is my protein shake too high in calories?

nixrun
nixrun Posts: 44
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
is there such thing as too high caloric protein shake? i burn from 700-1400 calories in exercise a day and treat myself to a protein shake afterwards that is nearly 700 calories. i add two scoops of whey, a banana, a few strawberries, a scoop of greek yogurt, and cup of almond milk.

Replies

  • graysmom2005
    graysmom2005 Posts: 1,882 Member
    As long as it fits in your day then go for it. I can think of a million things I use 700 calories for, but if you love it, it fits, and you're still losing weight? Mazel Tov!
  • MonicaT1972
    MonicaT1972 Posts: 512
    I personally wouldn't use one that high in calories, I stick with ones that are around 150 per scoop with 20 g of protein per scoop.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    Why/ how are you burning that many calories?

    And yes 700 is a little high. Like Greysmom said, if it fits your calorie goal, not a problem but I'd rather use those calories for real food. You probably don't need the protein of 2 scoops of whey.
  • Spanaval
    Spanaval Posts: 1,200 Member
    Why/ how are you burning that many calories?

    And yes 700 is a little high. Like Greysmom said, if it fits your calorie goal, not a problem but I'd rather use those calories for real food. You probably don't need the protein of 2 scoops of whey.

    This! I think that mine are in the 200 - 300 calorie range, with similar ingredients. One scoop of protein powder, though.
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    What do you do to burn 1400 calories?

    Also you should eat real food. 200 calories for a shake is more then enough
  • nixrun
    nixrun Posts: 44
    I'm doing 30 day shred/Hip Hop abs combo, some days I add in a hike or a jog. I figure it is a way for me to eat back my exercise calories without getting that overly full feeling at the end of the day where I am forcing myself to eat when I am not hungry.
  • particleastro
    particleastro Posts: 68 Member
    What are you doing to burn 1400 calories? Rowing the Oxford-Cambridge boat race is only 2000! What are you using as a shake?

    Many powders come in the form of Whey Concentrate. Depending on flavourings they can be anything up to 82% protein. Protein provides 4kcals a gramme. You can make your shake however many calories you need.

    As a heads up I have 40g of protein and 80g oats in mine, plus some olive oil for digestion. They come to 800cals.

    What are your goals? Are you trying to lose fat? Is it working with that shake? Then keep on it!
  • Brechin89
    Brechin89 Posts: 92
    is there such thing as too high caloric protein shake? i burn from 700-1400 calories in exercise a day and treat myself to a protein shake afterwards that is nearly 700 calories. i add two scoops of whey, a banana, a few strawberries, a scoop of greek yogurt, and cup of almond milk.

    or bypass this and use milk with your protein...
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    How are you calculating your burned calories? No offense, hopefully, but they sound too high. If you burned calories are too high and you are eating them back, you could be eating too much (but this also depends on what your base calories are). Additionally, if it's a struggle to eat all those exercise calories, don't exercise so much.
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    I'm doing 30 day shred/Hip Hop abs combo, some days I add in a hike or a jog. I figure it is a way for me to eat back my exercise calories without getting that overly full feeling at the end of the day where I am forcing myself to eat when I am not hungry.

    I drink back all my exercise calories in a shake and this is exactly why! (I normally burn about 300 and my shake is 300 because I use two scoops and almond milk). It's a good way to get back the calories your body needs without forcing down food at the end of the day. Personally, I work out at night so by that point I'm not hungry enough to eat another meal, so gulping down a protein shake is perfect. So I see no problem with what you're doing, I say go for it. However, as others have mentioned, 1400 seems a bit high so make sure you're correct about how much you burn! Are you using a HRM?
  • sisierra
    sisierra Posts: 659 Member
    Meh, I think it's fine. Especially since you have some really healthy stuff goin' in there :D
  • sculley
    sculley Posts: 2,012 Member
    I know I only use a half of a scoop which is 100 calories (syntha 6) and almond breeze unsweetened vanilla....that usually puts me at 140 and if i want to add more things I will
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    I too am interested in how you are burning 1400 calories, no offense but that sounds wrong. I did a 60 mile bike ride and burned less than that.

    If weight loss is your goal, I would probably advise you find a lower calorie shake. 700 is a lot.
  • nixrun
    nixrun Posts: 44
    my HRM is set at the correct weight, I just go off of my HRM reads per workout.
  • Mercenary1914
    Mercenary1914 Posts: 1,087 Member
    is there such thing as too high caloric protein shake? i burn from 700-1400 calories in exercise a day and treat myself to a protein shake afterwards that is nearly 700 calories. i add two scoops of whey, a banana, a few strawberries, a scoop of greek yogurt, and cup of almond milk.

    by my elementary calculation...if you are eating only 3 meals a day at 2100 cals...that would average 700 cals per meal....

