protein shakes ????

bump.

i'd like to know too,

I use a meal replacement shake called Shakeology by beachbody fitness every day and their Results and Recovery formula for muscle recovery - but for the most part protien shakes are for people who want to gain muscle mass or are not getting enough protein in their diet in other ways.

I dont subscribe to the theory that you need to take them within a certain window before or after a workout.

I have protein powders for different reasons/uses. One is for cooking, to add to home made protein bars, cheesecakes etc, to bump up the protein content (when needed).

The other is as a useful supplement. I am far from a body builder, but I do workout almost every day and somedays I am too low on my protein content or on my calories overall, I'll have a shake at the end of the day. A decent chocolate flavoured shake with some added cocoa or a bit of icecream is actually pretty tasty (to me anyway). If I get a desert craving but dont want anything too bad that makes for a reasonable alternative.

if you're going to opt for the "bought' prepared shakes make sure you're getting a PROTEIN shake and not a meal replacement. Half the cans marketed as protein shakes in the local store are actually meal replacement (more carb content than protein)

I just make shakes at home.. protein itself isn't going to "bulk you up" that takes a LOT of work and in some cases questionable substances... I have whey powder I buy at the local bulk food store and I add it to anything I need to boost protein in... bit in my morning yogurt, or oatmeal, bit in a yogurt smoothie... mashed potatoes.... pancake batter... omelet... well it goes on and on... the one I use doesn't really have a taste itself but that's fine.

Hi I'm new on here! I saw your post, so maybe this will help. I take Ultimate profit and it tastes great! I copied and pasted the product info for you:
Ultimate ProFIT™

Whether your goal is weight loss, athletic performance, or a simple way to eat healthy, Ultimate ProFIT Superfood Nutrition Mix offers a superior blend of proteins, mood-elevating “superfoods,” and fiber that is proven to produce ultimate results*. Use it in shakes or smoothies, bake with it, or even mix it with your food!

Try it in rich chocolate or creamy vanilla today, and start seeing results like these:
• Experience quicker post-workout recovery
• Build lean muscle mass with fewer calories
• Maintain healthy cholesterol levels
• Get feel-good, mood-elevating energy with maca and cacao powder
• Promote healthy digestion with seven different soluble and insoluble fibers

Ultimate ProFIT is powered by:
• Sustain-It™, a smarter protein blend for maximum bioavailability in every gram
• FITzyme™, a cutting-edge blend of enzymes, helps maximize your body’s ability to absorb Sustain-It™.
• FITboost™, an antioxidant blend of mood-elevating “superfoods” for immune system health.*
• Non-hormonal and non-GMO whey and soy proteins
• Natural, whole-food ingredients with only 100 calories per serving!

Directions: Add one level scoop to an 8 oz. glass of water, milk, juice, or blend in favorite foods. When mixing, add liquid first, then blend, stirring briskly until completely dissolved.


you can get it at healthequalswealth.myitworks.com

I wish to know when a person in need of protin shouldtake it, before the work out or after.

I drink one shake daily to help me get my protein intake up. I want whatever scale weight I lose to be fat and water, not my lean muscle mass, and protein shakes help with that. You want that protein over 100g; MFP sets the protein cap far too low for most.

I only take it when i'm defit of my protein nutritional needs, if for example it's mid day and i haven't achive half of my protein allowable intake then i drink a shake.
However, for days that i meet my protein needs trough whole foods then i skip the shakes. Personally whole foods is much better compared to protein shakes so i try to minimize the consumption

I don't use a protein shake, but I do use something called Vega One (formerly called Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer). I use it because I rarely have time to eat lunch at work, so this is a good alternative. I know I'm getting loads of vitamins and minerals, a fair amount of protein, and other "good stuff" even when I can't sit down and eat a full meal. Plus, it's made from organic ingredients, it is vegan, gluten free, and only has 1 sugar (unlike most meal replacement shakes).

Anyway, in case you're interested, I pasted the product information for you below. You can read the full label and more info on their website - just google it and it will pop up on the first page. As with ANY protein or meal replacement shake, I HIGHLY recommend getting a sample pack of a couple different flavors to make sure you like it. Everybody's tastes are different, and I'd hate for you to spend a lot of money on something you won't use. Good luck!

Product info:

Good for your body and the planet, Vega One Nutritional Shake is the clean, plant-based choice to fuel your healthy, active lifestyle—without compromise. Made from natural, whole food ingredients, Vega One is a convenient, all-in-one supplement, packed with:

50% daily intake of vitamins and minerals
15 g protein
6 g fibre
1.5 g Omega-3
Antioxidants
Probiotics
Greens

Formulated by Brendan Brazier, professional Ironman triathlete and bestselling author on performance nutrition, Vega One is free from dairy, gluten and soy, and contains no added sugar, artificial flavours, colours or sweeteners.

