Protein Shakes??

Hi All...I have recently started substituting one meal a day for a protein shake made with protein powder, frozen fruit, and skim milk - love them but am I sabotaging my weight loss??Friends have commented and said that they will make me gain weight...
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Replies

  • kgprice11
    kgprice11 Posts: 749 Member
    They are totally wrong!!! First of all, a protein shake or actually protein powder helps after workouts and lets you recover faster. Yes if you don't workout at all then you will gain alittle bit of weight but those calories you take in will take longer to digest which your body will process it over a longer time. Keep taking it but no more than one time a day!
  • FungusTrooper
    FungusTrooper Posts: 227 Member
    As long as you aren't accidentally making it with fat powder instead of protein powder, it's good calories. Just keep watching your calorie intake and it'll be fine.
  • lifeskittles
    lifeskittles Posts: 438 Member
    If you don't work out and drink protein you WILL NOT GAIN WEIGHT EITHER. Calorie surplus makes you gain weight. Thats it. And you can drink it more than once a day to accomplish your protein goals...Mine are 120 grams..
  • ChocolateisCrack
    ChocolateisCrack Posts: 37 Member
    Heck I have one everyday after my workout and I also but milk and banana in it, works great and I feel full for a long time, but really I need it anyway, you can only eat so much meat.
  • Of course whole foods is always best, but if you can't eat whole foods, a protein shake is ok.

    Now your body only utilizes about 16-17% of protein powder, the rest goes to waste, so basically you have to weigh out the pros and cons of protein powder. Your body is only using a small % of, it can also cause bloating and gas, so it's up to you whether it's worth the cost or not.

    As for gaining weight, that isn't true unless of course you are adding a lot of added calories in the form of milks, fruits. etc. a simple protein shake can really go up in nutrition when you add stuff to it.
  • lbecker5
    lbecker5 Posts: 33 Member
    How many grams of protein should I be shooting for? I am looking for weight loss - yes - but also functional fitness - I want to look strong and athletic not skinny - I do not eat much meat - which is why I went for the shakes...
  • kgprice11
    kgprice11 Posts: 749 Member
    I would take no more than 120 grams of protein at a time or roughly around 1 1/2 - 2 scoops at a time
  • How many grams of protein should I be shooting for? I am looking for weight loss - yes - but also functional fitness - I want to look strong and athletic not skinny - I do not eat much meat - which is why I went for the shakes...

    How much do you weight? It can range from 1-1.5 grams per lb of body weight depending on your goals/and weight.
  • I would take no more than 120 grams of protein at a time or roughly around 1 1/2 - 2 scoops at a time

    This must be a typo right? A scoop usually only has 20 grams depending on the brand.
  • Iv been taking the ready made slimfat drinks fr breakfast as i cant eat in the morning, sometimes il have one fr lunch if im out and about and cant make anything. Id like your thoughts on these drinks pls :)
  • Sorry ibecker5, shudv posted ths sumwer else, didnt mean to try n hijack ur post :(
  • AlyRoseNYC
    AlyRoseNYC Posts: 1,075 Member
    Yeah, it's fine. Sometimes I drink some ON Whey Double Rich Chocolate just because I like how it tastes!
  • lbecker5
    lbecker5 Posts: 33 Member
    I am at 186 right now... the powder I am using has 20 grams per scoop....never tried the slim fast though - don't they have more calories? and carbs? I don't know much about them????
  • thinnerthaniam
    thinnerthaniam Posts: 15 Member
    Our bodies need a lot more than just Protein. Could you imagine eating a slab of meat for every meal and that's it? We need balanced nutrients to continue to thrive. High protein diets put the body in starvation mode and eat muscle tissue to survive. Since the heart is a muscle, do you really wanna do that? You might lose weight cause your starving, but you will put it back on so fast...
    There's better shakes that offer a lot more of a balanced diet than just Protein.. Wanna know?
  • lbecker5
    lbecker5 Posts: 33 Member
    I don't feel hijacked =) I was curious about the slim fast too...:smile:
  • lbecker5
    lbecker5 Posts: 33 Member
    Our bodies need a lot more than just Protein. Could you imagine eating a slab of meat for every meal and that's it? We need balanced nutrients to continue to thrive. High protein diets put the body in starvation mode and eat muscle tissue to survive. Since the heart is a muscle, do you really wanna do that? You might lose weight cause your starving, but you will put it back on so fast...
    There's better shakes that offer a lot more of a balanced diet than just Protein.. Wanna know?


