Should I try protein shakes?

selfmom5
selfmom5 Posts: 30 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I don't know much about them. I think I need to be incorporating more protein. I have lost muscle tone due to my thyroid. Am back on my meds but for once they are not helping me lose the weight. So I am trying to workout atleast an hour a day and just up my activity. I am also eating only 1200 cals a day ( my rmr is 1400) and I am eating healthier. We pretty much eat a clean diet. There are a few splurges especially eating out, but my hubby has severe gout so eating clean is important.
So what do protein shakes do for you? And do I need to be lifting weights while I am using them? I mainly do resistance weights now. Also am lactose intolerant so how does that work?
Just been hearing a lot of people that use protein shakes to lose weight....

Replies

  • FreddyObrian
    FreddyObrian Posts: 17 Member
    To answer what protein shakes are, they are simply just another source of food. They are a more convienent way to obtain protein in your diet. They're nothing magical, but if you feel you aren't obtaining enough protein in your diet, they will be beneficial to help reach your macronutrient goal. So they're not necessary. I personally take them for the reason above and because I like the taste of chocolate :p
  • Lift_Run_Eat
    Lift_Run_Eat Posts: 986 Member
    To answer what protein shakes are, they are simply just another source of food. They are a more convienent way to obtain protein in your diet. They're nothing magical, but if you feel you aren't obtaining enough protein in your diet, they will be beneficial to help reach your macronutrient goal. So they're not necessary. I personally take them for the reason above and because I like the taste of chocolate :p

    Yup! Pretty much!

    I would also do your research on the brand you pick. Some have a lot of junk in them. I started drinking About Time protein. They do not have a lot of the stuff that others that I looked at did. My dad purchases his from The Protein Factory. This way he get exactly what he wants.

    Some of it will also be about personal taste. I have had some that I can not get down, and others that I absolutly love.
  • dnunny70
    dnunny70 Posts: 411 Member
    I'd thought about this--whey? protein?
    I was thinking it could be an alternative to busy mornings.
  • selfmom5
    selfmom5 Posts: 30 Member
    So how important is protein to weightloss and I would like to to e up but not bulk up. I am an O+ lol so I love meat anyways!
  • etoiles_argentees
    etoiles_argentees Posts: 2,827 Member
    So how important is protein to weightloss and I would like to to e up but not bulk up. I am an O+ lol so I love meat anyways!

    Why would you need/want a protein shake?
  • mperrott2205
    mperrott2205 Posts: 737 Member
    So how important is protein to weightloss and I would like to to e up but not bulk up. I am an O+ lol so I love meat anyways!

    Sigh :( The amount of women that fall for this whole "bulking" myth stuff!

    1) You don't have the right hormone levels to "bulk".
    2) If you're losing weight, you won't be consuming enough calories to "bulk". To bulk, you need to be taking in more calories to maintain your weight to build muscle.
    3) Protein is incredibly important to losing weight. So is consuming enough calories (Not I said enough, not too few), Carbs, Fats, Sugar.
    4) No you don't need to be lifting to use this.

    http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/ - Do this. Lose weight.
  • dcaiani
    dcaiani Posts: 2,819 Member
    Getting extra protein is more important to muscle mass/muscle repair due to your workouts. So if you aren't doing intense workouts and you get enough protein from your regular diet there's no need to drink protein shakes. I've used EAS in the past and I was happy with that brand.
  • da_bears10089
    da_bears10089 Posts: 1,791 Member
    I drink a protein shake just to ensure that i get to my protein goals daily. I probably could eat enough meats to get there, but the shakes is a way to help while staying in my calorie goals.
  • mlwiller1
    mlwiller1 Posts: 1 Member
    I drink Body By Vi shakes, replace breakfast and lunch with these shakes. They are healthy and my doctor read up on them and approved them. I'm down 38 pounds since January.... feeling great and getting healthier.
  • Just_Scott
    Just_Scott Posts: 1,766 Member
    So how important is protein to weigh tloss? Well, how will keep weight off if you do not replenish your muscles? Research lean mass, macronutrients, and specifically when you set your MACROS remember the P and F are minimums to mreet each day not go under--start there and progress-- whether you get protein from a shake, whey protein, or food, just log it.
  • gdeartg
    gdeartg Posts: 1 Member
    So how important is protein to weightloss and I would like to to e up but not bulk up. I am an O+ lol so I love meat anyways!

