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To shake or not to shake

mkcalvert
mkcalvert Posts: 219 Member
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Well this is the question I'm battling..I've been looking at diaries and seeing post about protein shakes and have considered maybe I should try out..I was at Wal ~ mart tonight tonight looking at them and my sisters fiance says do u know that's to make u 'bulk' up? I was like um no...Well I don't want to bulk up, but I do want to want to get a smoking skinny body and become a runner..Any advice? I was thinking of using it as meal replacement..

Replies

  • anzura
    anzura Posts: 171
    First of all, becoming a runner is not going to get you a smoking hot body! I've been a runner for awhile and it's really hard to lose weight!
    Protein shakes are good for a recovery drink...like after a 10 miler. But not as a meal replacement. Eat REAL food!
  • AdamATGATT
    AdamATGATT Posts: 573 Member
    Yes, they can be used as a meal replacement. Yes, they can help with "bulking", if used for that purpose. Otherwise, protein powders are great for getting good calories, with a lot of protein and little fat. I like to use them after my workout, and to fit in some extra calories when needed.
  • NightOwl1
    NightOwl1 Posts: 881 Member
    They won't make you bulk up. It's very hard for women to bulk up without assistance (steroids). Unless you're on a high calorie (surplus diet) and doing very heavy and frequent weight lifting, you don't have anything to worry about. They will just help with muscle development and tone.
  • fuhrmeister
    fuhrmeister Posts: 1,796 Member
    protein helps you rebuild muscle. Wemon don't have enought testosterone to bulk up a lot. So if you have a problem gettign all yor protein than go for it. If your protein intake is good you may not need it. or you may just need to have a protein rich snack after your work out to help teh muscles. i don't use shakes b/c i get plenty of protein in my regular diet. FYI greek yogurt with fruit on teh bottom is one of my favorite protein rich foods. Good luck!
  • CharityD
    CharityD Posts: 193
    I'm a runner and I have used them as meal replacements in a pinch. They are good to have on hand. I mix mine with unsweet almond milk. Yum! Just be careful to get a low sugar one. Sometimes I only do half a scoop.
  • Flyntiggr
    Flyntiggr Posts: 898 Member
    Not all protein shakes are designed for bulking. I used to drink the maxmuscle lean protein shakes. They are really good, but the diet i was doing was not. I've moved away from using them as meal replacement to more of a snack or protein 'load' before a workout. I've shifted to a more sustainable lifestyle of food vs a diet, which is what you'd be doing with meal replacements.... Just my 2 cents.....
  • angelarozmyn
    angelarozmyn Posts: 91
    I'm a runner and I have used them as meal replacements in a pinch. They are good to have on hand. I mix mine with unsweet almond milk. Yum! Just be careful to get a low sugar one. Sometimes I only do half a scoop.

    Almond milk protein shakes are the best! Gets you fiber too :)
  • absolament
    absolament Posts: 278 Member
    Real food or a balanced shake. It doesn't really matter as long as your calories are in alignment with your workout routine.
  • jacquerd
    jacquerd Posts: 121 Member
    YES! HOWEVER, you must make sure that you have a good quality protein. I use Shaklee's Cinch products. They totally work and are backed by science. In their 12 week prelim study 100% of participants maintained 100% of their muscle mass, which means that they maintained their metabolism. Sounds like a sales pitch and I don't mean it to, but it really works. I FINALLY decided to put my money where my mouth is and have lost 8.8 pounds since Feb 28. Check out the sceince and If you want more info: www.MyLittleGreenLeaf.me

    Good luck to you!!!
  • julie737
    julie737 Posts: 406 Member
    First of all, becoming a runner is not going to get you a smoking hot body! I've been a runner for awhile and it's really hard to lose weight!

    It's hard to lose weight no matter how you do it, but running sure is a good way to burn calories!
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    some of the have a heck of a lot of sugar...
    which increases appetite, & reduces the absorption of nutrients,
    even tho its giving you nutrition you all of it may not be accessible to your body and you may be hungry in an hour or two
  • EricJonrosh
    EricJonrosh Posts: 823 Member
    Well this is the question I'm battling..I've been looking at diaries and seeing post about protein shakes and have considered maybe I should try out..I was at Wal ~ mart tonight tonight looking at them and my sisters fiance says do u know that's to make u 'bulk' up? I was like um no...Well I don't want to bulk up, but I do want to want to get a smoking skinny body and become a runner..Any advice? I was thinking of using it as meal replacement..

    You need more protein to feed your muscles. Some say a gram per pound of goal body weight. Protein powder is an easy way to get there. That said, my protein shakes can get to 600+ calories pretty fast and I'm having to find ways to make them lower. Try to be careful of how much you put into them. Best time to have it is after a workout.