    So if you are 3 meal a day and 2100 is your averge intake...Not a problem....

    but if you are eating south of that and trying to space out 5 to 6 meals...That's too high
  • mes1119
    mes1119 Posts: 1,082 Member
    I would half it... half a banana, one scoop whey, one cup of almond milk, strawberries. Maybe use regular milk to get more protein or plain greek yogurt. I would try to find more protein dense and low calorie substitutions for it.

    I make one with 2 scoops whey, strawberries and almond milk... and it is only about 350-400 calories

    but that is simply because my protein shake is a snack, not a meal replacement. I like to eat 3 good meals too.
  • KMSForLife
    KMSForLife Posts: 577 Member
    I think that seems high for a shake, especially with the ingredients you have listed. I drink a "green" shake every morning with one scoop of vanilla whey protein, some type of fruit, one cup of unsweetened almond milk, and spinach. The most calories I have gotten out of one of those shakes is 318.
  • Mercenary1914
    Mercenary1914 Posts: 1,087 Member
    I would half it... half a banana, one scoop whey, one cup of almond milk, strawberries. Maybe use regular milk to get more protein or plain greek yogurt. I would try to find more protein dense and low calorie substitutions for it.

    I make one with 2 scoops whey, strawberries and almond milk... and it is only about 350-400 calories

    that sounds like a good adjusment...I like this!
  • FitForeverAgain
    FitForeverAgain Posts: 330 Member
    If you're dropping weight, keep doing what you're doing. But damn, I spent 2 1/2 hours on the bike last night at an average speed of about 17 mph without drafting and barely burnt that many calories - and I weight a relatively lean 192. But, if you're seeing results - you're in the right spot. That is just a tough burn... Maybe I need a new HRM!
    is there such thing as too high caloric protein shake? i burn from 700-1400 calories in exercise a day and treat myself to a protein shake afterwards that is nearly 700 calories. i add two scoops of whey, a banana, a few strawberries, a scoop of greek yogurt, and cup of almond milk.
  • TheBraveryLover
    TheBraveryLover Posts: 1,217 Member
    Nope. As long as you keep your other meals in check, and are losing, you're fine.

    I always do two scoop protein shakes on workout days. Not sure what the issue is regarding that...
  • TheFunBun
    TheFunBun Posts: 793 Member
    I usually keep my shakes around 500 calories. I also use cow-milk for the added protein since you're already using whey, why not.

    I also can see the burn happening if you're not slim yet, but quite active. It's always surprising what you can burn carrying yourself around. For me, that would be a zumba class and a trip to the outlet mall on tax free weekend. ;)
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    HRM or not - 30 day shred is only 20 minutes of exercise, so unless you're doing that hip hop routine for an hour or two.... Also a HRM is really only at its most accurate when you're doing cardio like biking/running etc.

    Have you been losing weight at this 700-1400 calorie workout vs. protein shake cycle?
  • diddyh
    diddyh Posts: 131 Member
    That seems like a lot of calories to me. I more often than not have a smoothie for dinner and sometimes a little something else. My smoothies are only about 300. I make mine with one cup of 2% milk, one banana, a few berries of some kind, a few ice cubes, and a packet of splenda. They fill me up and taste good with relatively few calories. The calorie burn figure also seems high to me.
  • Mercenary1914
    Mercenary1914 Posts: 1,087 Member
    I just loaded this in my diary to see how it would fit...and the most I could get was 500 Cals...

    I am using Optimum Nutrition as the Whey though...I guess the protein whey you are using is high in fats and carbs or something?
  • nixrun
    nixrun Posts: 44
    I use syntha-6 vanilla ice cream at 190 cal per scoop. Not sure if this has anything to do with how I burn calories, but I am at 5100 ft above sea level.
  • Mercenary1914
    Mercenary1914 Posts: 1,087 Member
    I use syntha-6 vanilla ice cream at 190 cal per scoop. Not sure if this has anything to do with how I burn calories, but I am at 5100 ft above sea level.

    Wow..your protein shakes must taste AMAZING...When I first started using protein shake...I couldnt drink it with out milk, chocolate syrup and a half a scoop of ice cream...I was pathetic in those days...

    Well keep doing what your doing...if you find you get stuck...just make adjustments.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    I use syntha-6 vanilla ice cream at 190 cal per scoop. Not sure if this has anything to do with how I burn calories, but I am at 5100 ft above sea level.

    I'm in CO too. I weigh 158lbs. A 1.5 hour mountain bike ride burns about 1000 calories.
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    I love Rae.




    Just wanted to throw that in there.
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