Weight-Loss Which protein shake to use?

Weight-Loss
Say yes to Protein

But first say yes to drinking more water! Do you know how much you should be drinking? Take your body weight in pounds. Divide it in half. That is how many ounces of purified water you should be drinking! Try to stay away from "spring Water" - it can be from anywhere - including your faucet. Purified water, Fiji water, Smart waters are all better choices!

As far as protein - it depends on your goals. But if you are looking to lose weight you should be getting adequate protein to build muscle. This may seem high but take your body weight, again in pounds, and multiply it by between .60 and 1.09 - and that is how many grams of protein you should get each day. The higher side is for increased muscle, of course. And remember that proteins are found in other places besides meat - like beans. Check the labels. And protein shakes are great too - I am an Isagenix person (no I am not trying to sell you) but they have the best shakes I have tried.

When people hit platues the first thing to do is to increase the protein intake.

Hope this helps.
 
Whey Protein Help

My History: I'm trying to cut my weight down. I was at 235 at the beginning of this month, and I'm now hovering around 213-217..some days I'm at 210. I think i hit a plateu. Ne ways, I'm thinking about buying that Optimum Nutrition 100% Weigh Protein. I hope to be around 180. I dont hope to be skinny..but more muscular.. I used to weight 180 after losing about 40-60lbs over a summer.. I had a nice physique..i wasn't skinny...nor was i chubby anymore, I had a ripped appearance. I used to be an All-Star Football athlete in High School. then i gained the weight back. 5yrs later..here I am.:mad:

Should I use a Whey Protein Supplement??? I work out 6 times a week..1-2hours each day..nothing less of an hour. I lift weights. I'm seeing a slight change in my appearance, my chest is starting to take form, my forearms are turning into tree trunks..n my biceps are finally coming out from hiding. My main concern as of now..is to cut fat..but at the same time keep muscle or even gain a little more muscle as I'm cutting fat.

I've been eating below 2000Calories...then for the past few days, I've been trying the 1200 calorie diet which I found so efficient for me. I eat mostly fish..tuna..cooked veggies...meats. Should I try out Whey Protein to help me lose weight n at the same time maintain muscles? Or are there any other products you would like to suggest for me to try? Thanks:)
 
Protein Shake Ingredients

Ok, I'm new to the whole protein shake thing, and as simple as it sounds, im wondering where i can get ingredients for these shakes, such as "Vanilla Scipro" or "whey protein powder"...it's all so intimidating! will a regular Meijers carry these or am I looking at a trip to my local health food store? please help.

steve
 
o.o

Never heard of "Vanilla Scipro" but I have seen lots of whey powder at local drugstores. But always check ingredience to make sure they dont put other junk in it. The Health food store might be your best choice just to make sure you get quality pure products.
 
how many scoops or grams do you guys eat of protein powder. i just bought a tub of whey protein, but i dont want to eat a lot bc i dont want to gain weight from this. i'm aiming to eat 1/2-1 scoop of it a day...thats 90 calories max with 18 g protein and only 2 g carbs

whats the safe amount to eat?
 
Protein Shakes??

I don't know if this is a good plan. What can I fix? I'm taking all this seriously and I really want to loose the weight. Help!

After a bowl of yogurt Cheerios (w/FF milk), I went to work out and lifted weights (I hope I'm lifting correctly). I came home and had a protein shake. For lunch I ate homemade spring rolls (lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, avocado). I added up all the calories, and it already totals about 1050!!!

I still have dinner to go, and at least one other small snack in between!!
What's going on here?

Should I cut out the protein shake?? They say they are good for you. And, I know the cereal could be better, but is that really my downfall??:confused:
 
I have found great Whey protein at Trader Joes.
I also make my shakes with Chocolate Soy milk, choco whey protein, a fruit (bananas), and ice cubes.
Good luck!
 
How many calories are in that protein shake? and why are you taking it? It was my understanding they were used by "power lifter" types who wanted to bulk up... they were calorie intensive but not high in fat.... so if used properly they added muscle mass.. (but I could be wrong) I didn't think the average person would have a need for them.

