Whey Powder

tolygal
tolygal Posts: 602 Member
edited September 23 in Food and Nutrition
Where do I get it and how do I use it? I know it's supposed to be so helpful for building muscle, and that it can really help when used pre-workout, but I don't know how to use it. I don't have time to make any fancy stuff, and I don't have a blender for smoothies. I could get one if I had to, but then what do I mix it into? I'm hoping for low-cal ideas because I need my "real" foods and don't want to use up too many calories with drinks. I'm not a fan of milk, but I'm going to try to do chocolate milk after workouts cuz I heard that's good for recovery. But this is getting me a whole lot of calories from drinks - I usually only drink water - so this is new and going to be hard to fit into my calorie limit. Any suggestions?

Replies

  • CricketKate
    CricketKate Posts: 3,657 Member
    I was wondering about this also. Bump
  • jamie1888
    jamie1888 Posts: 1,704 Member
    Whey protein is most beneficial POST strength training workouts. Some can be mixed with milk or water.
  • murf19
    murf19 Posts: 453 Member
    I use Gold Standard Whey Choc or vinilla. 120 cals , 1g fat, 1g sugar only 3 grams of carbs and 24 grams of protein.

    Disolves easily in water and taste good. To keep my protein up around my weight and my carbs low, this is the best
  • jen31889
    jen31889 Posts: 121
    I've been using meijer (store brand) soy and whey protein. I mix it with 8 oz of water and have it for breakfast most days. It is only about 120 calories.
  • jamie1888
    jamie1888 Posts: 1,704 Member
    Don't look at it like a "drink". It's a supplement to help your muscles recover after a workout. You don't need a blender. Just get a shaker bottle. It's a plastic bottle that you put the liquid and powder in and shake.
  • hardybelle83
    hardybelle83 Posts: 57
    After I lift weights, I drink a protein shake. I buy the powder from GNC; it's a whey protein complex. I buy both vanilla & chocolate (I like vanilla & my husband likes chocolate)... the vanilla is only 100 calories and has 17g of protein. I have a little shaker cup that I mix it in (I just use 8oz cold water, but you could also use unsweetened almond milk for only 35 extra cals). It tastes great & mixes very well. I've never tried any other brand so I don't know how well they taste or mix...

    That is just a "snack" though. If I'm looking for something to drink as a meal replacement, I drink Shakeology. Only 140 calories per serving, with 17g proteins and tons of vitamins. I mix it with 8oz unsweetened almond milk, 1/2c pumpkin, PB2, pumpkin pie spice & ice in a blender. It really fills me up.
  • crystal_sapphire
    crystal_sapphire Posts: 1,205 Member
    yeah a few new studies have shown that chocolate milk is a great recovery drink. Unless I really worked out hard and it included strength training that's when I will have a protein shake. I buy Weider 90% protein and most whey powders can be found at your grocery store. Just be really careful when you read the label. It's best to blend (I find anyway). If you like fruit, you could always add that in such as a banana. It can be mixed with water milk juice.

    so if you were to mix some with water you're probably looking anywhere from 100 to 130 cals per serving.
  • 2bfitforever
    2bfitforever Posts: 87 Member
    Hi --

    We buy whey protein for GNC or Max Muscle. I like Optimum's 100% Gold Standard Whey Protein in Vanilla Ice Cream and Double Chocolate. It is "instantized" so you don't need a blender or shaker -- just stir until it is dissolved. They have other flavors like cookies and cream, etc. You add a rounded scoop (that comes with the protein) into a 6-8 oz glass of milk, water, or any other beverage. I have only tried milk so I can't tell you what other beverages to add it to. I will make a shake in the morning of milk, vanilla ice cream whey, and strawberries. My husband prefers bananas and pineapple instead of strawberries. I will also sometimes make a chocolate shake as a snack if I don't have one in the morning. Here are the numbers:

    Cal: 120
    Fat 1g
    Chol 30 mg
    Sod 60 mg
    Total Carb 3g (1 sugar)
    Protein 24g
  • 2bfitforever
    2bfitforever Posts: 87 Member
    The nutritional info does not include whatever beverage you are adding the powder to.
  • poustotah
    poustotah Posts: 1,121 Member
    Milk after a workout is good to increase the lactic acid in the body quickly however, the sugar in chocolate milk will prohibit you from leaning out. Protein after a workout will help your muscle repair itself quicker so that you can lift again more quickly (every 2-3 days as opposed to every 4-7). EAS makes a great protein shake that tastes fairly decent, is low in calories, and has 17g of protein. It's the EAS Carbvantedge. I personally like the vanilla one but everyone is different. It has 110 calories, low fat, low carb and low sugar so you get everything you need. Pure Protein also makes bars that have 20g of protein in them. They're 200 calories and the do have a fair amount of carbs in them. So either one would be a good choice.
  • Jeff6605
    Jeff6605 Posts: 16
    Right now I use Optimum Nutrtion Whey protein powder. But any reputable manufacturer is good. I recently saw Muscle Milk Whey powder at Costco. 6 lbs for about $30. Not a bad price.

