Protein supplements

DawnDawn2011
DawnDawn2011 Posts: 92
edited October 6 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been reading that protein is the key to building lean muscle and helping to shed unwanted fat. I really don't eat much meat, maybe some turkey or chicken here and there, so I am looking for a good low calorie protein shake supplement. I am not into body building or anything, but I do push myself pretty hard when I work out, and I want to give my body what it needs, so I can build the body that I want. Any suggestions?
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Replies

  • j_g4ever
    j_g4ever Posts: 1,925 Member
    bump. I'm the same way don't eat much meat and am interested in knowing the answer.
  • Saruman_w
    Saruman_w Posts: 1,531 Member
    I get most of my protein from canned meats, sorta high in sodium but I try my best to rinse it out in hopes it gets rid of at least some of it. A can of chicken chunks goes for about 270 calories a can depending on brand. There's also protein shakes for after workouts. You can mix 'em yourself so you control how many calories or how much protein you want in one shot. I've been taking the Bodyfortress Whey protein powders and mixing 'em with unsweetened almond milk and that gets me close to 180 calories or so for one big scoop.
  • RainbootsToBikinis
    RainbootsToBikinis Posts: 465 Member
    I drink IdealShape for 2 meals a day, but there are other meal replacement shakes out there that provide extra protein. It's only 110 calories so you can use it as meal replacement or a snack supplement.
  • crystalcreek
    crystalcreek Posts: 38
    I get most of my protein from canned meats, sorta high in sodium but I try my best to rinse it out in hopes it gets rid of at least some of it. A can of chicken chunks goes for about 270 calories a can depending on brand. There's also protein shakes for after workouts. You can mix 'em yourself so you control how many calories or how much protein you want in one shot. I've been taking the Bodyfortress Whey protein powders and mixing 'em with unsweetened almond milk and that gets me close to 180 calories or so for one big scoop.

    My trainer just recommended the same protein powder today. :smile:
  • IvoryParchment
    IvoryParchment Posts: 651 Member
    Can you do dairy? Skim milk is high protein, low calorie, and provides your water and calcium requirements. It's probably the source of the protein in that powder anyway.
  • chicago_dad
    chicago_dad Posts: 357
    Check out Optimum Nutrition's protein products. I particularly like the Pro Complex (natural) vanilla, their chocolate shake flavor Platinum Hydrobuilder. You want something with a mix of protein sources (not just whey, or even worse-- just soy), and something with lots of BCAAs.

    check out: http://www.optimumnutrition.com/products/platinum-hydrobuilder-p-277.html
  • blazergrad
    blazergrad Posts: 603 Member
    Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Natural Whey Protein is another good one. It's all natural, as the name implies, and the flavors are actually quite tasty. I usually put two scoops (24g protein per scoop) in some milk in the blender and it makes for a pretty good shake.
  • gonzalezmona
    gonzalezmona Posts: 60 Member
    GNC has some pretty good choices for protein shakes in a variety of flavor...and then there is Muscle Milk. I wouldn't be to concerned about builidng muscle by consuming Muscle Milk because it takes women longer to develop muscle than it does men. :)
  • weightofyourskin
    weightofyourskin Posts: 173
    I make a protein shake from one bottle of Boost meal replacement for diabetics (I'm not diabetic but it has more protein than even the "hyperprotein" formula and half the carbs!), a scoop of chocolate-flavored whey protein. I can't stand the taste of Boost, so I add a few strawberries and sometimes a bit of coconut milk for flavour. It's just over 40 grams of protein per shake. It's over 400 calories, though, which would probably be too much for a lot of people.

