Protein powder??

Short answer yes.

It wont make you gain weight. It is actually the opposite, it will give your muscles the necessary protein and amino acids it needs to recover after your workout.

Sort of a misconception. When doing quick burns of energy, like weight lifting, your body uses up carbs as energy. You want to resupply with carbs. Protein shakes seem to have gotten really popular in the mid 80's and 90's. Protein is cheap and plentiful. If you really want to recover, look for something with at least a 3:1 carb to protein ratio.

Yes definately!!! Protein helps build muscle and eats at fat....! After a good workout it gets your body absorbing the protein and breaks that fat down instead of store it... I was on a routine for a while with a trainer and he was all about the protein! A scoop after I workout as well as a scoop during the day, usually in the morning around 930... If I eat breakfast around 730 anyway!

Hope this helps a little!

My trainer, who is VERY built, told me that we don't need to, we can get our protein in other ways. I drink a non-fat chocolate milk and have a Chobani yogurt after I workout and it gives me about 30 g of protein, which is what he said I should be aiming for after my workout. :flowerforyou:

You need to eat lean protein period. about 100 g a day if you want harder leaner muscle...powders can bloat you so stick to egg whites, chicken breats, lean turkey, etc, about 4 oz a serving lordsfitness@aol,con more info Tim L BS MA Pycd Candidate CPT

Definitely. There are many brands offering all sorts of extras in the mix, but the basic fact is that protein contains the essential building blocks for muscle. This will not make you bulk up, as that requires a strict "bulking" diet. If you are losing, "cutting", the powder will enable better recovery and that the weight lost will not be from the muscles. It should be taken within 20 minutes after working out.

I take a basic powder mixed with green "matchta" tea and a banana. Yummy!

Many sports and health magazines will give you the low down on the powders. Note that most of these also say that "lifting" weights is better than steady state cardio. I, personally, mix a few KM run with some lifting and some HIIT training on the elliptical followed by a run back home.

Regards,

Basho

Yes you should have protein straight after a workout, the reason most people use powders (milkshakes) is because its a liquid and gets to your muscles faster, if you were to eat protein after a workout as a solid, it would take 2-3 hours for it to get to your muscles.
You should eat your carbs after a workout because it will restore glycogen level and help restore your muscles also.
So if you can save your carbs for after a workout and get some liquid protein for fast recovery.

yup you should, but it should be incorporated into your daily caloric intake. protein powder is basically food for your muscles and it helps them repair after stretching them out or working them. It's a good idea. I really like the Leanfit protein from costco, it dissolves well and is only 110 calories per scoop. I can even take it in plain water and it's still yummy! At 29.99 a pop it's a great deal!

when in doubt always go back to your text " when caloric intake goes down, protein requirement goes up" " it is not the requirement of the body for protein, rather for amino acids"
free amino acids
assuming the caloric intake is adequate, being 2/3 or more protein from animal meats, the RDA suggested for adults is 0.8 g per pound of body weight.. a 200 pound man would need 161 g, a 150 pound woman would need 120 g . Thoms Baechle, Edd, Roger Earle, MA, Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning NSCA edition 2000 by the way, these researchers are a scientific doctor and a MA in education in fitness... too many wannabe fitness "experts" out there