why waste calories on protein powder?

wattssal000

I have a hard time drinking calories. I always feel like I should eat them vs drink them so i get more satisfied. My mind is always telling me less calories. This may be preprogramming from being anorexic in the past.

If i could feel like I could drink protien shakes and feel that it was benefiting my body and not gain weight or add extra calories I probably would.

Jersey_Devil

some of us intentionally bulk. Shakes helps with that. As for tasting bad, you just haven't found the right one. There are plenty that are great. Add stuff to it to make it even better.

yourenotmine

I don't eat eggs or drink milk, and if it's calories you're worried about, nuts have a lot more than protein powder to get the same amount of protein. Enter the trusty protein powder. I, unfortunately, don't particularly like them, but I've always believed that's because I've not found the one I will like. Perhaps that's the same for you. Or maybe you just prefer to eat your protein. That's valid as well. Don't worry about it if that's the case.

BTW - not all protein powders are made from whey (or any animal products), though that's what many people use. Since I don't do dairy, I don't.

kellicruz1978

I understand that a lot of you may get bored and tired or explaining the whole protein shake thing, but some of us are just curious, want to understand how it works and so on without having to dig through pages of threads (saying as this forum is very fast moving!)

My understanding (sparse that it is) is that protein is great for assisting in building muscle (proteins being burnt more efficiently?) however, are there any benefits to this sort of regime if you have a lot of fat to lose first (like me) should I try a different method aside from protein shakes to lose the flab before building muscle or are these shakes good for flab loss also?

Yes this is a legit question! I have often wondered the same thing.

WestCoastPhoenix

I understand that a lot of you may get bored and tired or explaining the whole protein shake thing, but some of us are just curious, want to understand how it works and so on without having to dig through pages of threads (saying as this forum is very fast moving!)

My understanding (sparse that it is) is that protein is great for assisting in building muscle (proteins being burnt more efficiently?) however, are there any benefits to this sort of regime if you have a lot of fat to lose first (like me) should I try a different method aside from protein shakes to lose the flab before building muscle or are these shakes good for flab loss also?

Protein does not build muscle or bulk you up. Protein helps to repair muscles(from exercise) and preserve lean body mass. Protein shakes should be considered a supplement to hit your protein goals....they pretty much suck as an 'approach' to weight loss by themselves, if you ask me. The best source of protein is from real food...not a powder...the powders are just a good way to fill in the gaps, but not as a primary source of protein.

NWCountryGal

I agree with this one. I use it when I still need more protein but without as much of the carbs or fats. Plus I like it with my smoothee I make in the blender and it tastes great and easy to drink. Which reminds me, I am getting low on my Protein powder;) denise:drinker: :drinker:

Sigh......this thread again.


What if to hit my macros i want protein without the Fat or carbs that would come with the other foods you mentioned? What of I need another 30 grams protein that day and can't stomach another chicken breast?

My protein shake tastes amazing Because I buy a quality product, shop more wisely!!

Why would a protein shake be wasted calories and milk not a waste....whey is made from milk?

fhsjewfro

Your favorite food sucks.

But seriously, as far as grams of protein per calorie, it's one of the most efficient to get protein.

this.

ignorance at its finest OP

LavaRoushFiveOh

I personally do not like eating a big breakfast. I usually don't have much time to do it either. Therefore I drink a protein shake. I like them. Protein not only builds muscles, but increasing your intake can increase your metabolism. I do low carb, so I drink a low carb protein shake in the AM, eat something for snack, maybe a slim fast low carb shake or some cheese, eat a protein/fiber lunch and pretty much whatever for dinner, just portion it out to keep my carbs down to where I want. I have lost 30lbs since May 9th. My doctor suggested a protein shake in the AM.

You have to remember too that you dont necessarily need to be as strict as I am with my shakes, I use unsweetened soy milk for my milk and low carb whey protein. If I wasnt low carbing it I would use skim or 2% even and throw a banana and some strawberries in with the milk and powder in the blender with some ice and enjoy a real nice shake. I just want to maintain my fast weight loss. So far I am good.

suzysioux

Like others I did genuinely wonder why some people take protein powders-now I know.

Josette89

I do it when I don't have much to eat in the house. Just to get in my protein and not get too much fat. It fill me up with just one cup, and the fill lasts a long time. Or, when I'm in a rush in the morning and I am going to go for my walk, I drink it, sometimes while I walk. Gold Standard Brand for me French Vanilla.

sunrize_sc

@ Hendrix 7, what kind of protein powder do you use?

