protein shakes ????

Tp77

Ok so in honesty looking at these scare the daylight out me . Its all a bit to body builderish for me. That said I know an awful lot of people take them who actually are not body builders :-)

so... May I ask what do you take, how often, and why please?

I have just got some mp max Elle to try, for muscle recovery after exercise maybe a few times a week.

Helice

bump.

i'd like to know too,

Dexy_

You don't NEED protein shakes unless you aren't getting enough protein through your foods. There are a LOT of forum posts about high protein/low cal foods That being said protein shakes are great for some people Personally I've never found one that didn't taste HORRID! I'd rather have some steamed chicken.

ShannonMK9

I use a meal replacement shake called Shakeology by beachbody fitness every day and their Results and Recovery formula for muscle recovery - but for the most part protien shakes are for people who want to gain muscle mass or are not getting enough protein in their diet in other ways.

Tp77

Yeah I am not a big meat or fish eater at all.

Rayman79

I dont subscribe to the theory that you need to take them within a certain window before or after a workout.

I have protein powders for different reasons/uses. One is for cooking, to add to home made protein bars, cheesecakes etc, to bump up the protein content (when needed).

The other is as a useful supplement. I am far from a body builder, but I do workout almost every day and somedays I am too low on my protein content or on my calories overall, I'll have a shake at the end of the day. A decent chocolate flavoured shake with some added cocoa or a bit of icecream is actually pretty tasty (to me anyway). If I get a desert craving but dont want anything too bad that makes for a reasonable alternative.

danithegirl89

I drink one a day usually. I have an unflavored one without creatine or anything in it. Just unflavored whey protein powder. Only 94 calories a scoop and has 18g's of protein. Drinking a protein shake won't give you crazy huge muscles so quit worrying. You have to lift heavy weights and eat really clean to bulk up, especially as a woman. Anyway, I chose the unflavored kind because I am against artificial sweetner and most flavored protein shakes have sucralose or some other form of fake sugar. It's really not too gross tasting. Kind of tastes like milk. I usually add 12oz of water, 4oz of almond milk, and then 1-2 scoops of powder.

Pandorian

if you're going to opt for the "bought' prepared shakes make sure you're getting a PROTEIN shake and not a meal replacement. Half the cans marketed as protein shakes in the local store are actually meal replacement (more carb content than protein)

I just make shakes at home.. protein itself isn't going to "bulk you up" that takes a LOT of work and in some cases questionable substances... I have whey powder I buy at the local bulk food store and I add it to anything I need to boost protein in... bit in my morning yogurt, or oatmeal, bit in a yogurt smoothie... mashed potatoes.... pancake batter... omelet... well it goes on and on... the one I use doesn't really have a taste itself but that's fine.

frilly7483

I use protein shakes as a breakfast alternative. I am never up and ready in time for breakfast and I know waiting until lunch time is not ideal. The shake is a great replacement, I use the maximuscle diet one and really don't mind the flavour, in fact I look forward to the sweetness. I grab the shaker in the morning, add two scoops, shake on the way to the car and drink intraffic/when I get to work. I am no-where NEAR being a body builder, and neither do I want to be one. I have a lot of weight to lose and high protein diets stave hunger, the protein is the leanest of food groups and it's always better to encourage lean muscle than fat.

Give them a go, the worst that will happen is you won't like them!

twiega00

Hi I'm new on here! I saw your post, so maybe this will help. I take Ultimate profit and it tastes great! I copied and pasted the product info for you:
Ultimate ProFIT™

Whether your goal is weight loss, athletic performance, or a simple way to eat healthy, Ultimate ProFIT Superfood Nutrition Mix offers a superior blend of proteins, mood-elevating “superfoods,” and fiber that is proven to produce ultimate results*. Use it in shakes or smoothies, bake with it, or even mix it with your food!