    =o]
  • Valtishia
    Valtishia Posts: 811 Member
    I think food is the best way to go.. however I do use shakes as well. I don't use protein shakes, I use meal replacement shakes. With my main job ( I have 3 lol), I leave the house around 6:30am having had breakfast shortly before I leave and I don't get lunch until noon. that is way too long to go without food for me but since I am in a busy office I can't just walk away for a snack. So I crack open the shake around 8am and drink about half of it throughout the morning, then the other half between lunch and when I get home for dinner which lately is around 6pm. It keeps my stomach quiet and I am still getting my nutrients. I don't think there is anything wrong with shakes, as long as you are using the right kind for what you want and not using them when its unnecessary.
  • rodegghero
    rodegghero Posts: 212 Member
    It might not matter for loosing weight but it matters for your overall health. Real food is better. Shakes before a workout or after a Race!
    Real food or a balanced shake. It doesn't really matter as long as your calories are in alignment with your workout routine.
  • newjmf
    newjmf Posts: 78
    That is only true when you are doing VERY HEAVY weight training and mixing them with whole milk. If you mix them with water , skim milk or almond milk, you will be fine. Also, protein fuels your muscles in order for them to function properly...your muscles will burn the fat off that is on top of them, thus making you lose inches and trim down. I have been using protein shakes for many months and have not bulked up at all. In fact, I've lost inches and pounds. Plus, peotein shakes are a good way to get in good calories after exercising (instead of eating "whatever you can" to eat your exercise calories...a much healthier alternative). I love the Muscle Milk 100 calories ready to drink shakes and the Syntha 6 Caramel Latte (it's thebest). When selecting a shake, make sure it's low in sugar (6 grams or less).
  • barberella
    barberella Posts: 199
    I agree with the shake as a meal replacement for protein. I start off every morning with one, which packs protein and fills me up until lunch time. Lately, I've been using a brand Hy-Vee makes:100%Whey Protein..110 calories, 1g sugar, 20g protein. I drink it with unsweetened almond milk..Total 150 calories for breakfast or any meal really. Definitely will not make u bulk up and I lift weights as well.
  • laughingdani
    laughingdani Posts: 2,275 Member
    I'm a runner and I drink protein shakes and eat protein bars.
    I think my picture and weight loss speaks for itself. :smile:

    Dani :flowerforyou:
  • mkcalvert
    mkcalvert Posts: 219 Member
    First of all, becoming a runner is not going to get you a smoking hot body! I've been a runner for awhile and it's really hard to lose weight!

    It's hard to lose weight no matter how you do it, but running sure is a good way to burn calories!

    I was trying to say doing both...I want to run marathons :)
  • Rockin33
    Rockin33 Posts: 58
    I just recently started using protein powder and for me, personally, it has been a godsend. Keeps me full when I am hungry, leaving me time to prepare or get to decent food. It squashes any less- than-necessary carb cravings I have (I'm talking to you greasy grilled cheese...still love you though.). But lately I have been coming up with ways to use my protein powder to ingest super foods. I am a vegetarian and getting omega 3 is difficult. A great source is flax. Doesn't taste amazing by itself or in smoothies( to me, doesn't taste good to me, more power to those of you that love the sawdust flavor), so I mix a chocolate whey scoop with a serving of Greek yogurt, a heaping tablespoon of ground flax, and a cup of strawberries. Tastes too good to be true. It's the only whey to get that flax down. Couldn't help but make the bad joke. Ugh.
  • AdAstra47
    AdAstra47 Posts: 823 Member
    I'm with the people who firmly believe that protein powder shakes are a godsend. But they're correct, you have to be careful about which ones you choose. Find brands with as much protein and as few carbs as possible. Zero carbs and sugar is best. Because here's the beauty of protein: if your body can't use it, it passes right on through. Carbs and sugars and fats all get stored if you don't use them. But protein doesn't. So if you are really hungry & don't want to eat something that ruins your diet, or if you're feeling run-down like your metabolism is slowing, grab a protein shake instead of something that has a lot of carbs or fats.

    Also, as a lot of others mentioned, you want to keep your muscle mass high (I'm not talking about bulking up, I'm just talking about the ratio of muscle to fat in your body, you want to lose the fat without losing any muscle). If you're not eating enough protein, your body still needs it to maintain your metabolism, and it takes that protein from your muscles. So definitely have a protein shake or drink right after every workout.
  • Stooooo
    Stooooo Posts: 1,191 Member
    Well this is the question I'm battling..I've been looking at diaries and seeing post about protein shakes and have considered maybe I should try out..I was at Wal ~ mart tonight tonight looking at them and my sisters fiance says do u know that's to make u 'bulk' up? I was like um no...Well I don't want to bulk up, but I do want to want to get a smoking skinny body and become a runner..Any advice? I was thinking of using it as meal replacement..

    Not only is Shakeology not a protein shake, but it will not bulk you up either. It is however a great meal replacement shake, because it is quite possibly the healthiest thing you can put in your body.
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