Healthymom207

You get more bang out of one serving of whey protein than eating an egg or two. Actually you would need to eat around 4-5 gets to get the same amount of protein out of one scoop of whey protein and you would consume tons more calories and fat from the eggs.
1 scoop of whey protein = (140-170 calories appr., 1.5g of fat) vs. 4-5 large eggs (350 calories, 22.5g of fat)

Find a higher quality whey protein and you'll probably get a better taste. You can also makes smoothies with it too. I don't even use milk or almond milk sometimes, I just put water in to save some calories and chug it.

lovinmamaxo

I love my protein shakes when i have them. I just found some amazing ones at GNC as well the total lean i believe it's 25g of protein and perfect for the gym especially when my nutritionist says i need to drink half before and half after for the protein i need. I am not exactly gonna go home at 11pm and cook a chicken breast. I love them.. i got two 4 packs of the already made chocolate and strawberry yum and 2 packages of the cookies and cream powder gonna do banana cream next. I like them better than my pure protein vanilla cream powder so to me its not a waste. Mix it up with yogurt, frozen fruit, almond milk, sugar free chocolate powder, etc or put it into food its amazing and helpful once you find one that you like.

laus_8882

The idea of whey protein really grosses me out. I'm sure it tastes lovely, but it seems... wrong somehow. The way buttermilk is wrong. I've used pea protein powder before - it goes well in vegie soups and smoothies, but it is fairly high in sodium.

LavaRoushFiveOh

You get more bang out of one serving of whey protein than eating an egg or two. Actually you would need to eat around 4-5 gets to get the same amount of protein out of one scoop of whey protein and you would consume tons more calories and fat from the eggs.
1 scoop of whey protein = (140-170 calories appr., 1.5g of fat) vs. 4-5 large eggs (350 calories, 22.5g of fat)

Find a higher quality whey protein and you'll probably get a better taste. You can also makes smoothies with it too. I don't even use milk or almond milk sometimes, I just put water in to save some calories and chug it.

Drink it like a boss! lol.

tsh0ck

for the question about protein powder while still losing weight ... even more important than when you are maintaining. because when you lose weight, you can lose lean mass as well. the better your protein intake, along with weight work, the better off you will be when you hit your goal weight.

(and I don't even spend much on mine. $15 for a 3 lb tub of body fortress at walmart. and it tastes good even in water. great with milk.)

sabinecbauer

Who says you have to mix your protein powder in milk and drink it? :noway: I never do that, actually. Waste of perfectly good protein powder. Get creative! I use it for baking, I substitute it for flour in pancakes, I mix it with yoghurt for a choc mousse. It's a tremendous way of satisfying my sweet tooth without wreaking havoc on my diet. :smokin:

LavaRoushFiveOh

The idea of whey protein really grosses me out. I'm sure it tastes lovely, but it seems... wrong somehow. The way buttermilk is wrong. I've used pea protein powder before - it goes well in vegie soups and smoothies, but it is fairly high in sodium.

There is organic protein like soy protein, there is hemp protein as well that i have seen at Trader Joes. You could just eat lean meats like Chicken and Fish to get your protein. Whey is just rated the best.

LavaRoushFiveOh

for the question about protein powder while still losing weight ... even more important than when you are maintaining. because when you lose weight, you can lose lean mass as well. the better your protein intake, along with weight work, the better off you will be when you hit your goal weight.

(and I don't even spend much on mine. $15 for a 3 lb tub of body fortress at walmart. and it tastes good even in water. great with milk.)

This is another reason why I am eating/drinking so much protein. I am losing weight fast. I don't want to lose muscle. I have not lost muscle and actually gained strength as well while losing weight.

shawaniea

you can make a smoothie with it lol it doesn't have to be nasty

CatMauro

...Because it's the easiest, fastest, (typically) lowest caloric intake way of getting enough protein into your body.

If I relied on natural forms of protein only I'd be WAY under every day and so therefore be sluggish and sore every day. I too was doubtful of the benefits of protein supplements before I started but now I look at it like taking a multivitamin.

EDesq

NOPE! You just don't GET It, so it would be a waste trying to explain! ONE day you will!