    Like what??
  • Our bodies need a lot more than just Protein. Could you imagine eating a slab of meat for every meal and that's it? We need balanced nutrients to continue to thrive. High protein diets put the body in starvation mode and eat muscle tissue to survive. Since the heart is a muscle, do you really wanna do that? You might lose weight cause your starving, but you will put it back on so fast...
    There's better shakes that offer a lot more of a balanced diet than just Protein.. Wanna know?


    Like what??

    Let me quess? Shakeology or the body by vi.
  • Jugie12
    Jugie12 Posts: 282 Member
    Check out my food log to see the stats non Lean Body by Labrada.

    A protein shake as a meal replacement will not make you gain weight. In fact, a protein shake is more likely to have LESS fat, calories and carbs than an average person's regular meal.

    Do some research and tasting and see what kind you like best. I LOVE Labrada, even their low-carb powders and RTDs. MuscleMilk is good (again, as a meal replacement). You might also check out www.eggwhitesint.com - I buy their 100% pure eggs whites by the gallon jug and mix the whites with some skim milk and sugarfree chocolate syrup... perfect!! And no, they are not slimey and they have no flavor. They are tested and heat-treated and have the consistency of water, totally safe to drink right out of the jug or you can make KILLER scrambled eggs or other stuff.

    Keep it up!! Always keep abreast of research and nutrition info.
  • I am at 186 right now... the powder I am using has 20 grams per scoop....never tried the slim fast though - don't they have more calories? and carbs? I don't know much about them????


    You should consume approx. 125-150 grams a day total. Also remember to get your good carbs and healthy fats in.
  • Iv been taking the ready made slimfat drinks fr breakfast as i cant eat in the morning, sometimes il have one fr lunch if im out and about and cant make anything. Id like your thoughts on these drinks pls :)

    I have never looked at a can of slim fast but chek the labels, what's it made of, how much sugar, carbs and fat are in them? I'm sure they aren't the best out there.
  • tlink67
    tlink67 Posts: 20 Member
    I am at 186 right now... the powder I am using has 20 grams per scoop....never tried the slim fast though - don't they have more calories? and carbs? I don't know much about them????

    Say away from the slim fast shakes--not enough nutrients and full of sugar!!!
  • Typical slimfast shake is 230 cals, 15g protein, 23 carbs (of which sugars 23) 7 fat, 3.5 fibre and sodium 0.23.

    I spose u cud eat sumthn better fr u with same amount ov calories. I find it easier fr breakfast as i dont like to eat til abt lunchtime. Ur meant to have one fr brekky, one fr lunch and a normal dinner, but im cuttin out the lunch one and havn sumthn ov equal cals, but less fat.
  • Typical slimfast shake is 230 cals, 15g protein, 23 carbs (of which sugars 23) 7 fat, 3.5 fibre and sodium 0.23.

    I spose u cud eat sumthn better fr u with same amount ov calories. I find it easier fr breakfast as i dont like to eat til abt lunchtime. Ur meant to have one fr brekky, one fr lunch and a normal dinner, but im cuttin out the lunch one and havn sumthn ov equal cals, but less fat.
    I personally wouldn't touch them.

    I found this post about them that has some interesting info
    http://fitblogger.ca/slim-fast-ingredients/
  • RonSwanson66
    RonSwanson66 Posts: 1,150 Member
    Now your body only utilizes about 16-17% of protein powder, the rest goes to waste,

    Complete and utter bull****.

    Whey is among the most bioavailable forms of protein you can ingest, which means that your body is utilizing it MORE than most whole foods.

    screenshot20120608at954.png

    http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=10867064
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    But aren't you counting calories?
  • BigDaddyRonnie
    BigDaddyRonnie Posts: 506 Member
    There is a lot of misinformation in this thread.

    Protein powder should be used as a supplement to your daily routine, and not a replacement.

    That said, I see that you are making a smoothie of sorts. A lot of people who eat a yogurt will add fruit and protein, make into a smoothie for either a snack, or part of their lunch or breakfast. But it shouldn't be the only thing. HOWEVER, I will concede that one of those does make me full and hard to eat anything else for a little bit of time.

