I am 15 years old 6 feet tall and around 130 pounds and the protein powder I got is called Weider Dynamic Muscle Builder and I was wondering for when I take it am I suppose to take it before and after my workout or just one of them and am I suppose to take it on my days off and if I am suppose to take it before my cardio?
Question About Protein Powder
- Thread starter TH1
- Start date
I was reading another post and I heard it is better to have it after the workout http://www.fitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16818 just go down to the fourth post so which time is it better to have it before or after and do I take it on days off and when I do cardio?
Can someone tell me when is it best to have the shake before or after workout and if I take it on my days off and when I do cardio also I was reading some other threads and read that it is not safe to take it for teens and people under 21 because the heart is still growing so can anyone tell me if it is safe or not
TH1 said:
My personal experience from the damage I caused myself when I was younger is that NOBODY should take anything other than FOOD until the body has completed it's natural development into adulthood. -As you state, the heart needs until age 21 or so.
That being said, my personal and professional opinion is that nobody NEEDS anything other than normal FOOD.
Now after having said that as well, if you DO take a shake, your body would best be served with a protein boost 1 1/2 hours before heavy lifting, and small amts of protein and a good dose of carbs about 1/2 hour to an hour or so AFTER cardio. Everything is variable timeframe-wise depending on your intensity.
But, I reiterate, I NEVER recommend to ANYONE to take anything that is not food. -ESPECIALLY when their body is prone to long term injury because it isn't fully developed yet.
newf said:
That is like saying asprin is from white willow bark.
Chemicals DERIVED from food are still chemicals. The problem is that unless a whole complete food is eaten, the body does not fully metabolize nutrients in proper proportion and therefore opens the body to increased risk of having too much of one thing and not enough of another to metabolize, hence causing potential toxicity if done in high concentrations over time.
But that isn't even what I am talking about.
When taking a protein powder, aminos are often the focus. Generally speaking, when the heart is still developing, an artifically high amount of aminos will cause a highly active and developing heart to artifically grow beyond its normal rate and can cause strain.
You call this rubbish.
I had it happen to me and still live with the results.
We could poll a few college age athletes who have died from it (over the last 13 years that I know of) if you like. -Oh wait. -They are dead.
Many claim exercise cannot hurt at a young age and that powders are not harmful. That is like saying medicine isn't harmful either.
ANYTHING can be harmful if you do not have awareness of how the body is operating when the substance is applied to it.
So, I still say that while you call it rubbish, this is because you have not experienced the effect. I have, so I know it exists. -In addition medicine and sports circles have it documented. Your beef, then, lies with not just me but others as well.
newf said:
That depends on your definition of "artificial".
If you eat nothing which comes in a package- IE- containing preservatives, sugars, dyes, chemicals, etc., then you are eating natural complete foods.
The body ONLY WORKS WELL with complete foods.
Personally, I prefer organic foods. -That way the chemical pesticides do not interfere either. And to address your question another way, sure all farms and mass production facilities fudge on their methodologies through genetic mutations, hybrid product, and so forth.
The idea here is that just because you want protein and see a shake with 13 other things in it, that doesn't mean the cup you drink down is equal to 1 dozen hard boiled eggs. You may get more in the shake, but it is imbalanced and incomplete. The body will not do as well as eating the hard boiled eggs 3-4 at a time in a snack 3 times a day.
I am hypoglycemic. I cannot eat sugar as it fouls up my blood sugar, hormone levels, thought processes, and metabolism --as well as it being destructive to my pancreas. Therefore, I have read ingredients labels for the last 13 years and controlled everything by diet.
To use the excuse that "everything" is chemicalized (or artificial) or that "it is only a little bit, so it won't hurt" is really a cop out.
I understand the laziness. I am subject to it like everyone else, but laziness is not a necessity. We can all be healthy and get where we are going the natural way.
If you do not believe that, remember that the people who invented those disc load barbells and dumbbells 100 years ago HAD NOTHING ARTIFICAL in their world, and THEY did it.