Try it in rich chocolate or creamy vanilla today, and start seeing results like these:
• Experience quicker post-workout recovery
• Build lean muscle mass with fewer calories
• Maintain healthy cholesterol levels
• Get feel-good, mood-elevating energy with maca and cacao powder
• Promote healthy digestion with seven different soluble and insoluble fibers

Ultimate ProFIT is powered by:
• Sustain-It™, a smarter protein blend for maximum bioavailability in every gram
• FITzyme™, a cutting-edge blend of enzymes, helps maximize your body’s ability to absorb Sustain-It™.
• FITboost™, an antioxidant blend of mood-elevating “superfoods” for immune system health.*
• Non-hormonal and non-GMO whey and soy proteins
• Natural, whole-food ingredients with only 100 calories per serving!

Directions: Add one level scoop to an 8 oz. glass of water, milk, juice, or blend in favorite foods. When mixing, add liquid first, then blend, stirring briskly until completely dissolved.


you can get it at healthequalswealth.myitworks.com

divamsm

I'm always in a hurry going someplace and literally don't have time to eat, so lots of times I grab one for a meal on the go....but they're especially good before or after a workout.

sharadcdubey

I wish to know when a person in need of protin shouldtake it, before the work out or after.

Pebble321

In my (oh so humble!) opinion, these really aren't necessary. They are incredibly well marketed and promise all kinds of incredible things (see the post above!). I suspect that if you keep an eye on your protein numbers in your diary, you could get up there with regular food and save your money to buy something more interesting.

If you want something with nice mix of carbs and protein as a workout recovery drink - have a chocolate milk, this apparently has a pretty similar breakdown to some of your "hi-tech" protein shakes.
I often make my own with skim milk, unsweetened cocoa and instant coffee and it tastes great, is cheap and at least I know what is in it!

jenlb99

I drink one shake daily to help me get my protein intake up. I want whatever scale weight I lose to be fat and water, not my lean muscle mass, and protein shakes help with that. You want that protein over 100g; MFP sets the protein cap far too low for most.

taso42

I have a scoop or two or 3 a day. It's a quick way to get protein. That is all.

hedgiie

I only take it when i'm defit of my protein nutritional needs, if for example it's mid day and i haven't achive half of my protein allowable intake then i drink a shake.
However, for days that i meet my protein needs trough whole foods then i skip the shakes. Personally whole foods is much better compared to protein shakes so i try to minimize the consumption

Cross_fitter

Protein shakes can be valuable in a very active life. I take a pre and post protein shake because the workouts I do are quiet intense. Mine is a pure whey protein, recommended and bought online through Myopure.com I add a small amount of berries or half a banana. I blend them together with crushed ice for a yummy 'creamy' taste. They're made on water so, of course they're not creamy but the blending and ice create the taste. It's important to buy pure whey with no flavours as flavours add a sugar content. The berries will do the trick. I get my dietary advice from a professional who specialises in weight lifting, and chinese medicine, however GNC also offer great advise for you needs. Adding cinnamon also adds to the taste and helps to stimulate the metabolism as does a small amount of cacao (One very important impact that eating cacao produces is the increase in glucose metabolism, which makes it good not only for weight loss but helps to improve your cardiovascular system as well.)
I will also use a protein shake as an emergency protein food ie when I'm out and about and know I won't have access to the more pure form of protein such as yummy chicken. I try not to make a habit of it but it's just one way to keep up my protein intake when on the run!
I hope I've helped - protein shakes ( the right kind) can be beneficial!!

frenchpe

I don't use a protein shake, but I do use something called Vega One (formerly called Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer). I use it because I rarely have time to eat lunch at work, so this is a good alternative. I know I'm getting loads of vitamins and minerals, a fair amount of protein, and other "good stuff" even when I can't sit down and eat a full meal. Plus, it's made from organic ingredients, it is vegan, gluten free, and only has 1 sugar (unlike most meal replacement shakes).

Anyway, in case you're interested, I pasted the product information for you below. You can read the full label and more info on their website - just google it and it will pop up on the first page. As with ANY protein or meal replacement shake, I HIGHLY recommend getting a sample pack of a couple different flavors to make sure you like it. Everybody's tastes are different, and I'd hate for you to spend a lot of money on something you won't use. Good luck!