If you are unsure if you are lifting correctly, you might want to get a session or two with a personal trainer, or as someone who works at the gym to show you proper technique, you don't want to hurt yourself and you want to get the most benefit possible from your gym time.
 
Thanks for responding. I hope some other people do just for added advice. I was under the impression that I needed the protein to help build muscle. Plus, I read a book that was saying that the more often you eat, the better off you'll be when it comes to weight loss. So, I thought the shake was really the right way to go.

As for the weight lifting. I think I have the technique ok. I just forget, reps, sets, and which muscles to focus on. I feel like a dummy when I go so long w/o being in the gym. I feel like I just don't belong. Hopefully I'll get a good routine, and be able to really get the job done right.
 
protein does build muscle but you should be able to get that from your diet - -chicken/turkey/etc...

and smaller meals more frequently keep your metabolism rolling along, so it's a good idea to eat less, more often.
 
El cheapo Protein Shake

Not so much for slimming - but for those that want to exercise and maybe build up muscle after losing weight - an ultra cheap alternative to buying expensive protein shakes - make your own! By the way skimmed milk - in the US, it may be called low % milk or whatever. Gleamed on the Web from: .

Ingredients
50g dried skimmed milk powder
500mls fresh milk
Milkshake powder

Method
Mix the dried skimmed milk powder into a smooth paste with 100mls of the milk.
Put all the ingredients into a hand blender and blend until frothy.

Benefits
An amazing 35gms protein and 99gms carbohydrate energy for just 81 pence!
It also contains less than 1% fat when made with fully skimmed milk.

I personally leave out the milkshake powder, but added chopped banana and a little honey for a post workout shake.
 
Six small meals and protein shakes

I was listening to a podcast that said the way to go is to have six small meals a day with a couple of protein shakes - one protien shake as the last meal.

That this will keep your metabolism going.

Right now, I'm counting points the weight watchers way - or at least getting back to counting points after 3 days of disaster.

Is the small meal, protein shake a popular way of thinking?
 
Many people definitely do this. I don't use a protein shake, but I eat 3 main SMALL meals and 3 small snacks between. I keep it between 1200 - 1500 cals in a day.
 
If you're going to use protein shakes as a supplement, you should keep in mind the type of protein that you're consuming.

A 100% whey powder is quickly digested and is ideal to use right after a weight workout.

If you're using it as a meal replacement, then get a powder that is derived from different sources - a sustained release protein power - which takes your body longer to break down and utilize.

All things being equal, real food is better than a protein shake. A shake is a a replacement for real food, so keep that in mind.
 
This is the one time that I have found that I don't agree with 12packabs.

Protein shakes are great, but you need to know what you are buying. Most protein drinks are filled with fillers (not good for you). You want a branched-chain protein, which means it is already broken down for your body to be able to fully absorb & utilize the protein.

A protein shake is good to drink before you go to bed because it will continue to feed the muscle as you sleep. That is what proteins do, they feed the muscles.

As for a meal replacement shake, once again you need a shake that is a perfect balance of a meal or you will get hunger soon. The protein needs to be a branch-chain protein or sometimes said amino acid. Amino acids are the smallest form of a protein.

My husband & I drink a meal replacement shake every morning for breakfast, it is design for max. absorbtion rate to crank up the thermostat in your body (metabolism) & get you going for the day Because the way you start your day is usually the way you end your day.


Hope this helps & if I can help you with anything else let me know.
Keep pushing forward.
 
I eat five to seven times each day - getting in my fibrous starchy carbs earlier in the day, and finishing off with a protein rich snack during the evening (plus some nuts for good fats). I don't bother with protein drinks. I also eat fruit and or fresh vegetables throughout the day - trying to balance protein and carbs in meals (with a bias towards more carbs earlier, and more protein later).

