Protein Powder Does it Really Work or Hype?

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Replies

  • kjm3579
    kjm3579 Posts: 3,974 Member
    I mix a scoop of Jarrow unflavored protein with my unsweetened almond milk and it tastes pretty good -- I usually only use it on days I do strength training but it can be taken anytime to add protein to your diet -- I will probably start using it daily as I usually am short on my protein macros.
  • JayRuby84
    JayRuby84 Posts: 557 Member
    By no means do I view protein shakes as a magic food (there is no such thing). I use it, count it in my calories, and move on.
  • Sam_I_Am77
    Sam_I_Am77 Posts: 2,093 Member
    edited January 2015
    JayRuby84 wrote: »
    By no means do I view protein shakes as a magic food (there is no such thing). I use it, count it in my calories, and move on.

    Yes there is, haven't you ever heard of the "Paleo Diet"? Lol
  • DvlDwnInGA
    DvlDwnInGA Posts: 368 Member
    Protein powder is a supplement taken to get this "supplement your daily protein intake." It is an easy way that if you are low on your protein intake for the day to supplement it to make sure you are hitting your protein macros for the day. That is it.

    It comes in many forms, however, you need to understand that this is used as a way to increase protein intake easily and quickly. Not really any hype to it.
  • drepublic
    drepublic Posts: 180 Member
    auddii wrote: »
    ETA: And you cannot lose weight and build muscle at the same time (except for very rare circumstances).

    Going to have to disagree here...



  • Yocum1219
    Yocum1219 Posts: 400 Member
    I know my husband (letter carrier) drinks protein everyday after work, because he just can't EAT enough protein so that his muscles recover from the 8 hours of walking.

    As it is now, he eats til he's tired of chewing, several times a day. He's ALWAYS hungry. It's like having a teenager!
  • loratliff
    loratliff Posts: 283 Member
    Sam_I_Am77 wrote: »
    loratliff wrote: »
    Lofteren wrote: »
    loratliff wrote: »
    I've just discovered a plant-based protein powder that I really like: https://healthyskoop.com/products/53f51ba6086f140200b25d71 Tastes excellent with just almond milk.

    Like others have said, is it a magic bullet to make you stronger, faster, and leaner? Of course not, but if you have a day where you can't get a full meal in post-workout or are lacking protein, it's a lifesaver.

    "Muscle biopsies from participants taking whey, casein, or plant based protein powders after intense weighted exercise showed that whey and casein proteins were vastly superior for m-tor signaling and activation as well as intensity and duration of protein synthesis. This leads to the conclusion that whey and casein proteins are nutritionally superior for an athlete who is in search of dietary proteins as a means of recovery and to build muscle mass and strength."

    I wasn't really looking for a debate; just posting something that I like and that's working for me. :) Whey and casein proteins don't work for some people for a variety of reasons.

    It's not really a debate. What Loftren is indicating is just a matter of what's most effective in promoting muscle protein synthesis. If you're buying protein from that site, the only protein worth a darn relative to strength training is the "B | Strong" which claims to have an Amino Acid profile, although it's not displayed. The others are not effective for supporting strength training as they do not contain amino acids, seems like just collagen. Which really is great if you're trying to improve your nails and hair.

    Well, duh, given that I linked to B-Strong (the only product they even market as protein), I'd say that's the one I was mentioning.
  • cajuntank
    cajuntank Posts: 924 Member
    drepublic wrote: »
    auddii wrote: »
    ETA: And you cannot lose weight and build muscle at the same time (except for very rare circumstances).

    Going to have to disagree here...



    But very impractical.
    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/reducing-body-fat-percentage-by-gaining-muscle-qa.html/
  • Lofteren
    Lofteren Posts: 960 Member
    loratliff wrote: »
    Lofteren wrote: »
    loratliff wrote: »
    I've just discovered a plant-based protein powder that I really like: https://healthyskoop.com/products/53f51ba6086f140200b25d71 Tastes excellent with just almond milk.

    Like others have said, is it a magic bullet to make you stronger, faster, and leaner? Of course not, but if you have a day where you can't get a full meal in post-workout or are lacking protein, it's a lifesaver.

    "Muscle biopsies from participants taking whey, casein, or plant based protein powders after intense weighted exercise showed that whey and casein proteins were vastly superior for m-tor signaling and activation as well as intensity and duration of protein synthesis. This leads to the conclusion that whey and casein proteins are nutritionally superior for an athlete who is in search of dietary proteins as a means of recovery and to build muscle mass and strength."