    I'm curious to see other recipes for protein shakes now!
  • DawnDawn2011
    DawnDawn2011 Posts: 92
    I am so glad that I posted this! Thank you all for the great advice!! I am taking notes and learning! : )
  • iPhone4fotos
    iPhone4fotos Posts: 28
    Hi! I just started on protein shakes and wanted a lean protein. I went to GNC and they suggested I use AMP Pro Performance Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60. A serving is 3 scoops: total cals 280 / total fat 1g (.5g sat fat) / total carbs 7g / total protein 60g. The numbers I gave you is the protein mixed with 12 oz of water. I chose to mix it with skim milk so I just add in the extra cals for the milk . Now, GNC told me all I need is 1 oz (mixed with 4oz of skim milk) before my workout and 1 oz (mixed with 4oz of skim milk) w/in 30 mins after my workout for recovery so of course so the numbers work out as follows per 1oz serving: 136 cals / 8g of carbs / 0g fat / 24g of protein.

    I drink the chocolate flavor and it is absolutely delicious. Oh and the best part....no aspartame which I heard can cause headaches.

    Oh...one last thing...I have noticed a difference in my workout. I'm a runner and I have noticed increased energy since I started using it.

    Good luck to you!
  • j_g4ever
    j_g4ever Posts: 1,925 Member
    I drink IdealShape for 2 meals a day, but there are other meal replacement shakes out there that provide extra protein. It's only 110 calories so you can use it as meal replacement or a snack supplement.

    where do you buy this at?? never heard of it.
  • kouzzzz
    kouzzzz Posts: 540 Member
    I don't buy my protein powder from GNC or any other commercialized retail stores, they tend to have artificial sweeteners, artificial flavoring/color and other unwanted ingredients. They also use whey from cows that were treated with Monsanto's rBST. I usually buy mine on the internet or a health food store.

    Good luck....
  • snkeller24
    snkeller24 Posts: 459
    Optimum Nutrition or Gaspari Myofusion - I order from www.bodybuilding.com my favorite is the gaspari - mixes really well (I have a blender ball mixer and usually do it with water)

    It's a supplement; nothing to do with being a body builder. It fills in the holes that you aren't able too with eating.

    Do your research, read reviews, and try some out. If you go to a "chain gym" and they make smoothies - ask what kind they use, especially if you like it.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,026 Member
    I don't buy my protein powder from GNC or any other commercialized retail stores, they tend to have artificial sweeteners, artificial flavoring/color and other unwanted ingredients. They also use whey from cows that were treated with Monsanto's rBST. I usually buy mine on the internet or a health food store.

    Good luck....
    So the Optimum Nutrition's Gold Standard Whey at GNC has "fake" whey while the one you by on the internet doesn't?

    Where's you source for this information?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • nukehiker
    nukehiker Posts: 457
    Hi! I just started on protein shakes and wanted a lean protein. I went to GNC and they suggested I use AMP Pro Performance Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60

    Thats the same one I use, even though i have been using the bananas and cream flavor, it's great ! what i like is that it mixes well in both water or milk !
  • lazatin
    lazatin Posts: 452 Member
    Hi! I just started on protein shakes and wanted a lean protein. I went to GNC and they suggested I use AMP Pro Performance Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60. A serving is 3 scoops: total cals 280 / total fat 1g (.5g sat fat) / total carbs 7g / total protein 60g. The numbers I gave you is the protein mixed with 12 oz of water. I chose to mix it with skim milk so I just add in the extra cals for the milk . Now, GNC told me all I need is 1 oz (mixed with 4oz of skim milk) before my workout and 1 oz (mixed with 4oz of skim milk) w/in 30 mins after my workout for recovery so of course so the numbers work out as follows per 1oz serving: 136 cals / 8g of carbs / 0g fat / 24g of protein.

    I drink the chocolate flavor and it is absolutely delicious. Oh and the best part....no aspartame which I heard can cause headaches.

    Oh...one last thing...I have noticed a difference in my workout. I'm a runner and I have noticed increased energy since I started using it.

    Good luck to you!
    I use this also...just got the banana cream and it idelicious...taste like a banana popsicle...i also mixed the banana amd chocolate together and that was a nice change...i got a really good price on mine by using there website...always coupon codes out there and free shipping!
  • LadyOfOceanBreeze
    LadyOfOceanBreeze Posts: 762 Member
    I have been reading that protein is the key to building lean muscle and helping to shed unwanted fat. I really don't eat much meat, maybe some turkey or chicken here and there, so I am looking for a good low calorie protein shake supplement. I am not into body building or anything, but I do push myself pretty hard when I work out, and I want to give my body what it needs, so I can build the body that I want. Any suggestions?

