Protein Powder

I don't know if they make a powder or not, but I love the Premier Nutrition Protein shakes. They taste really good to me. Costco sells em by the case, $20ish for 24.

I use cookies and creme protein powder by Body Fortress; and I like the taste of it. That's the only flavor I have tried so far but I know other people who have had other flavors and they like them as well.

i use GNC Pro Performance AMP Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60 - Chocolate, its a good source of protien 60g of protein, its a fast acting protein so it gets in your system faster, tastes pretty good, i like it, it has 280 calories per serving which is 3 scoops in 12oz of water, and its a leaner protein too.

I like Wellements Alpine Vanilla with 27 grams of protein per scoop. I bought it at Cost Co in a 6 pound bag. The flavor is fine in cold water, with no discernable after taste. My favorite way to have it is with frozen berries, 1/2 banana , 1/3 cup non-fat yogurt and half a handful of frozen spinach. You are doing great!!

Consumer reports did some tests against some of the most popular protein mixes and the results were... well, astonishing to say the least. The levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury in some of the brands is unacceptably high. Of course, this does depend on the amount of protein you use... and the high levels was using the recommended 3 servings a day. There are arguments both for and against the report, so accept the data at your own discrimination. Personally, I'd recommend doing a *lot* of investigation on the brands and varieties you're considering to use. There are lots out there... and it's unfortunately that any company can put out a protein drink with less-than-desirably ingredients. Additionally, consider your goals when you're determining which protein mix to use. Some have additional ingredients designed for bulk muscle building, some are geared more for lean muscle mass, and some are a mix of the 2. Check the nutritional information and you'll find lots of variations (some are extremely high in sugars and/or fats or even low in protein).

My personal goal is weight maintenance as and I'm already at my target weight. I'm not looking to bulk up, but instead to increase core strength and lean muscle mass. I do a lot of core exercises, yoga and tai-chi... so for me, I like the following:

Designer Whey : I've had both vanilla and the chocolate versions... love 'em both. This brand wasn't one of the ones tested by consumer reports, though. For me, the best thing about this whey is it's great for cooking and doesn't contain lots of "fluff". The fat/carb/protein ratios are more in line with me, too... and it's low in sugar. I make a low-fat/low-cal/high-protein cheesecake that I eat every day as a supplement. You can find it on Amazon at the URL: http://www.amazon.com/DESIGNER-WHEY-Protein-Supplement-Container/dp/B001CCW3B4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1286914402&sr=8-1

Solgar Whey To Go : This one scored among the lowest in the Consumer Reports tests. It's good flavor and mixes really well. I haven't tried to bake with it, yet, but overall it's a good protein. You can find it on Amazon at the URL : http://www.amazon.com/Solgar-Protein-Powder-Vanilla-powder/dp/B0011FTBMQ

Good luck on your journey.

Has anyone tried Spiru-tein protein mix? I need something lactose/whey free and evidently this has a lot of vitamins in it. Bought a packet today to try.

I use the big bags from Costco. They are priced really great, we also use the premier protein shakes from costco. Atkins makes great tasting protein bars. They get a little spendy though. Try this recipie to get in some more protein in the AM

1 Cup Frozen Fruit
1 Table spoon peanut butter
1/3 cup of oatmeal
1-2 scoops of whey protein (1 or 2 ounces)
1 cup of water.
Throw it all in a blender.....enjoy!

I buy the vanilla protein and mix it into my oatmeal in the mornings on cold mornings.

What's the "scoop" (har har) on Soy Protein powders compared to Whey? They seem lower cal but also lower protein. For a 138lb woman who runs (no hardcore weight lifting here), they seem to be a little more sensible... Perhaps I just don't know enough about it.
Thanks

@meagalayne

Soy protein is comparable to whey in that is is also a fast digesting protein, containing all of the essential amino acids, is rich in glatamine and aginine and is absorbed quickly. The primary difference between the 2 is whey is based on animal protein and is manufactured throw different "filtration" processes (for lack of a better term) which produce different levels protein. Soy, on the other hand, is pretty much just a vegetable protein. I'm not entirely sure of the manufacturing process for soy, but I do know they are both similar in how the body processes and uses them. They both provide muscle gains, and they both are excellent when combined with other forms of protein (like casein for example).

If you're not "looking to build muscle", I think the only way to do that is to not move... LOL It doesn't matter if you're a runner, cyclist, weight lifter, swimmer or perform any other type of cardio, taking protein is advantageous, and doing any sort of exercise is going to break down muscle. Protein's composition aids in rebuilding that muscle.