does protein powder help?

ditto.

Helps your muscles recover, and lean muscle will burn fat more efficiently.
Keeps you feeling full.

I love adding it to a smoothie after a workout, too.
Ice, skim milk, fage yogurt, scoop of powder and a fresh fruit. Perfection.

Not really but it's definitely the latest fad adopted by the diet industry. If the meatheads at the gym are doing it then it must be a good thing to do, right?

Are you being serious?

I've noticed alot of people are using protein powder and was wondering if it helps alot.

It helps if you need to supplement more protein in your diet. You could also just eat more protein (meats, eggs, etc) instead for the same effect.

Also what is the best way to incorporate it into my diet?

Eating it or drinking it in a solution is generally recommended.

Not really but it's definitely the latest fad adopted by the diet industry. If the meatheads at the gym are doing it then it must be a good thing to do, right?

Are you being serious?

^^THIS^^ Yes, it does help.

Protein helps with muscle recovery BIG TIME! The best time to get your protein is within 45mins of working out. I have a protein shake because this absorbs into my body fast then say have chicken. By the time the chicken is digested and broken down into my body it is to late for the muscle benefits. I'd recommend talking to a trainer / nutritionist at your gym

Protein helps with muscle recovery BIG TIME! The best time to get your protein is within 45mins of working out. I have a protein shake because this absorbs into my body fast then say have chicken. By the time the chicken is digested and broken down into my body it is to late for the muscle benefits. I'd recommend talking to a trainer / nutritionist at your gym

^^^THIS^^^

If you take propper vitamins every day (including some that help repair muscle tissue etc) and incorporate real protein (poultry, fish, etc) into your meals (including right after your workout), i really dont see why you would need protein powder.

on a weightloss plan, I know I don't have enough calories in my allotment to eat enough protein!

I mainly use it to macro cheat...

I mainly use it to macro cheat...

i do exactly the same thing. It allows me to be a little less disciplined on what I am eating, and still keep my macros inline.

I just returned from doing some price comparisons at the local grocery store and at the GNC, and I couldn't justify the cost, so I guess what is "cost-effective" is different for everyone. I think I'm going to stay with eggs, skim milk, chicken, fish, etc (all of which I love) rather than paying through the nose for something I have to gag down. Protein powder may be marginally more effective, but hey, I'm not a professional athlete looking for that last 1% of performance.

Totally agree. Unless you are a super athlete guzzling protein shakes isn't necessary. Eat a well balanced diet and forget all the fads.

BUMP!

I just returned from doing some price comparisons at the local grocery store and at the GNC, and I couldn't justify the cost, so I guess what is "cost-effective" is different for everyone. I think I'm going to stay with eggs, skim milk, chicken, fish, etc (all of which I love) rather than paying through the nose for something I have to gag down. Protein powder may be marginally more effective, but hey, I'm not a professional athlete looking for that last 1% of performance.

GNC is a ripoff. Look at the price per gram of protein of a basic whey online vs. whole food sources.

Totally agree. Unless you are a super athlete guzzling protein shakes isn't necessary. Eat a well balanced diet and forget all the fads.

A "super athlete" doesn't need them either. They're simply one of many ways to increase protein intake.

And having a scoop or two of whey a few times per week isn't "guzzling."

If you take propper vitamins every day (including some that help repair muscle tissue etc) and incorporate real protein (poultry, fish, etc) into your meals (including right after your workout), i really dont see why you would need protein powder.

on a weightloss plan, I know I don't have enough calories in my allotment to eat enough protein!

That is extremely unlikely. What is your calorie goal and what is your protein goal? Let's assume 100g of protein, that's only 400 calories. Even if you're on an extremely restrictive 1200 calorie diet that's still only 1/3 of your intake.

You took 100g of required protein and multiplied that by 4 (amount of calories in 1g of protein) lol.

You show me a food she can eat that is made of pure protein.

Fact of the matter she is right...sometimes it is hard to fit in the required amount of protein into your day and still hit all macros. Protein powder helps supplement this.


Protein powder should not be ALL you are eating, but should be used as a supplement to hit your goal...especially when lifting.

If you take propper vitamins every day (including some that help repair muscle tissue etc) and incorporate real protein (poultry, fish, etc) into your meals (including right after your workout), i really dont see why you would need protein powder.

on a weightloss plan, I know I don't have enough calories in my allotment to eat enough protein!

That is extremely unlikely. What is your calorie goal and what is your protein goal? Let's assume 100g of protein, that's only 400 calories. Even if you're on an extremely restrictive 1200 calorie diet that's still only 1/3 of your intake.

You took 100g of required protein and multiplied that by 4 (amount of calories in 1g of protein) lol.

You show me a food she can eat that is made of pure protein.

Fact of the matter she is right...sometimes it is hard to fit in the required amount of protein into your day and still hit all macros. Protein powder helps supplement this.


Protein powder should not be ALL you are eating, but should be used as a supplement to hit your goal...especially when lifting.

You can get 98 or 99% fat free chicken, pork or turkey easily. It's pretty damn close to pure protein. Protein powders have extra macros in them too, they aren't 100% protein either. Even the best whey isolates will have marginal carbs and fats in them (usually .5-2g of each depending on the brand). Most typical powders will have more.

There's nothing wrong with protein supplements, I'm just saying that it should be easy to hit a goal of 100g protein on 1200+ calories. Hell, I supplement a couple times a week too usually (usually a bar as a snack).

It is true that fatless chicken breast is mostly protein, but eating 100g of protein day in day out of just turkey or chicken is not really sustainable...people eat things like pasta, pizza, rice, cream based sauces....and the list goes on. This makes you unable to fit all your protein into your daily allowance at all times....this is where protein is needed.

I try to hit 140g of protein per day, but cant get there everyday because sometimes for lunch I'll have a sandwich or something else that puts my Macros out of whack...so I typically need a protein shake to put me back in line.

Again, I'm not promoting using powder only, I said it should be used as a supplement...not a sole source of protein.