Can NOT stay within calories

Is protein powder healthy? Safe? Having never done any research on it I guess I had always assumed it was a " fitness gimmick." Is this not the case?

Protein powders are for people who struggle to get in enough protein with food. It's not a "gimmick," just a food supplement.

Is protein powder healthy? Safe? Having never done any research on it I guess I had always assumed it was a " fitness gimmick." Is this not the case?

It can be gimmicky but I just look at it as an easy way to hit my protein goal. It can also be pretty cost effective too. It doesn't do anything magical in way of building muscle or losing weight (as some people imply), it is simply a protein source, just like a piece of chicken. It does tend to be lower calorie with a lot of protein in one serving - I think mine is like 120 calories for 20+ grams of protein.
I haven't seen anything reliable that suggests it is unhealthy or unsafe.

ETA - I was typing at the same time as the guy above. LOL at the "magical" in both posts.

Your diary says you ate 1000 calories at dinner and near 1000 calories in snacks a day ago. You could knock off about 400 of those calories by dropping the coke (switch to diet if you like).

Ha! Yes! The coke was from a rare night of having drinks with friends. I've not convinced myself yet that the dangers of artificial sweeteners is worth saving the calories. It's not a regular thing so I guess it wouldn't hurt to switch.

I'd skip the diet and make the switch to Zevia! It is a stevia sweetened cola, tastes lovely and (for me) is a solid replacement on the rate occasion I find myself wanting a cola.

Also - re: non meat sources of protein: I like cheese. I know not everyone is a big fan because it is an unusually high calorie/fat way to get protein, but I love it and I have string cheese, havarti, mazarella, and feta incorporated into my diet on a regular basis. As long as I'm within my caloric goal I'm okay, and to be honest I just really like cheese and I want to have a long-term diet where I can continue to eat it healthfully! I even have it on my lower days... shhhh.

Also for protein powder - go to Whole Foods and grab a few of the their veg-based ones if you are unsure. Not only do they have a wide variety, but almost all of them have single serving sample-sizes so you can narrow down which ones you like and which you don't. They have incredibly high quality, organic ingredients and could be a nice gateway for introducing you to that world. If you are looking for a whey protein, Muscle Milk tastes the best hands down. But it is higher calorie and fat than a lot of the aforementioned veg-based ones and they don't have sample sizes readily available so you will be stuck with that one gallon flavor if you like it or not.

Uh, not to sound stupid, but if you weight 143 lbs and are 5' 9" tall why the hell do you want to lose weight? I'm 5' 9" tall, 145 lbs and athletic. People comment on how thin I am. I'm actually muscular, lanky and about 20-30lbs heavier than they think I am. I suggest you rethink weight loss and give some real thought to recomp/weight lifting to shrink down your waist (or whatever parts you're thinking to shrink). My measurements are 36D, 26.5 35. You can have a small waist, keep your bust, and not starve yourself skinny!

I am thin and get told constantly that I need to just eat a cheeseburger. I don't necessarily want to lose weight. The advice I've been reading on here says I can't get rid of the " baby belly" and saddlebags unless I lose weight. Is this not true? I'm hoping to start lifting heavy weights within the next few weeks to build muscle. Will this get rid of the belly? Your measurements are what I aspire to! I am 36D, 29, 38. This is why I thought I had to lose weight.

If you are happy with your weight but want to tighten up then I definitely recommend heavily lifting and eating at a very slight deficit. You likely don't need to "lose weight'.

I am thin and get told constantly that I need to just eat a cheeseburger. I don't necessarily want to lose weight. The advice I've been reading on here says I can't get rid of the " baby belly" and saddlebags unless I lose weight. Is this not true? I'm hoping to start lifting heavy weights within the next few weeks to build muscle. Will this get rid of the belly? Your measurements are what I aspire to! I am 36D, 29, 38. This is why I thought I had to lose weight.

You're right on track now. I'm 44, have had 2 TEN pound babies, and have a totally flat stomach from exericise! Heavy weights and cardio are a good way to achieve this! Look up threads on "recomp". If I didn't have to maintain a lower weight for weight class (competitive kick boxing) I would put on more muscle weight and toss my scale. You'll improve your (already pretty darn good) figure without becoming a stick!

Is protein powder healthy? Safe? Having never done any research on it I guess I had always assumed it was a " fitness gimmick." Is this not the case?

Not all protein powders have the same combination of fats/carbs/protein. I like ON gold standard Whey.

In general, though, protein powder is just protein. It's food, and nothing else. It doesn't have any magical fitness or weight loss powers. It's just a way for people to get protein in a slightly more convenient form. I could eat 8 ounces of chicken breast, but sometimes I don't want to deal with it, and I'd rather have a chocolate protein shake.