    As far as using it. I make a protien smoothie just about every morning for breakfast. It is really tasty.

    Recipe:
    1 Fresh - Banana - Raw Medium
    Strawberries - Raw, 1.2 cup, halves (I use frozen from Trader Joes)
    8 Almonds
    2-3 TBSP Water
    1 Cup Ice
    Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Vanilla - Protein Powder, 1 scoop (Use any brand here)

    Blend Banana, strawberries, almonds, and water until smooth, then add Ice until smooth. Then blend in protien powder. If it is too thick just add a bit more water.

    328 Calories, 48 carbs, 6 fat, 28 protein

    If I do not have a smoothie and I am low on protien for the day I just mix the powder with water.
  • melizerd
    melizerd Posts: 870 Member
    I'm using Gnc Pro Performance Amp - Amplified Whey Protein, Chocolate (there are other flavors). I use only a single scoop because I want to watch the amount of calories as well as up my protein intake. I'm shopping again today to get back in the routine of protein shakes.

    I sometimes just mix it with water and down it, not super tasty but quick and low cal for the protein. Otherwise I make a smoothie.

    Gnc Pro Performance Amp - Amplified Whey Protein, 1 scoop
    Strawberries - Raw, 1 cup, halves
    Motts - Natural Unsweetened Apple Sauce, 0.5 cup
    Dannon - Yogurt Light & Fit - Vanilla, 0.5 cup

    247 calories for the thing and it's BIG.
    39 carbs, no fat and 25g of protein

    I'm really full by the time I'm done with it. I had a friend who reminded me that this is not supposed to be a "fun super tasty meal" but a tool in my arsenal to up my protein and lose weight. He lost over 200lbs and really got in great shape so I'm willing to do it too. The nice thing is that as a shake it's actually decent tasting!
  • tolygal
    tolygal Posts: 602 Member
    Thanks everyone. It sounds like I should drink this AFTER a workout (not before) - and maybe only after weight training?? So do I need to worry about the chocolate milk at all if I do the whey protein? Do I need anything special after a cardio only workout?

    I hope it doesn't taste too aweful, but thinking of it as a "tool" will help with that!

    Thanks for the help! I'm new to this weigh training stuff, so I've got tons of questions :-)
  • jen31889
    jen31889 Posts: 121
    Does anybody know if there is an average calorie difference between soy and whey protein? I originally bought soy and whey protein supplement from meijer. It tasted great and only had about 120 calories per serving. I haven't been able to make it back to meijer, so I purchased Body Fortress - Super Advanced Whey Protein and it has 140 calories in it and does not taste good. I will have to add it to soy milk which will add even more calories to it.
  • jamezyjamez
    jamezyjamez Posts: 41
    Not sure if this will answer the calorie difference question directly, but bodybuilding.com typically has good articles on supplements and reviews on products. It is important to be aware that they also sell products, but multiple brands so I tend to at least use their info as an input.

    I am a big whey protein supporter and it's correct from the (limited) research that I've done that it is most beneficial to take post-workout, and fairly soon after, to maximize its effects. Turns out the different types of protein - whey, whey isolates, casein, others - are all used by the body at different rates. A fitness trainer buddy of mine steered me toward a "complex" protein that includes multiple kinds of protein so that your body can maintain levels throughout the day and still get the whey post-workout. If I can find a whey I like on sale, I will sometimes do a scoop of the complex with 1/2-1 scoop of the whey post-workout.

    Please note this is just my opinion based on the research I have done. If you're going to use protein or other supplements, it's worth a little research and/or asking someone you trust to ensure you use those supplements which are healthy and help you meet your goals.

    Chocolate protein shake with bananas or berries (blue, rasp, black) is one of my fave snacks, post-workout for sure but also for breakfast, before bed, afternoon snack. Yum!
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