    I wasn't really looking for a debate; just posting something that I like and that's working for me. :) Whey and casein proteins don't work for some people for a variety of reasons.

    The only reasons they wouldn't work for a person are if the person is allergic, has a digestive disorder, or is a vegan (in which case trying to build muscle is a futile endeavor so optimal protein intake isn't terribly important).
  • dougpconnell219
    dougpconnell219 Posts: 566 Member
    I prefer to snort mine off of a stripper, but I guess almond milk works too.
  • cioube
    cioube Posts: 39 Member
    edited January 2015
    Hi. I hardly ever hit my protein macros. Most days I get to about 50-60%. I'm not a vegetarian but I'll only have a little meat in the day because I'm just not a big meat eater. I try to source my protein else where but I'm not brilliant at that. I was given some Chocolate Whey as a gift a few months ago and haven't touched it yet. I only recently started checking out my macros and saw that I'm mostly under my target. So I'm going to start using the whey, maybe in the morning - as that seems to be the most common time people have it and I mostly work out in the morning (or very late evening so thats a no).

    I read that it's nice with almond milk, peanut butter and a banana. There are loads of recipes out there you can try out. You just need a blender or a mini mixer.
  • trina1049
    trina1049 Posts: 593 Member
    cajuntank wrote: »
    Protein powder is only a convenience food to use to supplement your daily protein intake. So if you are not getting enough protein from your diet from meats, dairy, vegetables, etc..., then you can use protein powder as a convenient way to add in additional protein.
    To build muscle you will need adequate food in surplus, with adequate amount of protein from said food (supplement with powder if necessary), and adequate lifting volume.

    This!
  • scottacular
    scottacular Posts: 597 Member
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    I started taking a protein powder (Now Sports Whey Protein Isolate) today to try and build/strengthen my muscles. I am strength training for a Tough Mudder this May.

    The powder is horrible and I mix it with unsweetened Almond Milk but my friend swears by it and she is very toned.

    Does protein powder really make a difference in building muscles or is it just another product?

    It works as well as any protein source, but with the added advantage that it's probably the best value protein source you can buy. Shop around and you'll find a protein powder you enjoy more. You can mix it into oats, blend it with fruit to make a smoothie, stir it into yoghurt, mix it with pancake mix, etc.
  • Fr33zefram3
    Fr33zefram3 Posts: 163 Member
    edited January 2015
    cajuntank wrote: »

    This based on people that are already at a 'reasonable' BMI. Losing fat and gaining muscle is extremely possible for those who have a lot of spare fat and not too much muscle comp. Once you get down to the 15% body comp, yeah, it's more of a chess game. However, when you're up there, 20, 25, 30% and above, it's very efficient to both burn fat and gain muscle at the same time.
  • cajuntank
    cajuntank Posts: 924 Member
    edited January 2015
    cajuntank wrote: »

    This based on people that are already at a 'reasonable' BMI. Losing fat and gaining muscle is extremely possible for those who have a lot of spare fat and not too much muscle comp. Once you get down to the 15% body comp, yeah, it's more of a chess game. However, when you're up there, 20, 25, 30% and above, it's very efficient to both burn fat and gain muscle at the same time.

    Lyle,whom I link to, also explains this on his site for those scenarios. So I am not disagreeing with from a beginner or for one coming back to the iron game after a hiatus. I am disagreeing with you on a, because you have higher fat means you will experience these type is muscle gains inference that does not take training into account.

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/adding-muscle-while-losing-fat-qa.html/

