selecting a protein powder - beginner

[tman666]

I don't recall what your goals are, but if you want to build muscle and strength (at least beyond newbie gains), you're going to probably do better with some level of carbs and starches in your diet (potatoes, rice, quinoa, etc.). Protein and veggies are good, but carbs are king for bulking up.

 

If you're dieting down, your low carb approach is probably fine IN THE SHORT TERM, but not real sustainable, in my experience. I went through a phase where I thought that a low carb diet would help me out, and I learned the hard way that it wasn't doing me any favors. Then again, everyone is different, so you might respond better to a lower starch/lower carb diet than others. Only time and self experimentation will tell.

 

My main point is not to let yourself get into the mindset that any particular macronutrient is "bad". This can lead to frustration, stress, and lack of progress at best, and can spiral into disordered eating patterns at the worst. As long as you're eating enough protein and maintaining a caloric surplus (if bulking) or deficit (if cutting), you can have your carbs and fats in a manner that suits your tastes. There are a lot of strategies and theories out there as to how to time nutrient intake (carb cycling, carb backloading, intermittent fasting, etc.), but the bottom line is that those methods only serve to make your life easier depending on your individual preferences. There is no great benefit to one particular method for everyone.

 

Basically, eat what and how you want to eat, as long as it fits your needed macros. Stressing about diet serves little purpose. I would recommend, having at least one high carb meal (or day) in the week. This will help keep your hormones from taking a dive and allow you to maintain your diet for longer.

 

Regarding your training, it appears to be more or less balanced, which is good. The downside of only training with an adjustable set of dumbbells is that eventually you're going to grow out of them. That said, it's good that you're establishing a lifting habit. If your goal is to maximize your potential strength and size, joining a well equipped gym with a atmosphere conducive to intense training will help facilitate that goal.

 

BTW, regarding your original post: BSN Syntha-6 chocolate peanut butter flavor is by far the best tasting protein I've had as of yet.

[TheFinalWord]

BTW, regarding your original post: BSN Syntha-6 chocolate peanut butter flavor is by far the best tasting protein I've had as of yet.

 

Oh, wow! That sounds delicious PB & Chocolate combo, I can't wait to try it. Thanks for the suggestion!!

[ScreamingTrees]

Erm.. I was told that whey protein helps you gain weight. It can apparently also help you lose weight.. So can it be used for both? I don't understand. lol

[whichwayisup]

Erm.. I was told that whey protein helps you gain weight. It can apparently also help you lose weight.. So can it be used for both? I don't understand. lol

 

Yeah but if you're trying to bulk up, cutting carbs out isn't a good idea. You need those extra calories, otherwise you just burn them off every day.

[Toddbt12y1]

Erm.. I was told that whey protein helps you gain weight. It can apparently also help you lose weight.. So can it be used for both? I don't understand. lol

 

If you truly want proper weight gains, that are lean-bulked. Aim to get your daily sources of proteins, healthy carbs(sweet potatoes yum!), and fats from whole foods. Think of is like a test, and break down your bodies needs.

 

Say you need 150g of protein. 300g of carbs. 65g of fat. Aim for most of that in terms of solid foods, not the powder. Eat to your bodies calorie needs, gives unfathomable energy. Eat double that, or to the level you wish to gain too, and you'll be surprised.

 

Only use the powder to take the place(supplement) one or so of your meals.

 

It helps to have a journal or some record of your needs/daily intake to meet those needs. Man, it sure isn't like you think, as a starter or a kid. Not just pumping iron and protein(like I thought when I was younger.)

 

Truly a healthy body is a broken-down science. If followed, the results can be amazing.

[ScreamingTrees]

If you truly want proper weight gains, that are lean-bulked. Aim to get your daily sources of proteins, healthy carbs(sweet potatoes yum!), and fats from whole foods. Think of is like a test, and break down your bodies needs.

 

Say you need 150g of protein. 300g of carbs. 65g of fat. Aim for most of that in terms of solid foods, not the powder. Eat to your bodies calorie needs, gives unfathomable energy. Eat double that, or to the level you wish to gain too, and you'll be surprised.

 

Only use the powder to take the place(supplement) one or so of your meals.

 

It helps to have a journal or some record of your needs/daily intake to meet those needs. Man, it sure isn't like you think, as a starter or a kid. Not just pumping iron and protein(like I thought when I was younger.)

 

Truly a healthy body is a broken-down science. If followed, the results can be amazing.

 

I have a pretty balanced diet, and from day to day I have a serving of nuts, meat (as weird as that sounds LOL), fish, veggies, carb-heavy foods.. I take in a lot of dairy. I drink milk like water, and I have a non-fat greek yogurt or two each day. That's quite a bit of natural protein right there.

 

But I also use the shakes, and could easily take in just about my bodyweight in protein from two shakes a day. I don't think I've ever had a carb-heavy diet, that's likely not helping, and I guess pasta's cheap as hell, so it shouldn't be an issue in the future. I'm not substituting real food for it, but taking the powder shakes is better than nothing at all, no?

[tman666]

Erm.. I was told that whey protein helps you gain weight. It can apparently also help you lose weight.. So can it be used for both? I don't understand. lol

 

Whey protein can indeed help you gain weight. So can a daily bucket of KFC and biscuits. The point is that in order to gain weight, one must be taking in more calories than they're burning in the day. Conversely, in order to lose weight, one must be in a daily caloric deficit.

 

As such, yes, whey protein can be used when cutting as well. It's just a concentrated protein (aka food) source that is quickly absorbed by the body, nothing more. The advantage of using whole foods to hit your daily macros when cutting is primarily in terms of satiety, or how full you feel. Satiety considerations are important when it comes to establishing consistency and adherence, which becomes a very difficult task when you're feeling hungry all the time.

 

The point I've been trying to get across is that as long as a person is reaching their needed macronutrient goals for the day, (and as long as those macronutrient targets are in line with your goals), you can pretty much eat according to your preferences. Protein powders serve mostly as convenience factors.