why waste calories on protein powder?

I have a hard time drinking calories. I always feel like I should eat them vs drink them so i get more satisfied. My mind is always telling me less calories. This may be preprogramming from being anorexic in the past.

If i could feel like I could drink protien shakes and feel that it was benefiting my body and not gain weight or add extra calories I probably would.

I don't eat eggs or drink milk, and if it's calories you're worried about, nuts have a lot more than protein powder to get the same amount of protein. Enter the trusty protein powder. I, unfortunately, don't particularly like them, but I've always believed that's because I've not found the one I will like. Perhaps that's the same for you. Or maybe you just prefer to eat your protein. That's valid as well. Don't worry about it if that's the case.

BTW - not all protein powders are made from whey (or any animal products), though that's what many people use. Since I don't do dairy, I don't.

I understand that a lot of you may get bored and tired or explaining the whole protein shake thing, but some of us are just curious, want to understand how it works and so on without having to dig through pages of threads (saying as this forum is very fast moving!)

My understanding (sparse that it is) is that protein is great for assisting in building muscle (proteins being burnt more efficiently?) however, are there any benefits to this sort of regime if you have a lot of fat to lose first (like me) should I try a different method aside from protein shakes to lose the flab before building muscle or are these shakes good for flab loss also?

Protein does not build muscle or bulk you up. Protein helps to repair muscles(from exercise) and preserve lean body mass. Protein shakes should be considered a supplement to hit your protein goals....they pretty much suck as an 'approach' to weight loss by themselves, if you ask me. The best source of protein is from real food...not a powder...the powders are just a good way to fill in the gaps, but not as a primary source of protein.

Your favorite food sucks.

But seriously, as far as grams of protein per calorie, it's one of the most efficient to get protein.

this.

ignorance at its finest OP

Like others I did genuinely wonder why some people take protein powders-now I know.

@ Hendrix 7, what kind of protein powder do you use?

I love my protein shakes when i have them. I just found some amazing ones at GNC as well the total lean i believe it's 25g of protein and perfect for the gym especially when my nutritionist says i need to drink half before and half after for the protein i need. I am not exactly gonna go home at 11pm and cook a chicken breast. I love them.. i got two 4 packs of the already made chocolate and strawberry yum and 2 packages of the cookies and cream powder gonna do banana cream next. I like them better than my pure protein vanilla cream powder so to me its not a waste. Mix it up with yogurt, frozen fruit, almond milk, sugar free chocolate powder, etc or put it into food its amazing and helpful once you find one that you like.

You get more bang out of one serving of whey protein than eating an egg or two. Actually you would need to eat around 4-5 gets to get the same amount of protein out of one scoop of whey protein and you would consume tons more calories and fat from the eggs.
1 scoop of whey protein = (140-170 calories appr., 1.5g of fat) vs. 4-5 large eggs (350 calories, 22.5g of fat)

Find a higher quality whey protein and you'll probably get a better taste. You can also makes smoothies with it too. I don't even use milk or almond milk sometimes, I just put water in to save some calories and chug it.

Drink it like a boss! lol.

Who says you have to mix your protein powder in milk and drink it? :noway: I never do that, actually. Waste of perfectly good protein powder. Get creative! I use it for baking, I substitute it for flour in pancakes, I mix it with yoghurt for a choc mousse. It's a tremendous way of satisfying my sweet tooth without wreaking havoc on my diet. :smokin:

for the question about protein powder while still losing weight ... even more important than when you are maintaining. because when you lose weight, you can lose lean mass as well. the better your protein intake, along with weight work, the better off you will be when you hit your goal weight.

(and I don't even spend much on mine. $15 for a 3 lb tub of body fortress at walmart. and it tastes good even in water. great with milk.)

This is another reason why I am eating/drinking so much protein. I am losing weight fast. I don't want to lose muscle. I have not lost muscle and actually gained strength as well while losing weight.

...Because it's the easiest, fastest, (typically) lowest caloric intake way of getting enough protein into your body.

If I relied on natural forms of protein only I'd be WAY under every day and so therefore be sluggish and sore every day. I too was doubtful of the benefits of protein supplements before I started but now I look at it like taking a multivitamin.

Protein powder is fast, easy way to get my protein. I get real tired of eating chicken, fish, cheese, yogurt, etc. Sometimes I rather not eat anything else. I struggle eating enough day-to-day and I also take medication that causes me to have no appetite. I can totally drink a 6oz glass of ice cold chocolate protein to get my bump of protein. I make my protein with water anyway, because I don't need all the sugar from milk.

not to mention I can have 2 protein shakes a day and be like, "Hells yeah, fruit smoothie for breakfast, chocolate smoothie for dessert" but if I ate 5 eggs twice a day I would have the worst-gas-ever and I'd want to vomit the entire day.

I hate to eat in the mornings, I never have an appetite in the AM, so I have a smoothie instead...I put protein powder in my smoothies in the morning...can't taste it that way & it gives me some protein...don't really see whats wrong with that...But you can waste a post ranting about what others do...

I've lost 20lbs in 3 months ranting about the way that others eat every single day! Oh... wait... I've lost 20lbs in 3 months drinking 1-2 protein shakes every single day. I knew I mixed that up.

Sigh......this thread again.


What if to hit my macros i want protein without the Fat or carbs that would come with the other foods you mentioned? What of I need another 30 grams protein that day and can't stomach another chicken breast?

My protein shake tastes amazing Because I buy a quality product, shop more wisely!!

Why would a protein shake be wasted calories and milk not a waste....whey is made from milk?

Basically this. When I was training for competition, my coach had me eating 20-30 grams of protein per meal, plus I was maintaining a calorie deficit. Nuts would be out of the question to stay within my fat/calorie goal and to be enough protein. Milk would be an issue staying within my carbs. I was eating 4.5 ounces of lean meat or fish for most of my meals. One or two meals I used a protein shake. I was cheaper, easier and something besides another chicken breast.

You get more bang out of one serving of whey protein than eating an egg or two. Actually you would need to eat around 4-5 gets to get the same amount of protein out of one scoop of whey protein and you would consume tons more calories and fat from the eggs.
1 scoop of whey protein = (140-170 calories appr., 1.5g of fat) vs. 4-5 large eggs (350 calories, 22.5g of fat)

If I want to keep the macros/calorie intake similar, I could eat egg whites, which I did 1-2 times a day. I was eating about 8 egg whites to get the same amount of protein and calories as one scoop of protein powder. That's a lot of egg whites.

On top of that, I work in a job where I may not always have the time to eat. Protein powder is portable and easily prepared. I always have a serving with me just in case I can't eat or that I am still hungry after eating my packed lunch.


ETA - nuts weren't a source of protein for me anyway, they were a source of fat although they do contain some protein.