Product info:

Good for your body and the planet, Vega One Nutritional Shake is the clean, plant-based choice to fuel your healthy, active lifestyle—without compromise. Made from natural, whole food ingredients, Vega One is a convenient, all-in-one supplement, packed with:

50% daily intake of vitamins and minerals
15 g protein
6 g fibre
1.5 g Omega-3
Antioxidants
Probiotics
Greens

Formulated by Brendan Brazier, professional Ironman triathlete and bestselling author on performance nutrition, Vega One is free from dairy, gluten and soy, and contains no added sugar, artificial flavours, colours or sweeteners.

Available in Berry, Chocolate, Vanilla Chai and Natural flavour, enjoy Vega One shaken with water, juice or a non-dairy beverage of your choice, and as a delicious, nutrient-supplementing addition to your favourite smoothie recipe.

15 g Protein
Vega One features our signature, broad-spectrum, plant-based protein blend, with all essential amino acids in ideal balance. Vega One’s Complete Protein Blend includes:

Pea protein
SaviSeed™ (sacha inchi) protein
Hemp seed protein
Sprouted whole grain brown rice protein
6 g Fiber
Boasting 24% of your recommended daily intake of fiber per serving, Vega One is a delicious way to work both soluble and insoluble fiber into your day. Fiber intake has been shown to help:

Maintain normal blood sugar levels1
Normalize elimination and maintain bowel health1
Promote a feeling of fullness, reduce feelings of hunger and thereby support healthy weight management when combined with exercise and a reduced calorie diet.1
Fiber in Vega One is primarily sourced from flax, inulin (fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS)), and pea.

Low GI Carbohydrates
Low glycemic—with an impressively low GI of 19.22—one serving of Vega One is comprised of 26% naturally-occurring complex carbohydrates. Sweetened only with stevia extract, Vega One has no sugar, maltodextrin or sugar-derivatives added.

1.5 g Omega-3
Giving you as much Omega-3 per scoop as 6 oz. of wild chum salmon, Vega One sources its plant-based Omega profile from white chia, whole flax seed (not flax meal) and hemp.

Antioxidants
Blueberries are jealous—that’s because a serving of Vega One has as many antioxidants3 as 2.7 cups of them. Plus, each scoop of Vega One showcases 200mg of Vega’s custom 1000 ORAC4 Antioxidant Blend, sourced from some of the most antioxidant-rich fruit in the world, including:

Maqui, goji and Açaí berries
Pomegranate seed
Mangosteen
Grape seed extract
Greens
A single, one-scoop serving of Vega One delivers the equivalent of 3 servings of vegetables—mainly from our Green Blend, which features:

Chlorella (cracked cell, high CGF)
Alfalfa grass
Spinach leaf
Broccoli
Kale
Vitamins & Minerals
Helping you cover your key nutrient bases, a serving of Vega One give you 50% of your daily intake of vitamins and minerals. Premium vitamin and mineral forms such as mineral citrates were chosen to help you get more out of Vega One through better absorption.

Probiotics
With 1 billion CFU dairy-free probiotics (lactobacillus acidopholus and Bifidobacterium bifidum), Vega One helps maintain healthy intestinal flora—without a visit to the yogurt aisle.

Digestive Enzymes
We want you to get everything you can from a serving of Vega One. That’s why Vega’s Digestive Enzyme blend is added to facilitate the breakdown of nutrients in Vega One during digestion, so more nutrients are available to be absorbed by your body for higher net-gain nutrition.

Maca
Rich in amino acids, alkaloids, sterols, vitamins and minerals, 1000 mg of pure, organic, gelatinized maca are included in every serving of Vega One, to help you balance, invigorate, energize and maintain good health.

