:

Strawberry:

6 whole frozen strawberries
1 scoop of Body Fortress- vanilla
1 cup of almond breeze (unsweetened vanilla)

{make it chocolate covered strawberry by adding 1/2 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder}

Chocolate Coconut:

1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. coconut extract
1 scoop of Body Fortress- vanilla
1 cup of almond breeze


Pumpkin Pie:

1/2 pureed pumpkin
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 scoop of Body Fortress- vanilla
1 cup of Almond breeze

Chocolate Peanut butter cup:

2 tbsp. of PB2 powder
1/2 tbsp. unsweetened coco powder
1 scoop of Body Fortress- vanilla
1 cup of Almond Breeze

Blueberry:

1/2 cup of frozen blueberries
1 scoop of Body Fortress- vanilla
1 cup of Almond Breeze

Orange/ Cranberry:

1/2 cup of Cranberries
1 tsp. of orange extract
1 scoop of Body Fortress- vanilla
1 cup of Almond Breeze

Pineapple/ Orange:

1/2 cup of frozen pineapple
1 tsp. orange extract
1 scoop of Body Fortress- vanilla
1 cup of Almond Breeze
{replace the orange extract with 1/4 cup of orange juice if you prefer it, or the orange extract with coconut extract for a Pina Colada flavor}

^^^ thanks for this.. they sound yum.. totally going to try them ^^^

Your Welcome: I usually have one for breakfast, and after I workout for muscle recovery (esp. after lifting). These flavors help fight off my sweet tooth too! I mean who doesn't love a mocha frappe in the morning: 1 scoop of Body Fortress- vanilla, 1 tbsp of coffee granules, 1 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder. I always feel like it's my daily treat!

jellybeanhed313

I use body fortress chocolate. Its has a pretty good flavor. Also, tried optinum nutrition vanilla and hated it.

dacspace

Here is some info regarding Shakeology you can use for your research.

http://tinyurl.com/mcote3s

^^ nice "shameless" plug

Taterpoof

i like optimum nutrition, they have over a dozen DELICIOUS flavors. my favorite is the mocha cappuccino. mmmmmm

Oh mer gosh! Best 5lb bucket I've ever dipped into!. :P

+1! Well, I have the Extreme Milk Chocolate, but still the best so far. I've heard good things about Syntha 6, too, which someone else mentioned.

ETA that I wouldn't look for one specifically for women, unless it has something added that you personally need nutrition-wise.

I just ordered 5lbs. of the extreme milk chocolate. How did you like it? I had 5 lbs of cake batter and got tired of it

arghbowl

My favorites:

Optimum nutrition - banana flavor.
Cellucor - peanut butter marshmellow flavor.

ON - Banana is disgusting

Almost all fruit flavored protein is gross

Truth. I tried ON strawberry and couldn't finish it.

Mixed 1 scoop strawberry with 1 scoop chocolate and it tasted like day old vomit.

Raynne413

BSN Syntha-6 is my favorite. I bought a bunch of one serving samples somewhere and tried a bunch of different brands because I'm pretty picky. Just don't get About Time. That one was just nasty.

Taterpoof

My favorites:

Optimum nutrition - banana flavor.
Cellucor - peanut butter marshmellow flavor.

ON - Banana is disgusting

Almost all fruit flavored protein is gross

Truth. I tried ON strawberry and couldn't finish it.

Mixed 1 scoop strawberry with 1 scoop chocolate and it tasted like day old vomit.

Yeah the strawberry is blah and so is the vanilla. However those two together taste really good.

ken_m

Please be aware that there is an emerging trend for protein manufacturers to use ingredients in their blends that add to the protein content statistically but are not biologically valuable in the same sense to your body. For example, a company will put taurine, glycine and creatine in the blend, which counts towards the total protein per serving, but should not be included in your daily counts. It is a way for manufacturers to stay profitable as whey protein becomes more expensive and their margins slim down.

I am not aware of Optimum Nutrition currently using this practice, but keep an eye on your labels for the aforementioned ingredients and be a smart consumer.

Also, Advocare and Shakeology are stupid, please leave the planet forever.

NewLIFEstyle4ME

I use/like:

Garden of Life - Raw Fit High Protein for Weight Loss (28 grams of protein per scoop) Vegan

Garden of Life RAW Protein Vanilla (17 gr protein)

Garden of Life Raw Organic Meal, Vanilla (34 gr protein)

I LOVE these products because they are vegan and chocked full of all kinds of organic vitamins & minerals, probiotics and all kinds of good stuff. The non-vegan protein powder I use and love is Almased. I buy the vanilla flavor or plain flavors and mix in the following stuff to make these shakes taste good--with just water and the following other ingredients--WOW...taste like a super yummy shakes and gives me energy like crazy:

Mixed in my Protein Shakes:

1.) Barlean's Women Chocolate mint swirl or Barlean's Pina colada Fish oil
2.) Trader Joe's Super Red Berry Super Antioxidant Drink powder or Amazing Grass Super Green Food powders
3.) Navitas Naturals Organic Raw Cacao Powder
4.) Various organic extracts, like coconut, orange, lemon, chocolate extract
5.) water and ice and my FAVORITE way to mix every called a "Blender Bottle" (my children tease me and call it my "sippy cup")
this "Blender Bottle" is the bomb and uses a ball shaped wisk that mixes up all the powders and water totally, leaving no grit nor anything other than a nice healthy yummy shake.

denniskillz

Whey protein after a workout is great I usually use ISO-100 Hydrolyzed Whey Protein. Also it tastes like chocolate milk.

MuscleAndMascara

Thank you to the supportive people on this site and for all the recommendations & info.

and no thank you to the negative people that felt it necessary to post.