Protein Powders - To use or To not use

24

Replies

  • summerkissed
    summerkissed Posts: 730 Member
    tomatoey wrote: »
    I'm experimenting a bit to increase my protein and have another way of getting other stuff in (like antioxidants and fibre from berries, calcium from milk, magnesium from 1/2 a banana etc. Also to promote healing :) ).

    I am also adding that stuff in because all the protein powders I've tried taste nasty.

    The problem is that it leaves me hungry (I think because it's not solid food) and so I've been going over my calories. (If you're doing more exercise than I can do right now, that might not be a problem because you'll burn it off. But then you might as well just get it from food anyway.)

    If I could just drink the powder with water, and have the blueberries etc. in solid form, it might be ok, but I can't make myself get just powder with water down. If you can find a powder that isn't disgusting, go for it.

    I use frozen banana/berries makes it so thick you can eat it with a spoon lol
  • rankinsect
    rankinsect Posts: 2,238 Member
    I like a protein shake on the days I work out, since I set higher protein and calorie goals on those days. The Ultra Peptide brand is not great from a macro perspective, but it's actually really tasty, so I make shakes with some milk, ice, and the powder.

    There's also quest protein bars if you prefer protein in that form.

    I see no reason to treat these differently than other food. Sometimes I get plenty of protein from my daily diet (particularly if I'm eating a lot of meat on a given day) but the protein bars and shakes give me other ways to get protein when I don't feel like eating the other high-protein foods I enjoy.
  • Verdenal
    Verdenal Posts: 625 Member
    Occasionally, I go on a short-term high-protein diet that's designed to maximize fat loss while preserving muscle. I eat foods like chicken breasts and egg whites, but it's hard for me to consume the amount of protein required without a protein shake.
  • steuartcj
    steuartcj Posts: 132 Member
    Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard whey protein. 120 calories, 24 grams protein, 90- 1 scoop servings per zip lock container. 49.99 at Costco.
  • DBrooks1979
    DBrooks1979 Posts: 350 Member
    RodaRose wrote: »
    How much protein are you eating?

    Roda... I am averaging about 80g of Protein... although I should be getting closer to 109 ...

    Thanks to everyone so far who has chimed in on this.. and I love the thoughts and the answers.. I really want to make sure I am not losing muscle while working on getting the body to burn off the fat that I have acquired over the years of not exactly doing the right things when it comes to my health and diet...

    It looks like that maybe there would be some good options for protein out there and will really start looking into it and also into some supplimental things like protein powder to help me get closer to the macro of 109g of protein that MFP recommends I be getting every day... especially since I have been killing my calories and sodium when trying to achieve what I need in my diet...

  • keepitcroosh
    keepitcroosh Posts: 301 Member
    Dymatize iso 100 in gourmet chocolate. Mix with water ( i use a little less than recommended so its sweet and not watered down )and I add a scoop of peanut butter. Shake. Yummmm. Lots of protein and no sugar, low calorie, etc.
  • keepitcroosh
    keepitcroosh Posts: 301 Member
    Mind you adding peanut butter will add sugar. But the shale itself has none
  • Oflamez
    Oflamez Posts: 43 Member
    You can research some cheap whey protein powders, also I don't know if you are trying to gain muscle or just eat protein for basic needs. Whatever is protein rich and cheap in your area will do the job : Cottage cheese, Dairy, Any cut of meat like chicken breast, cheap protein powders, tuna (not too much cause of the mercury content), cheap fish types.
  • DBrooks1979
    DBrooks1979 Posts: 350 Member
    Well I have tried to get the protein via food and just not making it as much as I wanted it.. so I am gonna try a few protein bars that I purchased over the weekend and see how it goes this week and will continue to do some research on the types of protein out there and will continue to ask for advice on what powders you all use and what you all like....

    Thanks to everyone so far for your input on this.. and I know you can't spot loose.. but the goal is lose the belly and get down to my goal weight....I feel that I need more protein in my diet so that my body will have something for fuel and make it burn the fat that I have all over my body especially my tummy...

    Thanks
  • DBrooks1979
    DBrooks1979 Posts: 350 Member
    Ok.. to push this back to the top and give a bit of an update and ask for some more ideas on what protein powders everyone likes... I have tried a few protein bars and found a few I like but going to be looking for a few inexpensive shakes and bottles of protein powders and now I really need to figure out what the difference is in each of the powders and what makes any better than the other... maybe you all can chime in on this.. and maybe a trip to GNC is in order or one of our other health and nutrition places to get some advice and maybe try a small bottle.

    Thanks everyone so far on this and I would love to hear more and maybe even see what using them has allowed you to do.

  • Dreysander
    Dreysander Posts: 294 Member
    edited December 2015
    If you need to make up your protein number, powders are a good way to do it because they are cheap and generally tasty. They're cheaper than meat / eggs and better tasting than egg whites.

    I use ON gold standard and GNC's equivelant.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    DBrooks1979 wrote: »
    Ok.. to push this back to the top and give a bit of an update and ask for some more ideas on what protein powders everyone likes... I have tried a few protein bars and found a few I like but going to be looking for a few inexpensive shakes and bottles of protein powders and now I really need to figure out what the difference is in each of the powders and what makes any better than the other... maybe you all can chime in on this.. and maybe a trip to GNC is in order or one of our other health and nutrition places to get some advice and maybe try a small bottle.

    Thanks everyone so far on this and I would love to hear more and maybe even see what using them has allowed you to do.

