Should I use a protein shake?

taso42

Should I use a protein shake?

Acg67

A protein shake is a supplement and can be incorporated into your diet if you have trouble hitting your minimum daily protein requirement through whole foods. Ideally you should shoot for 1g of protein per lb of lean body mass, if bodyfat % is unknown, roughly 1g of pro per lb of bodyweight can be used as a guideline.

What about if i workout a lot, do i need a shake + fast acting carb right after?

Generally speaking, no. The so called "anabolic window" actually lasts up to 24 hrs. The exceptions to this, is if you have trained in a fasted state or were preforming glycogen depletion type workouts.

AdAstra47

1. Vegans and vegetarians often have trouble getting enough protein in their diets, since protein-rich plants are few & far between. So many find it easier to just use a protein powder supplement.

2. The MFP guidelines for protein are based on the US RDA, but those are designed for people just trying to maintain their bodies. People have learned that if you're trying to lose weight, the MFP guideline for protein intake is too low.

3. Protein is one of the most useful things you can eat. It is what your hair, nails, and most importantly, muscles are made of. If you're stressing your muscles by working out, you should be eating more protein so your body can repair them.

4. In addition to building things, protein is also used by your body as fuel. The amino acids from protein are a necessary part of the chemical reaction that burns fat in your body. So, again, if you're trying to burn fat, you need to make sure & eat plenty of protein. If you don't, your body will take that protein from your muscles and you'll lose both fat & muscle.

5. Many people have some sort of metabolic condition (diabetes, insulin sensitivity, PCOS, hypoglycemia, etc) that makes them limit their carbohydrate intake. These people will usually try to get their energy calories from protein instead.

It is up to you to decide whether you fall into any of these categories & think you might need more protein in your diet.