    :flowerforyou: Garden of Life - Raw Protein Beyond Organic Protein Formula:heart:

    this does not contain any bad-for-you chemicals, I buy it at my local whole foods market about $30.00 a month:happy:

    by the way, it contains no animal byproducts either which is nice and HAS probiotics for digestion too!!
  • LadyOfOceanBreeze
    LadyOfOceanBreeze Posts: 762 Member
    I don't buy my protein powder from GNC or any other commercialized retail stores, they tend to have artificial sweeteners, artificial flavoring/color and other unwanted ingredients. They also use whey from cows that were treated with Monsanto's rBST. I usually buy mine on the internet or a health food store.

    Good luck....

    THIS!
    Garden of Life - Raw Protein Beyond Organic Protein Formula
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    Check out Optimum Nutrition's protein products. I particularly like the Pro Complex (natural) vanilla, their chocolate shake flavor Platinum Hydrobuilder. You want something with a mix of protein sources (not just whey, or even worse-- just soy), and something with lots of BCAAs.

    check out: http://www.optimumnutrition.com/products/platinum-hydrobuilder-p-277.html

    I sip BCAAs during my workout (Scivation Xtend Grape/watermelon) and this helps me tremendously.

    Optimum Nutritions chocolate protien shakes are delicious!(dont get strawberry... i have a huge thing of it which i refuse to drink because its disgusting)

    Syntha 6 Vanilla Ice cream protien, omg, amazing

    also i think these are all over 20grams of protein and about 160 cals? I'm sure it varies.
  • monicamk1975
    monicamk1975 Posts: 298 Member
    I have been using Isomax Whey protien at 48g of protien for 206 calories and 4 carbs. I love it :) (although- I dont have much of a selection here, as we are currently living in mexico and the selection here bites)
  • JoeDenison
    JoeDenison Posts: 18 Member
    Hi! I just started on protein shakes and wanted a lean protein. I went to GNC and they suggested I use AMP Pro Performance Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60. A serving is 3 scoops: total cals 280 / total fat 1g (.5g sat fat) / total carbs 7g / total protein 60g. ...

    Me too -- this is one of the best tasting protein shakes (chocolate). Very sweet, minimal chalky taste that I experience with others. One scoop is 20g protein, plenty for one serving. Reduce the water according to taste or add to milk as suggested above.

    Note however that most recommendations for post-workout nutrition suggest a higher carbohydrate ratio than what this product provides. Fruit is usually my choice for the carbs.
  • snkeller24
    snkeller24 Posts: 459

    I sip BCAAs during my workout (Scivation Xtend Grape/watermelon) and this helps me tremendously.


    Side note - do you have issues getting the Scivation to mix well? I have the grape and it pisses me off. Not a fan of the flavor, perfer ON Amino better
  • iPhone4fotos
    iPhone4fotos Posts: 28
    Hi! I just started on protein shakes and wanted a lean protein. I went to GNC and they suggested I use AMP Pro Performance Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60. A serving is 3 scoops: total cals 280 / total fat 1g (.5g sat fat) / total carbs 7g / total protein 60g. The numbers I gave you is the protein mixed with 12 oz of water. I chose to mix it with skim milk so I just add in the extra cals for the milk . Now, GNC told me all I need is 1 oz (mixed with 4oz of skim milk) before my workout and 1 oz (mixed with 4oz of skim milk) w/in 30 mins after my workout for recovery so of course so the numbers work out as follows per 1oz serving: 136 cals / 8g of carbs / 0g fat / 24g of protein.

    I drink the chocolate flavor and it is absolutely delicious. Oh and the best part....no aspartame which I heard can cause headaches.

    Oh...one last thing...I have noticed a difference in my workout. I'm a runner and I have noticed increased energy since I started using it.