Available in Berry, Chocolate, Vanilla Chai and Natural flavour, enjoy Vega One shaken with water, juice or a non-dairy beverage of your choice, and as a delicious, nutrient-supplementing addition to your favourite smoothie recipe.

15 g Protein
Vega One features our signature, broad-spectrum, plant-based protein blend, with all essential amino acids in ideal balance. Vega One’s Complete Protein Blend includes:

Pea protein
SaviSeed™ (sacha inchi) protein
Hemp seed protein
Sprouted whole grain brown rice protein
6 g Fiber
Boasting 24% of your recommended daily intake of fiber per serving, Vega One is a delicious way to work both soluble and insoluble fiber into your day. Fiber intake has been shown to help:

Maintain normal blood sugar levels1
Normalize elimination and maintain bowel health1
Promote a feeling of fullness, reduce feelings of hunger and thereby support healthy weight management when combined with exercise and a reduced calorie diet.1
Fiber in Vega One is primarily sourced from flax, inulin (fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS)), and pea.

Low GI Carbohydrates
Low glycemic—with an impressively low GI of 19.22—one serving of Vega One is comprised of 26% naturally-occurring complex carbohydrates. Sweetened only with stevia extract, Vega One has no sugar, maltodextrin or sugar-derivatives added.

1.5 g Omega-3
Giving you as much Omega-3 per scoop as 6 oz. of wild chum salmon, Vega One sources its plant-based Omega profile from white chia, whole flax seed (not flax meal) and hemp.

Antioxidants
Blueberries are jealous—that’s because a serving of Vega One has as many antioxidants3 as 2.7 cups of them. Plus, each scoop of Vega One showcases 200mg of Vega’s custom 1000 ORAC4 Antioxidant Blend, sourced from some of the most antioxidant-rich fruit in the world, including:

Maqui, goji and Açaí berries
Pomegranate seed
Mangosteen
Grape seed extract
Greens
A single, one-scoop serving of Vega One delivers the equivalent of 3 servings of vegetables—mainly from our Green Blend, which features:

Chlorella (cracked cell, high CGF)
Alfalfa grass
Spinach leaf
Broccoli
Kale
Vitamins & Minerals
Helping you cover your key nutrient bases, a serving of Vega One give you 50% of your daily intake of vitamins and minerals. Premium vitamin and mineral forms such as mineral citrates were chosen to help you get more out of Vega One through better absorption.

Probiotics
With 1 billion CFU dairy-free probiotics (lactobacillus acidopholus and Bifidobacterium bifidum), Vega One helps maintain healthy intestinal flora—without a visit to the yogurt aisle.

Digestive Enzymes
We want you to get everything you can from a serving of Vega One. That’s why Vega’s Digestive Enzyme blend is added to facilitate the breakdown of nutrients in Vega One during digestion, so more nutrients are available to be absorbed by your body for higher net-gain nutrition.

Maca
Rich in amino acids, alkaloids, sterols, vitamins and minerals, 1000 mg of pure, organic, gelatinized maca are included in every serving of Vega One, to help you balance, invigorate, energize and maintain good health.

Chlorella
Part of the Green Blend in Vega One, chlorella is a nutritious, green micro-algae that delivers Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), chlorophyll, protein, vitamins and minerals to help support immune function5.

Edited to stop myself being antagonistic. Yay for self-censoring! (albeit after the fact :P)

curious as to why avoiding soy when you're dairy intolerant?

It's not "dairy milk" with soy added.... Now personally I avoid anything containing soy whenever I can but that's a personal choice, but rice milk, hemp milk, almond milk all provide alternatives to milk without getting into protein shakes....

Honestly, I use Total Lean because I don't like to cook for just myself and it keeps me from doing the "quick" fast food run. I enjoy it mixed with nonfat milk and frozen fruit.
:flowerforyou:

A high-protein intake coupled with fibrous (non-starchy) vegetables (broccoli, green beans, lettuce, asparagus, cauliflower, etc) is the cornerstone of a fat-shedding diet. It’s almost impossible to gain fat eating green veggies and other fibrous carbs because the caloric density is too low. A diet that consists primarily of lean protein and fibrous carbs is the foundation of all serious fat loss diets

The rule for protein is: 1g per pound of lean body mass per day (not weight, lean body mass: If you weigh 200 lbs and are 20% bodyfat, that is 160 lbs of lean mass or 160g per day of protein). At least 40% and probably 50% of your daily calories should come from lean protein.

How you get it is up to you. Chicken breast, turkey breast, white fish, egg whites, whole eggs, and protein powders (which are egg protein) are all fine.

Protein shakes are a great between-meal snack. Protein also creates a sense of "fullness" and quells hunger. I would never treat them as the "meal" though. Some taste good, some taste nasty. Nasty: Body Fortress, EAS. Good: Pure Protein (aka "Eat Good/Look Great), and Six Star brands.

I have been reading all these replies, and I find them very interesting,
Can I just ask tho, how you find out your percentage of body fat so that you know how much protien you should be eating please.
Many Thanks