Mmmmm chocolate protein shake! You had me at chocolate! I think the "magic" is why I have never looked into it lol

My latest addiction has been the Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough protein bars (10 seconds in the microwave). They're not particularly inexpensive as sources of protein go, but I tend to get very little fiber in my diet generally without supplementation. I'm willing to pay a little extra for the combination of taste, protein, and convenience.

Is protein powder healthy? Safe? Having never done any research on it I guess I had always assumed it was a " fitness gimmick." Is this not the case?

Not all protein powders have the same combination of fats/carbs/protein. I like ON gold standard Whey.

In general, though, protein powder is just protein. It's food, and nothing else. It doesn't have any magical fitness or weight loss powers. It's just a way for people to get protein in a slightly more convenient form. I could eat 8 ounces of chicken breast, but sometimes I don't want to deal with it, and I'd rather have a chocolate protein shake.

Mmmmm chocolate protein shake! You had me at chocolate! I think the "magic" is why I have never looked into it lol

My latest addiction has been the Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough protein bars (10 seconds in the microwave). They're not particularly inexpensive as sources of protein go, but I tend to get very little fiber in my diet generally without supplementation. I'm willing to pay a little extra for the combination of taste, protein, and convenience.

Agreed.

I also find that they are one of the few things I can eat before working out that don't bother me. I used to go from working a 12 hour shift to the gym or my running group and found these were a super easy way to have a snack that will keep me from starving until I am done and able to eat supper, but not fill me up too much that I can't do the workout. And they help hit protein macro.

I'm just going to offer a suggestion for protein.
I am in love with these ThinBars, they're 230-240 calories and contain 20 grams of protein per bar, they are a little hard to find, but so delicious and so worth it!

http://thinkproducts.com/
(On top of being low calorie, and high protein they are also gluten free, an zero sugar!)

Uh, not to sound stupid, but if you weight 143 lbs and are 5' 9" tall why the hell do you want to lose weight? I'm 5' 9" tall, 145 lbs and athletic. People comment on how thin I am. I'm actually muscular, lanky and about 20-30lbs heavier than they think I am. I suggest you rethink weight loss and give some real thought to recomp/weight lifting to shrink down your waist (or whatever parts you're thinking to shrink). My measurements are 36D, 26.5 35. You can have a small waist, keep your bust, and not starve yourself skinny!

I am thin and get told constantly that I need to just eat a cheeseburger. I don't necessarily want to lose weight. The advice I've been reading on here says I can't get rid of the " baby belly" and saddlebags unless I lose weight. Is this not true? I'm hoping to start lifting heavy weights within the next few weeks to build muscle. Will this get rid of the belly? Your measurements are what I aspire to! I am 36D, 29, 38. This is why I thought I had to lose weight.

If you are happy with your weight but want to tighten up then I definitely recommend heavily lifting and eating at a very slight deficit. You likely don't need to "lose weight'.

^This.

You may actually gain weight, but measure less and look better. Don't be afraid.

Also, If you are one who eats packaged food, Hormel REV wraps have 16 grams of protein in them. When I am busy at work I can get them at Walgreens for lunch I get 2, the pepperoni or Italian ones, and they 290/300 calories a piece. 16 grams of protein but a little high in sodium. Still , it's a miracle for me to get 32 grams of protein with a fast lunch from a convenience store.

I did smoothies with protein powder before a and am going to start again. I like them for breakfast with fruit and almond/coconut milk or after going to the gym. Really quick and easy. My nutritionist recommended finding one that was mainly whey isolate.

If its already been said, my apologies.

Protein intake is incredibly important, it also keeps me personally from being more hungry.

I'd set a goal of having 40% of your diet protein, even if that requires protein shakes, and since your so active make sure you eat back what you are burning from exercise.

The final 10 lbs are always the hardest to shed, but the most rewarding!

Is protein powder healthy? Safe? Having never done any research on it I guess I had always assumed it was a " fitness gimmick." Is this not the case?

Protein powder is not monitored or regulated by the FDA. Most of the time that there is a recall, it's because a supplement user reported it, not because it was tested and failed. I would not personally use it. A lot of people do use it. Use your own judgment.

I find myself very full when I consume protein in food form. I'm a vegetarian, so I get a lot of protein from lentils (lentil soup poured over veggies), black bean burgers (crumbled in a salad, mixed with salsa and greek yoghurt guac), and cheese (in.. everything).

Not tested by the FDA is all the more reason to use it, IMO. The FDA tell lies about safety and efficacy.