We can too.
TH1 said:
The first thing you should do is ask yourself WHY you want to take it.
All a powder will do is TRY to do what food does. -So why not do the food?
What is the goal?
How many grams of protein are you trying to get?
Based on your height and weight, it appears you want to gain muscle mass. -Yet you talk about cardio, so it also sounds like you are doing cross country or some running event or something.
In either case, know this:
If you want to get better at anything, do MORE of it. If you want to run farther or faster, keep doing it. If you want muscles, keep working them with free weights. Feed your body enough proper fuel, and the body responds.
A powder is simply supposed to be a minor boost. If you are eating right already, and you do the right physical activity, YOU WILL NOT SEE A DIFFERENCE IN USING THE POWDER.
Therefore, using the stuff really makes no sense.
If you were the height you are, and were at least 70 lbs heavier of rock solid muscle, and hit a lifting plateu where you cannot lift heavier, you might get a real boost from the powder. Otherwise, since you are not in such a position, eating right and working your body the right way is the logical choice.
-And I have not done any digging to find any info on the web to support my claims. There may be something out there, there may not be. But if all you are doing is looking for magic solutions in a bottle, it doesn't matter which bottle you look in: YOU WONT FIND THEM. Even steroids require proper workouts.
I wish you luck in achieving your goals, and hope you can put in the necessary work to achieve them.
TH1 said:
The question of if it is ok to use or not involves knowing the condition of your heart, circulatory system, stress, diet, over all health, allergies, medical conditions, etc.
I do not know those things. All I can do is tell you that there is risk at your age, and what the risk is. Granted, for most people the risk may be small unless a product is used frequently, or other issues are present. -But I do not know if we can classify you as "most people" or not. Because of what I do not know about you, only you may judge. That is what this is all about.
You have to decide what you want to achieve and how you want to get there. Many people take short cuts, many people do not. Many people have health problems from the short cuts, many do not.
All I know is that the short cuts, even if they produce no damage whatsoever, rob you of 2 things:
1. The ability to say "I did it without cheating".
2. The ability to say "I can show YOU how to do what I did."
To me, both of those are worth their my weight in gold.
Good luck!
TH1 said:
Are they just a shake in a wrapper?
The only thing that should ever go into your mouth is real food you can grow, pick, or chase around the barn. (of course, fish can't walk, but they are the exception).
I have posted it elsewhere, but I will repost MY choice for a food bar when nothing else is available. I should say I much prefer eating 4 or so hardboiled eggs for a snack instead of the bar as the eggs are a complete food.
Here is the best bar I have found, note the ingredients:
ORGANIC FOOD BAR : between $2 and $3 each which are a great (14grams) protein boost.
I get them here because I live in the sticks. -
Ingredients:
Almond butter*, date paste*, honey*, brown rice protein*, flax sprouts*, quinoa sprouts*, raisins*, sesame seeds*.
*From organic farming
If you notice, that is nothing but real food in this bar.
No sugar.
No aminos.
No herbs.
No magic genie promising 3 chicks and a 42 inch bicep by tomorrow.
If you do anything other than real food, you do what every one else does who does not train or eat right. That is the bottom line.
I can tell you all day long: "Sure, go ahead, take bars/shakes, etc."
But the reality is this: When you have a hardcore training program, eat real food to fuel it.
If you eat other junk, your program suffers. -And so does your health. If the label says it is healthy, it is still NOT COMPLETE FOOD.
I have yet EVER to see anyone who required ANY bar, shake, steroid, or "supplement" (vitamin excluded) for getting healthier and stronger. You stated you are 15 years old 6 feet tall and around 130 pounds. The first thing you need to do is eat as much in the way of lean meats as you can and hit weights hard in non-isolation movements such as cleans and presses, squats, etc. When your body starts to tell you it is hungry after the program has started, EAT MORE. Eat FREQUENTLY. -AND PUSH HARDER.
If you want to become a powerhouse, you need a training program, not a magic potion.