    Sigh :( The amount of women that fall for this whole "bulking" myth stuff!

    1) You don't have the right hormone levels to "bulk".
    2) If you're losing weight, you won't be consuming enough calories to "bulk". To bulk, you need to be taking in more calories to maintain your weight to build muscle.
    3) Protein is incredibly important to losing weight. So is consuming enough calories (Not I said enough, not too few), Carbs, Fats, Sugar.
    4) No you don't need to be lifting to use this.

    http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/ - Do this. Lose weight.

    ^This.

    More importantly, everyone recommending WHEY (milk product) Protein needs to read the OP's post closer, since you are lactose intolerant you should go with SOY (plant product) Protein. As with any food allergy, I am sure that there are some WHEY Proteins that are for lactose intolerant, but I have not researched it. Both WHEY and SOY Proteins have there advantages and disadvantages and they can found by using your favorite search engine.

    Since all of my protein products say that they contain Milk, I can't recommend a specific product, but I have used EAS, Body Fortress and GNC Total Lean brands. I liked all 3 for the most part, but GNC didn't dissolve well so it was tough to drink and Body Fortress was too filling 30 - 60 minutes before dinner.

    Now as far as should you try protein shakes, well that's up to you. There are a few reasons I use protein supplements: 1) Post-Workout nutrition, to make the most out of a workout you need to get adequate nutrition within 30 minutes of a workout, 2) Getting enough protein, there are some days that I just don't get enough protein (I don't plan, I just wing it, with portion control), 3) Appetite Suppressant, since most of my workouts are right after I get off of work, I eat a protein bar to give me energy for my workout.

    Now, I am far from an expert, it's more likely that I know enough to be dangerous, but when I was looking into workout supplements I did quite a bit of research, which is why I posted when I saw WHEY in the same thread as Lactose Intolerant
  • mlogantra76
    mlogantra76 Posts: 334 Member
    I started having a protein shake after my workout. I mix it with milk, frozen strawberries, ice, and greek yogurt. I drink it because its a good source of protein and because its help my ice cream craving. Mine makes a huge portion and tastes good to me.
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  • felonebeats
    felonebeats Posts: 433
    I have a few protein shakes a day because they're convenient and help me reach my protein intake.Some people say you shouldn't have too many and you should get the majority of your protein from whole foods but I get mine from shakes,chicken,low fat greek yoghurt
  • thatonegirlwiththestuff
    thatonegirlwiththestuff Posts: 1,171 Member
    I am all about convenience so I buy the premade premier protein shakes from Costco. 30 grams of protein, 5 carbs, 1 gram.of sugar. Sometimes ill add a scoop of peanut butter and blend a shake if I want the extra fat source. I drink two of those a day.
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  • corgicake
    corgicake Posts: 846 Member
    Like someone else said, they're another way to get protein. Nice if you're needing to drink some of your calories. I'm thinking of checking out some dry mixes because they're easier to take on camping/backpacking trips than meat and I'm planning to get into that this summer.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    You lost muscle because you're eating too little, and are probably not doing any strength training. A protein shake isn't going to change that, although eating more protein will help, but you don't need to drink shakes for that.

    I hardly drink shakes, personally, they don't really fill me up, I'd rather have my protein another way (I mostly use my protein powder in pancakes at this point).
  • coolblondenerd
    coolblondenerd Posts: 90 Member
    So how important is protein to weightloss and I would like to to e up but not bulk up. I am an O+ lol so I love meat anyways!

    Sigh :( The amount of women that fall for this whole "bulking" myth stuff!

    1) You don't have the right hormone levels to "bulk".
    2) If you're losing weight, you won't be consuming enough calories to "bulk". To bulk, you need to be taking in more calories to maintain your weight to build muscle.
    3) Protein is incredibly important to losing weight. So is consuming enough calories (Not I said enough, not too few), Carbs, Fats, Sugar.
    4) No you don't need to be lifting to use this.

    http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/ - Do this. Lose weight.

    ^^ This!
  • Michelle_Padgett13
    Michelle_Padgett13 Posts: 417 Member
    Did I read the OP right? Your RMR is 1400 calories per day, but you're only eating 1200? If those numbers are correct, you need to eat more.

    And yes, protein shakes would be one way to get your daily calories to a healthy level. :flowerforyou:

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