Eating small and often certainly does seem to be the advice circulating around fitness and weight lifting forums these days, and it does seem to make some sense. Some body builders even wake themselves during the night to take a mid sleep protein shake in order to keep supplying the muscles.
 
Aha! A debate!

So which points of my do you not agree with rfire?

The question related to protein shakes, and not to meal replacements, but if the user was to use a protein shake during the day as a snack, then I suggested using a sustained realease rather than any protein shake off of a shelf. I agree that taking a balance approach with each meal is preferable - which includes proteins, complex carbs and fat, but the question was concerning protein shakes.

Meal replacement can vary significantly in quality, as can protein shakes. Filler is a factor in any type of supplement powder you buy. Some have more, some have none. You have to ensure that you are buying good quality supplements - that is applicable to every single type of supplement on the market.

Real food is better than a shake. Unless you want very quick absorption, in which case liquid form is better. Otherwise, real food wins.

People generally use protein shakes/meal replacements because they are easy. Pour, shake, drink. Isn't that easier than having a piece of protein, some good carbs, maybe some veggies? It sure is. It can be a lot of work to eat really good quality meals and snacks that are well balanced, that you like to eat, and that are easy to make. Shakes are, for the most part, a convenient way of getting nutrition. The supplement company has done the work for you, and you just drink it. But they are just that, SUPPLEMENTS.

To enlighten our friends, branched-chain amino acids are a name given to 3 of the 9 essential amino acids needed to make protein. They are named leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They are called branched-chain because their structure has a “branch” off the main trunk of the molecule. 'Essential amino acids' cannot be made by the body and must be obtained from food and/or supplementation. The other 'non-essential amino acids' can be made withing the body from other amino acids.

Look on the label to see what is in the supplement you are buying.

To my knowledge, you cannot get a complete protein out of non-animal sources. So soy protein, let's say, is derived from plant sources (soybeans) and therefore is not a complete protein. That's why a protein derived from various sources (egg, whey, soy) in combination, MAY be better, all things being equal. The point being to get a complete protein.
 
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And I thought that should mention that I do use supplements.

I use a good quality whey protein powder for after a weights workout. I use a sustained release protein powder for regular protein supplemention - as a snack with some real food. I also use sports drinks and gels for training/racing when necessary.

As I'm currently way heavier than I should be, I have not been using any of the above. I've also just started back with regular training. Once I get back to weights regularly, I will be using the whey protein, and I probably will start using the other protein to have with my breakfast, as I frequently do not get much protein at breakfast unless I have time to have egg whites.

When I'm on the bike, I have only been drinking water lately. If I'm on a particularly long ride, then I may use a sports drink, but I'm trying my best to limit calories. Is that the best thing to do? I'm not sure.

Do I have all the answers? Absolutely not. But nobody else does either, or they would be here, would they?

We're all just learning from each other, trying to get slimmer.

That reminds me of a slogan that I read from a fitness company - I think it was "Be yourself, only better"
 
We're all just learning from each other
Click to expand...
...and there is so much to learn as I am still finding out. The reason that I don't use protein shakes is that I don't have any local supply - and perhaps I'm too mean to buy them - or too lazy to seek them out. Its also that in many ways, I find that eating healthy is often about eating wholesome.

I reached the point recently when I stopped dieting to lose weight - and I'm now in the process of improving my fitness, and trying to ensure that I don't fall into bad habits again. So I now alternate between running or some other cardio; and strength training at the gym. I'm lucky though - I like low fat cottage cheese :) But yes, combining protein with balanced meals does get a little tricky - and challenging sometimes. If I see another chicken breast...
 
Try ordering supplements online since you don't have a local supply. I do and I get good prices by doing so. The company I order from offers free shipping with orders over a certain amount, so I just stock up and order a couple times a year.

Cottage cheese is a great source of protein. And calcuim. My afternoon snack is normally cottage cheese and some carrots. There was some concern that carrots were high on the Glycemic Index, but more recent tests revealed a much lower score. Plus they taste good, and they're cheap!
 
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