    But as Lyle goes onto explain: notice the and/or* (so it's not just a matter of having fat mass)
    "So the situation that was in place for the overfat beginner has reversed itself in someone who is leaner and/or* better trained. Fat cells are no longer insulin resistant and ‘pushing fat calories’ away; quite in fact they are ready to take up excess calories at any time. And since training has a lesser impact on muscle growth, the odds of getting the calorie shunting effect becomes lower and lower approaching nil. Again, that’s on top of all of the hormonal stuff discussed in the above articles (e.g. fat loss and muscle gain requires different hormonal situations).
    Which is why a lot of the approaches advocated for ‘gaining muscle while losing fat’ aren’t very effective. In fact, I’d tend to argue that most people’s attempts to achieve the above results in them simply spinning their wheels, making no progress towards either goal. Because invariably they set up a situation where neither training nor diet is optimized for either fat loss or muscle gain. Calories are too high for fat loss and too low to support muscle gains and outside of that one overfat beginner situation, the physiology simply isn’t going to readily allow what they want to happen to happen."
  • Churchjc
    Churchjc Posts: 7 Member
    I drink a protein shake on workout days because, like most of you, I can't easily reach my protein macros while staying within my calorie targets. I've found that chocolate peanut butter tastes the best. I'm currently using Target's "Market Pantry" brand of chocolate whey protein, and mixing in Pb2 powdered peanut butter along with 1 1/2 cups 1% milk. Roughly 350 calories and 42 grams of protein. And it tastes like a Reese's Cup! My son favors what he calls a Creamcicle shake - Vanilla protein powder, orange Gatorade and ice.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,964 Member
    cajuntank wrote: »
    Protein powder is only a convenience food to use to supplement your daily protein intake. So if you are not getting enough protein from your diet from meats, dairy, vegetables, etc..., then you can use protein powder as a convenient way to add in additional protein.
    To build muscle you will need adequate food in surplus, with adequate amount of protein from said food (supplement with powder if necessary), and adequate lifting volume.
    THIS.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,964 Member
    drepublic wrote: »
    auddii wrote: »
    ETA: And you cannot lose weight and build muscle at the same time (except for very rare circumstances).

    Going to have to disagree here...


    Possible? Yes. Probable in a calorie deficit? Unlikely. There is "recomp" where one can work on recomposition, but adding muscle while losing WEIGHT, is not likely for the majority of the population. Adding muscle means adding mass which is an indication of weight gain, not loss.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png



  • loratliff
    loratliff Posts: 283 Member
    Lofteren wrote: »
    loratliff wrote: »
    Lofteren wrote: »
    loratliff wrote: »
    I've just discovered a plant-based protein powder that I really like: https://healthyskoop.com/products/53f51ba6086f140200b25d71 Tastes excellent with just almond milk.

    Like others have said, is it a magic bullet to make you stronger, faster, and leaner? Of course not, but if you have a day where you can't get a full meal in post-workout or are lacking protein, it's a lifesaver.

    "Muscle biopsies from participants taking whey, casein, or plant based protein powders after intense weighted exercise showed that whey and casein proteins were vastly superior for m-tor signaling and activation as well as intensity and duration of protein synthesis. This leads to the conclusion that whey and casein proteins are nutritionally superior for an athlete who is in search of dietary proteins as a means of recovery and to build muscle mass and strength."

    I wasn't really looking for a debate; just posting something that I like and that's working for me. :) Whey and casein proteins don't work for some people for a variety of reasons.

    The only reasons they wouldn't work for a person are if the person is allergic, has a digestive disorder, or is a vegan (in which case trying to build muscle is a futile endeavor so optimal protein intake isn't terribly important).

    And lots of people have those afflictions.... so what's your point?
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    loratliff wrote: »
    Lofteren wrote: »
    loratliff wrote: »
    Lofteren wrote: »
    loratliff wrote: »
    I've just discovered a plant-based protein powder that I really like: https://healthyskoop.com/products/53f51ba6086f140200b25d71 Tastes excellent with just almond milk.

    Like others have said, is it a magic bullet to make you stronger, faster, and leaner? Of course not, but if you have a day where you can't get a full meal in post-workout or are lacking protein, it's a lifesaver.

    "Muscle biopsies from participants taking whey, casein, or plant based protein powders after intense weighted exercise showed that whey and casein proteins were vastly superior for m-tor signaling and activation as well as intensity and duration of protein synthesis. This leads to the conclusion that whey and casein proteins are nutritionally superior for an athlete who is in search of dietary proteins as a means of recovery and to build muscle mass and strength."

    I wasn't really looking for a debate; just posting something that I like and that's working for me. :) Whey and casein proteins don't work for some people for a variety of reasons.

    The only reasons they wouldn't work for a person are if the person is allergic, has a digestive disorder, or is a vegan (in which case trying to build muscle is a futile endeavor so optimal protein intake isn't terribly important).

    And lots of people have those afflictions.... so what's your point?

    That protein powder works as a supplement to to increase increase daily protein? Concept Concept didn't seem so hard.