ShannonGo

Protein powder is fast, easy way to get my protein. I get real tired of eating chicken, fish, cheese, yogurt, etc. Sometimes I rather not eat anything else. I struggle eating enough day-to-day and I also take medication that causes me to have no appetite. I can totally drink a 6oz glass of ice cold chocolate protein to get my bump of protein. I make my protein with water anyway, because I don't need all the sugar from milk.

BarbWhite09

I hate to eat in the mornings, I never have an appetite in the AM, so I have a smoothie instead...I put protein powder in my smoothies in the morning...can't taste it that way & it gives me some protein...don't really see whats wrong with that...But you can waste a post ranting about what others do...

TheFunBun

not to mention I can have 2 protein shakes a day and be like, "Hells yeah, fruit smoothie for breakfast, chocolate smoothie for dessert" but if I ate 5 eggs twice a day I would have the worst-gas-ever and I'd want to vomit the entire day.

CatMauro

Is it just me or does it seem like a perfectly good waste of 100-150kcal (more if you add milk) to drink protein powder. Not only that but most taste like a** in a bag. I've got a 5lb bag of whey powder in my desk and I only drink it if I'm desperate. Wouldn't it be better to spend your calories on a nice hard boiled egg, a glass of cold milk, or a handful of nuts? Please someone explain the logic of protein powder.

Vanilla protein powder + unsweetened vanilla almond milk + orange flavoured fiber supplement = creamsicle
Chocolate protein powder + unsweetened almond milk + orange falvoured fiber supplement = Terry's chocolate orange

ShannonGo

I hate to eat in the mornings, I never have an appetite in the AM, so I have a smoothie instead...I put protein powder in my smoothies in the morning...can't taste it that way & it gives me some protein...don't really see whats wrong with that...But you can waste a post ranting about what others do...

I've lost 20lbs in 3 months ranting about the way that others eat every single day! Oh... wait... I've lost 20lbs in 3 months drinking 1-2 protein shakes every single day. I knew I mixed that up.

Dino924

My brother makes "prot-meal" and adds protein powder to oatmeal!

I think protein shakes are a yummy protein rich treat. I either use half a scoop with a splash of milk for some additional protein, or make a meal out of it by adding milk, fruit, and possibly yogurt or peanut butter.

And honestly, a protein shake is a lot more filling than 120 calories of pretzels or something.

3dogsrunning

Sigh......this thread again.


What if to hit my macros i want protein without the Fat or carbs that would come with the other foods you mentioned? What of I need another 30 grams protein that day and can't stomach another chicken breast?

My protein shake tastes amazing Because I buy a quality product, shop more wisely!!

Why would a protein shake be wasted calories and milk not a waste....whey is made from milk?

Basically this. When I was training for competition, my coach had me eating 20-30 grams of protein per meal, plus I was maintaining a calorie deficit. Nuts would be out of the question to stay within my fat/calorie goal and to be enough protein. Milk would be an issue staying within my carbs. I was eating 4.5 ounces of lean meat or fish for most of my meals. One or two meals I used a protein shake. I was cheaper, easier and something besides another chicken breast.

You get more bang out of one serving of whey protein than eating an egg or two. Actually you would need to eat around 4-5 gets to get the same amount of protein out of one scoop of whey protein and you would consume tons more calories and fat from the eggs.
1 scoop of whey protein = (140-170 calories appr., 1.5g of fat) vs. 4-5 large eggs (350 calories, 22.5g of fat)

If I want to keep the macros/calorie intake similar, I could eat egg whites, which I did 1-2 times a day. I was eating about 8 egg whites to get the same amount of protein and calories as one scoop of protein powder. That's a lot of egg whites.

On top of that, I work in a job where I may not always have the time to eat. Protein powder is portable and easily prepared. I always have a serving with me just in case I can't eat or that I am still hungry after eating my packed lunch.


ETA - nuts weren't a source of protein for me anyway, they were a source of fat although they do contain some protein.

glwerth

Is it just me or does it seem like a perfectly good waste of 100-150kcal (more if you add milk) to drink protein powder. Not only that but most taste like a** in a bag. I've got a 5lb bag of whey powder in my desk and I only drink it if I'm desperate. Wouldn't it be better to spend your calories on a nice hard boiled egg, a glass of cold milk, or a handful of nuts? Please someone explain the logic of protein powder.

I mix mine with pineapple, frozen strawberries, and almond milk (and a little bit of malt powder)...and I get something that is an awful lot like a strawberry malt. Makes me happy and helps me reach my protein goal.