    If you are logging your food and calorie intake, logging the protein shake/smoothie properly (the powder, the yogurt, the fruit, etc) will help to tell you if you have a deficit, or are going over in any category, like calories.

    Protein is good. There are many forms. Take the right kind for your daily needs and workout/fitness lifestyle.
  • lbecker5
    lbecker5 Posts: 33 Member
    WoW a lot of info here....I am counting calories and have not gotten out of control even with the protein...I love the protein chart and had heard that whey was the 'way' to go...no pun intended :smile:
  • Now your body only utilizes about 16-17% of protein powder, the rest goes to waste,

    Complete and utter bull****.

    Whey is among the most bioavailable forms of protein you can ingest, which means that your body is utilizing it MORE than most whole foods.

    It has been said that whey protein is 100% bioavailable and is therefore 100% absorbed into the body. Bioavailability is how much of what you are ingesting is absorbed by the body yet it says nothing to how much is actually “utilized” by the body. The statements are correct about the 100% bioavailability yet the problem with this statement, and to your detriment, is that it is absorbed, processed through the kidneys and then expelled as bodily waste.
  • tomhancock
    tomhancock Posts: 100 Member
    Now your body only utilizes about 16-17% of protein powder, the rest goes to waste,

    Complete and utter bull****.

    Whey is among the most bioavailable forms of protein you can ingest, which means that your body is utilizing it MORE than most whole foods.

    I disagree!!!

    Do either of you have anything to back it up? I'm curious if there is a real scientific answer to this question
  • RonSwanson66
    RonSwanson66 Posts: 1,150 Member
    Now your body only utilizes about 16-17% of protein powder, the rest goes to waste,

    Complete and utter bull****.

    Whey is among the most bioavailable forms of protein you can ingest, which means that your body is utilizing it MORE than most whole foods.

    It has been said that whey protein is 100% bioavailable and is therefore 100% absorbed into the body. Bioavailability is how much of what you are ingesting is absorbed by the body yet it says nothing to how much is actually “utilized” by the body. The statements are correct about the 100% bioavailability yet the problem with this statement, and to your detriment, is that it is absorbed, processed through the kidneys and then expelled as bodily waste.





    Stop making things up.




    Biological value (BV) is a measure of the proportion of absorbed protein from a food which becomes incorporated into the proteins of the organism's body. It summarises how readily the broken down protein can be used in protein synthesis in the cells of the organism.


    Protein efficiency ratio (PER) is based on the weight gain of a test subject divided by its intake of a particular food protein during the test period.


    The net protein utilization, or NPU, is the ratio of amino acid converted to proteins to the ratio of amino acids supplied. This figure is somewhat affected by the salvage of essential amino acids within the body, but is profoundly affected by the level of limiting amino acids within a foodstuff.
    Experimentally, this value can be determined by determining dietary protein intake and then measuring nitrogen excretion. One formula for NPU is:
    NPU = ((0.16 × (24 hour protein intake in grams)) - ((24 hour urinary urea nitrogen) + 2) - (0.1 × (ideal body weight in kilograms))) / (0.16 × (24 hour protein intake in grams))
    As a value, NPU can range from 1 to 0, with a value of 1 indicating 100% utilization of dietary nitrogen as protein and a value of 0 an indication that none of the nitrogen supplied was converted to protein.

    Using the PDCAAS method, the protein quality rankings are determined by comparing the amino acid profile of the specific food protein against a standard amino acid profile with the highest possible score being a 1.0. This score means, after digestion of the protein, it provides per unit of protein 100 percent or more of the indispensable amino acids required.


    Whey protein scores at or near the top of every single criterion for determining protein quality. These measure more than just absorption, but utilization as well.

    Although each method, taken individually, may have its limitations - taken as a whole the evidence for the superior quality of whey is unequivocal.

    Do either of you have anything to back it up? I'm curious if there is a real scientific answer to this question

    You can start with the link in my first post. Also see Lyle McDonald's series on protein (first part here http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/nutrition/what-are-good-sources-of-protein-protein-quality.html)

    Her numbers, so far as I can tell, were pulled directly out of her *kitten*.