Chlorella
Part of the Green Blend in Vega One, chlorella is a nutritious, green micro-algae that delivers Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), chlorophyll, protein, vitamins and minerals to help support immune function5.

valmaebel

Like Ruby said, go with chocolate milk. Studies have shown it has the same nutrients....and then some. so in the long run, chocolate milk is better for you, and cheaper. plus, there have been problems with some companies mixing unsavory ingredients in to cheapen production...(not widespread and big brands are fine but enough to be a problem)

Kymmy81

Edited to stop myself being antagonistic. Yay for self-censoring! (albeit after the fact :P)

Tp77

thank you all for all your input. It is much appreciated.

My main reason for trying the shakes is that I am dairy intollerant, and also cant have Soya, or meat.... so I also go to the gm about 5-7 times a week. and I am finding that especially at a certain time of the month, i wake up after the gym, and it hurts so much to even breathe let alone move., I have tried them this week, and I can honeslty say that I dont ache anywhere near as much as i usualy would. so for that I am very pleased, this tells me that my muscles are recovering better.

I do try to get protein from Rice Milk and Nuts, but to be fair, when you are calorie counting there is only so much of this you can eat in a day.

thanks all!!

Pandorian

curious as to why avoiding soy when you're dairy intolerant?

It's not "dairy milk" with soy added.... Now personally I avoid anything containing soy whenever I can but that's a personal choice, but rice milk, hemp milk, almond milk all provide alternatives to milk without getting into protein shakes....

Runningirl7284

I drink one shake daily to help me get my protein intake up. I want whatever scale weight I lose to be fat and water, not my lean muscle mass, and protein shakes help with that. You want that protein over 100g; MFP sets the protein cap far too low for most.

Very True! Especially if you are Workout out your body NEEDS the Extra protein I try for around 100g a day I get over half that from my food during the day and drink a Shake after my workout for the last 35 G. Mine that I buy are delicious! They are from Nutrishop and I have tried them so far in Chocolate, Banana and Mocha Cappaccino. Do not be scared to bulk up it's kind of silly if you think about it. Like someone else said, you have to really be eating clean and pumping some truly heavy weight to bulk. It is hard for women to truly pack on the muscle like guys do. However it will help you not loose lean muscle mass and you will look more toned which is a nice plus!

Bikini27

Honestly, I use Total Lean because I don't like to cook for just myself and it keeps me from doing the "quick" fast food run. I enjoy it mixed with nonfat milk and frozen fruit.
:flowerforyou:

StarkWork

I make my own, started last month actually and I will give you my own little recipe.

I get the Whey Protein Powder from Wal-Mart and I consider myself kind of a genius in the kitchen so I fiddled with a smoothie recipe that I would enjoy.

2 Scoops Protein Powder
1 Banana
1 Cup of Frozen Fruit
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of Pure Cranberry (no sugar)
2 tsp of ground flax seed
1 tsp of honey

That's what I drink every morning and it helps me make it until lunch feeling full and energetic.

earlyxer

A high-protein intake coupled with fibrous (non-starchy) vegetables (broccoli, green beans, lettuce, asparagus, cauliflower, etc) is the cornerstone of a fat-shedding diet. It’s almost impossible to gain fat eating green veggies and other fibrous carbs because the caloric density is too low. A diet that consists primarily of lean protein and fibrous carbs is the foundation of all serious fat loss diets

The rule for protein is: 1g per pound of lean body mass per day (not weight, lean body mass: If you weigh 200 lbs and are 20% bodyfat, that is 160 lbs of lean mass or 160g per day of protein). At least 40% and probably 50% of your daily calories should come from lean protein.

How you get it is up to you. Chicken breast, turkey breast, white fish, egg whites, whole eggs, and protein powders (which are egg protein) are all fine.

Protein shakes are a great between-meal snack. Protein also creates a sense of "fullness" and quells hunger. I would never treat them as the "meal" though. Some taste good, some taste nasty. Nasty: Body Fortress, EAS. Good: Pure Protein (aka "Eat Good/Look Great), and Six Star brands.

Kymmy81

thank you all for all your input. It is much appreciated.