    Good luck to you!
    I use this also...just got the banana cream and it idelicious...taste like a banana popsicle...i also mixed the banana amd chocolate together and that was a nice change...i got a really good price on mine by using there website...always coupon codes out there and free shipping!

    What a great idea! I'm going to try this!
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    I dont have a hard time getting it to mix. I mix it in the blender bottle and then usually leave it alone for 3-4 minutes and it all dissolves. I also probably use ALOT more water than i should because too little and it gets gritty. It tastes like grape koolaid to me. *shrug* The watermelon is much better imo, i just have a habit of buying everything in "grape" flavor. :P

    I sip BCAAs during my workout (Scivation Xtend Grape/watermelon) and this helps me tremendously.


    Side note - do you have issues getting the Scivation to mix well? I have the grape and it pisses me off. Not a fan of the flavor, perfer ON Amino better
  • kouzzzz
    kouzzzz Posts: 540 Member
    I don't buy my protein powder from GNC or any other commercialized retail stores, they tend to have artificial sweeteners, artificial flavoring/color and other unwanted ingredients. They also use whey from cows that were treated with Monsanto's rBST. I usually buy mine on the internet or a health food store.

    Good luck....
    So the Optimum Nutrition's Gold Standard Whey at GNC has "fake" whey while the one you by on the internet doesn't?

    Where's you source for this information?


    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    I never said it's fake whey.

    There are too many questions concerning health risks concerning rBST (genetically modified growth hormone) and I choose not to ingest it. I did my research and that's how I feel. I would rather eat more natural. Same thing with artificial sweeteners. Just giving my opinion just like everyone else.

    Just to let you know, the United States is the only developed nation to permit humans to drink milk from cows given artificial growth hormone (rBST).

    and artificial flavoring.....just look at the back of optimum nutrition under ingredients. Better yet, here it is:

    Protein Blend (whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, whey peptides), cocoa (processed with alkali), artificial flavors, lecithin, acesulfame potassium, Aminogen®, lactase.

    It does say artificial flavors. So, my source of information is right on the package.
  • iPhone4fotos
    iPhone4fotos Posts: 28
    Hi! I just started on protein shakes and wanted a lean protein. I went to GNC and they suggested I use AMP Pro Performance Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60. A serving is 3 scoops: total cals 280 / total fat 1g (.5g sat fat) / total carbs 7g / total protein 60g. ...

    Me too -- this is one of the best tasting protein shakes (chocolate). Very sweet, minimal chalky taste that I experience with others. One scoop is 20g protein, plenty for one serving. Reduce the water according to taste or add to milk as suggested above.

    Note however that most recommendations for post-workout nutrition suggest a higher carbohydrate ratio than what this product provides. Fruit is usually my choice for the carbs.

    I will add fruit to my post-workout nutrition. Thanks!
  • snkeller24
    snkeller24 Posts: 459
    I'll try it in the blender bottle then putting it in a regular water bottle. My guess I'll go back to ON - just sucks because this was a huge container! I have a habit of buying grape flavored things too. I manange to get it down but it's not my favorite. The ON was a much better taste.
  • RainbootsToBikinis
    RainbootsToBikinis Posts: 465 Member
    I drink IdealShape for 2 meals a day, but there are other meal replacement shakes out there that provide extra protein. It's only 110 calories so you can use it as meal replacement or a snack supplement.

    where do you buy this at?? never heard of it.

    I buy it online at www.idealshape.com after reading meal replacement shake reviews at http://www.mealreplacementshakereviews.com/category/product-reviews/ I was originally looking at reviews for Isagenix but it was way out of my price range and placed lower on the reviews. I've only tried the chocolate flavor and I really like it.
  • zyzz_brah
    zyzz_brah Posts: 16 Member
    I'd definitely go with gaspari's myofusion if you're looking for a great tasting protein supp that tastes great in water. I also recommend ordering off of bodybuilding.com great service, fast shipping and the prices are a lot less than what you'll find in gnc or vitamin shoppe. However at the moment I do believe with the holiday sales you can find myofusion at gnc a few dollars cheaper than what it is on bb.com
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