    Don't count on good advice from a GNC store (or most nutrition stores, for that matter). They're going to try to sell you whichever protein powder makes them the highest profit. The people working in there are just salespeople, not nutritionists/dietitians.

    ON (Optimum Nutrition) makes very good quality protein powders. I also like Dymatize, and have recently been trying Trutein (they have a lot of good flavors and you can order sample packages on their website for very reasonable prices).
  • Dreysander
    Dreysander Posts: 294 Member
    ON makes GNC's brand , they have the same stats.
  • DBrooks1979
    DBrooks1979 Posts: 350 Member
    Thanks @AnvilHead for the advice on this... I would also love to find out what the difference between pea protein, whey protein, soy protein etc.. etc.. etc... is and what difference it actually makes nutritionally, and how it effects taste.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    edited December 2015
    DBrooks1979 wrote: »
    Thanks @AnvilHead for the advice on this... I would also love to find out what the difference between pea protein, whey protein, soy protein etc.. etc.. etc... is and what difference it actually makes nutritionally, and how it effects taste.

    Here's a great paper from the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, which talks about the nutritional values of various protein sources: jssm.org/vol3/n3/2/v3n3-2pdf.pdf
  • DBrooks1979
    DBrooks1979 Posts: 350 Member
    Thanks @AnvilHead I will take and read the information here.. looks like it will be a great read.. so thank you for sharing this information...
  • DBrooks1979
    DBrooks1979 Posts: 350 Member
    bump
  • DBrooks1979
    DBrooks1979 Posts: 350 Member
    would love to hear more...
  • usmc01462
    usmc01462 Posts: 1,944 Member
    best protein my brother is egg whites, almond milk and 2-3 teaspoons of sugar free pudding like choc. vanilla and so on.
  • usmc01462
    usmc01462 Posts: 1,944 Member
    don't over do it I do about 120-160 at most that's it. Unless your on the juice then of course you could up the amount but you also shorten your life span
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    usmc01462 wrote: »
    best protein my brother is egg whites, almond milk and 2-3 teaspoons of sugar free pudding like choc. vanilla and so on.

    Huh???

    Egg whites, almond milk and pudding mix would have comparatively very little protein, short of consuming the equivalent of a dozen eggs worth of egg whites.
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    I think they're great for helping you hit your protein goals.
  • Lovee_Dove7
    Lovee_Dove7 Posts: 742 Member
    Yesterday i had no interest in eating meat, fish or eggs. The protein shakes sounded good though. I like having that option.
  • Masq
    Masq Posts: 191 Member
    I also struggle to get enough protein..... I have been mixing a scoop of Whey powder in my morning coffee for over a year and it gives me 18 g of protein for 100 calories.
    I use Designer Whey French Vanilla - I get a 4lb container for about $40 and it lasts about 90 days.
    The trick is to find one that you think tastes good..... the one I use has a lot of bad reviews... but I like it.
  • Colorscheme
    Colorscheme Posts: 1,179 Member
    I too have a hard time with protein. I am allergic to eggs and I hate meat, so I am vegetarian. I consume greek yogurt, protein bars and protein shakes in an efford to get enough protein during the day.
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    I make delicious smoothies !!!!!


    If you like gingerbread, Oxygen magazine has a recipe for a delicious Gingerbread cookie shake: 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder, 1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder, 1/2 cup vanilla enriched Rice Dream, 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 T molasses, and ice cubes. Blend and drink ! Mmmmmm

    I also like a Creamsicle, which is a cup of orange juice (I get the Healthy kids kind with extra calcium and vitamins), half a scoop of vanilla protein powder (I’ve been getting spirulina), and a lowfat or Greek vanilla (or plain or coffee) yogurt. Blend and drink.

    The Key Lime Protein Shake is blended with the juice of a lime, 2 tsp lime zest, 1 scoop of vanilla whey protein powder, 1 T coconut, a cup of milk, and 1-2 packets of Stevia (optional).

    The Chocolate Maple Shake is made by blending a cup of milk, 3 T protein powder, 1 T cocoa powder, and 1 tsp maple syrup

    Last but not least, for a change, I blend a cup of orange juice (I get the Healthy kids kind with extra calcium and vitamins), half a scoop of chocolate protein powder (I’ve been getting spirulina), and a lowfat coffee yogurt. Also good!

  • jevco19
    jevco19 Posts: 3 Member
    Eileen_S wrote: »
    I drink protein shakes as a way of getting extra calories and protein into my diet when I'm at work and don't have time to eat.

  • jevco19
    jevco19 Posts: 3 Member
    How do you put it in your coffee? I put my coffee in the shaker and shook it up,,, it exploded. Just stirring makes it lumpy?
  • kwtilbury
    kwtilbury Posts: 1,234 Member
    In addition to straight-up shakes, I use protein powder as a flavor enhancer in a number of different ways:

    Greek yogurt
    Oatmeal
    With coffee over ice

    I know that some people bake with protein powder, although I haven't tried it yet.

    I buy in bulk and wait until there are killer deals. I try and get it to about $0.30-$0.40 per serving.
  • khhregister
    khhregister Posts: 229 Member
    I use two kinds - every morning, I have 2 TBS of collagen that dissolves completely into my coffee.
    Then, on some days (especially when I work out with weights) I'll also make a protein fluff made with casein powder. It's FABULOUS - I wish I had heard about it years ago. It feels like a real treat and is very filling.

    I find if I don't include protein powder it's really hard for me to meet my protein needs without going over in calories. This is not true for me at maintenance, but it is when I'm trying to lose weight.

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