My main reason for trying the shakes is that I am dairy intollerant, and also cant have Soya, or meat.... so I also go to the gm about 5-7 times a week. and I am finding that especially at a certain time of the month, i wake up after the gym, and it hurts so much to even breathe let alone move., I have tried them this week, and I can honeslty say that I dont ache anywhere near as much as i usualy would. so for that I am very pleased, this tells me that my muscles are recovering better.

I do try to get protein from Rice Milk and Nuts, but to be fair, when you are calorie counting there is only so much of this you can eat in a day.

thanks all!!

I too avoid meat, dairy and soy (where I can) for various reasons. I use pea protein powder to supplement my protein intake without messing with my other macros. It doesn't give me belly issues like whey powder, and it isn't chalky like I have found rice protein to be. Protein powder, especially after a workout, is incredible for muscle recovery. Plus it helps with appetite. Trying to get a good level of protein in your diet without also taking in a lot of carbs and fat when you are vego is really hard! Good luck!

Tp77

curious as to why avoiding soy when you're dairy intolerant?

It's not "dairy milk" with soy added.... Now personally I avoid anything containing soy whenever I can but that's a personal choice, but rice milk, hemp milk, almond milk all provide alternatives to milk without getting into protein shakes....

Cuz my body is unkind to me, and I am Dairy and Soya intollerant! along with Fizzy Drinks, I dont mind this one! Red wine, I dooo Mind this one!! and Red Meat. I also do mind this one, as I am also very Anaemic!

I'm just trying to find new ways to get all my nutrients without having to keep taking tablet form supplements.

I do drink Rice milk, and I try and have Goat or Sheep Yoghurt, I am at least able to have Oat and Oat Milk. Yay! My poor twin sister is the same, and cant even have Oats! Intollerancies are rubbish! tho that said, My body is in a much better place since I cut out the food which react in my system, and I have been tested for these by a professional, so I am not Self diagnosing !

am loving the smoothie mix also!! I love making my own smoothies and had a lightbulb moment earlier that I could add some Protein powder to fruit and yoghurt and make a yummy breakfast for mornings on the run!


thanks again everyone, I know that with everything there is always pro's and Con's so I am just trying to gain a neutral open view and see how I get on.

:-)

daisydieter

I have one once a day as I tend to eat vegetarian most of the day if not all of it. It is a great way to also get in my fruit. I also either work out right before lunch (11:30) or dinner (5:30) so will have one right before I leave for gym.

Basic recipe:

1 cup of OJ (calcium fortified)
1/2 scoop of EAS vanilla flavored whey protein
1 cup of frozen fruit
2 T of ground flax seed meal
optional is a banana

OR
1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
1/2 scoop of EAS chocolate flavored whey protein
1/2 cup of frozen cherries, raspberries, blueberries or strawberries
2 T of ground flax seed meal
1 banana

yp77

I have been reading all these replies, and I find them very interesting,
Can I just ask tho, how you find out your percentage of body fat so that you know how much protien you should be eating please.
Many Thanks

yp77

A high-protein intake coupled with fibrous (non-starchy) vegetables (broccoli, green beans, lettuce, asparagus, cauliflower, etc) is the cornerstone of a fat-shedding diet. It’s almost impossible to gain fat eating green veggies and other fibrous carbs because the caloric density is too low. A diet that consists primarily of lean protein and fibrous carbs is the foundation of all serious fat loss diets

The rule for protein is: 1g per pound of lean body mass per day (not weight, lean body mass: If you weigh 200 lbs and are 20% bodyfat, that is 160 lbs of lean mass or 160g per day of protein). At least 40% and probably 50% of your daily calories should come from lean protein.

How you get it is up to you. Chicken breast, turkey breast, white fish, egg whites, whole eggs, and protein powders (which are egg protein) are all fine.

Protein shakes are a great between-meal snack. Protein also creates a sense of "fullness" and quells hunger. I would never treat them as the "meal" though. Some taste good, some taste nasty. Nasty: Body Fortress, EAS. Good: Pure Protein (aka "Eat Good/Look Great), and Six Star brands.