Protein Powders/I seem to gain weight

flippy1234
flippy1234 Posts: 686 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello All,
I was a big user of protein powders when I worked out hard. i.e.: free weights, etc...I was trying to get defined muscle and I knew protein shakes were good for recovery. However, No matter how well I ate, I never achieved the desired results. I ate really well too. I actually seemed to gain weight on the scale with protein powder. When I stopped using it, I lost some weight. Now, I don't use it at all and feel much leaner. Any thoughts?

Replies

  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    I think protein has 4 calories per gram, whether it is in a powder or not. It sounds like you were using the protein powder in addition to your maintenance calories, not in place of some of them.
  • alyhuggan
    alyhuggan Posts: 717 Member
    You gain weight from a calorie surplus. Macro-nutrients play no part in it.
  • PeachyPlum
    PeachyPlum Posts: 1,243 Member
    DeguelloTex wrote: »
    I think protein has 4 calories per gram, whether it is in a powder or not. It sounds like you were using the protein powder in addition to your maintenance calories, not in place of some of them.

    This.

    And also, some protein powders are aimed at bodybuilders in a bulking cycle. Those can have up to 1,000 calories per serving (as compared to the 150 or so that a regular protein powder would have).
  • betuel75
    betuel75 Posts: 776 Member
    Yup, you consumed calories over maintainance. Not the protein powder's fault but the managing of total calories. You should have cut calories somewhere else and replace it with the protien powder calories.
  • Justygirl77
    Justygirl77 Posts: 385 Member
    flippy1234 wrote: »
    Hello All,
    I was a big user of protein powders when I worked out hard. i.e.: free weights, etc...I was trying to get defined muscle and I knew protein shakes were good for recovery. However, No matter how well I ate, I never achieved the desired results. I ate really well too. I actually seemed to gain weight on the scale with protein powder. When I stopped using it, I lost some weight. Now, I don't use it at all and feel much leaner. Any thoughts?
    So did you weigh your food? it's easy to eat more calories than you think you are.
    Even weighing the scoop of protein...their scoops are often fluffier than the ones I scoop out.
    It may be your body did not like the type of protein. Try a plant protein.
  • prestigio
    prestigio Posts: 181 Member
    edited April 2015
    What I think could be the case:
    1. You've consumed more calories than you burned, causing you to gain weight.
    2. Perhaps you have a lactose intollerance (problems digesting dairy) causing bloating
    A combination of both could ofcourse also occur. Though I personally think it is the 1st scenario.
    A protein shake (made with water) ususally contains 100 to 150 calories. Having 3 a day can provide you 300 to 500 additional calories.
    If you were eating enough to maintain your weight, adding the shakes would cause eat in a caloric surplus, thus gaining weight.
  • Spyer116
    Spyer116 Posts: 168 Member
    All shakes/powders have calories in them, especially protein ones. Some could be 100calories for the 20-25g protein. Others could have 200-250+ if they're a meal replacement type. And some are specifically for bulking with 400-1000 calories.
    You just added them on to what you already ate. You didn't count them as part of a diet.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    flippy1234 wrote: »
    Hello All,
    I was a big user of protein powders when I worked out hard. i.e.: free weights, etc...I was trying to get defined muscle and I knew protein shakes were good for recovery. However, No matter how well I ate, I never achieved the desired results. I ate really well too. I actually seemed to gain weight on the scale with protein powder. When I stopped using it, I lost some weight. Now, I don't use it at all and feel much leaner. Any thoughts?

    It has nothing to do with the protein powder...protein powder is just protein...just like chicken or any other source of protein...just in powder form. It has nothing to do with your weight directly.

    The only issue I could see is that a lot of protein for some people can cause gas and bloating...bloat will show up on the scale...but protein powder doesn't have anything to do with whether you're leaner or fatter in and of itself.
  • flippy1234
    flippy1234 Posts: 686 Member
    You are all probably right. Especially not taking the calories into consideration. It's amazing how just a few extra calories can make such a big difference.
  • wkwebby
    wkwebby Posts: 807 Member
    I would have guessed some water weight gain/loss. Hey, but at least you know that you can't do protein shakes! :wink:
  • flippy1234
    flippy1234 Posts: 686 Member
    wkwebby wrote: »
    I would have guessed some water weight gain/loss. Hey, but at least you know that you can't do protein shakes! :wink:

    True. A lot of this is trial and error. What works for some, may not work for others...
This discussion has been closed.

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