Posts by briskjackal5

Scott Long4 said:Should I go with optimum nutrition gold whey, Dymatize elite whey, or MuscleTech 100% whey?

Which one of those three is actually better? And where can I find them here in the States—can I just grab them from MusclePharm?

Also, I was thinking about this shake recipe: 40g whey + 60g glucose and maybe 0.5L of water. Does the amount of water really matter that much? Is half a liter enough?

Thanks for being patient with me!

You can find MusclePharm stuff in local shops around town, or you can just order straight from them on . Actually, their main shop is right over on Fifth Avenue, just before you hit Brooklyn.

Those measurements look pretty good to me. I guess you could even bump it up to 100g of glucose if you're really trying to bulk up. As for the water, honestly, it doesn't really matter how much you add.

No worries at all!

-Steve

MusclePharm.

-Steve

Scott Long4 said:How much of a surplus should I aim for in terms of calories? My BMR is around 1,900.

Honestly, the specific number doesn't matter all that much.

If you're looking to put on some weight, just look at what you're eating right now and maybe tack on a few hundred extra calories on top of that.

I also have one more question about all this. I'm in school until mid-June, so I won't really have time to work out every day—it'll probably be about three times a week at the gym. So, my question is, should I focus on building muscle mass right now, or should I try to lose some body fat instead? (Since I'll be totally free every single day from July through October). What would be better to tackle now versus during the summer? I'd love to hear what you guys think.

Thanks in advance!

It really doesn't matter, just go with whatever feels right for you.

-Stipe

Scott Long4 said:What would happen to my muscles if I switched to a super healthy diet loaded with protein, but I didn't stay in a calorie surplus? Like, what if I just stuck to maintenance levels, maybe around 2,000 calories? I'd still be hitting the gym normally three times a week. Would I actually see any muscle gains at all??

When you say "normal amounts," are you talking about staying right at maintenance level?

Yeah, you'd still see progress, though probably not as much as when you're eating in a surplus.
Your body will eventually adjust to the change, especially since you're basically telling it, "Hey, I'm training now!"

-Joe

It’s probably enough, I guess. But honestly, it really just depends on how much you were eating daily before versus what you're hitting now with those four meals.

If you think you might be stuck without food for a while at some point, maybe just toss a protein shake in your bag to take with you.

-Joe

I mean, honestly, you probably won't feel like training at all if you stuff yourself right before hitting the gym—you'll likely just end up feeling sick. I guess it’s better to leave some space between your meal and your workout, maybe like two hours? That should give your body enough time to get through that initial phase of digestion.

And look, it doesn't really matter which proteins hit your bloodstream first, whether they're from what you drank after your session or what you ate beforehand. I don't see how the body would even tell the difference! Sure, the protein you take post-workout might "enter the system a little slower" because the stuff from your pre-workout meal is still processing, but I don't think that does any harm at all.

So, yeah, go ahead and eat before you train and then grab your protein afterward. No biggie.

-Joe

Scott Long4 said:Of course my goal is to be mostly muscle; I know gaining some fat is just part of the deal. I've been reading up on all those different diets that supposedly make it easier to pack on mass. I'm planning to hit the gym three times a week, maybe toss in a pickup game of basketball every now and then.

That sounds like a solid plan!
If you haven't spent much time in a gym before, maybe ask the staff at the front desk to help you out with your form so you don't hurt yourself.
Just make sure you always warm up and get loose first, and then maybe do a little light stretching for a few minutes after you're done.
Honestly, just grab any beginner weightlifting program you can find online.

The sooner you jump in, the better.

Can anyone send me a link to a good diet plan or maybe recommend something specific?

Those kinds of links won't actually help you nearly as much as this simple advice—

just eat meat.

Sorry if I'm being a bit much.

Thanks in advance!

You aren't being a bother at all! Honestly, it's actually really nice to see someone being so patient and polite when talking to us.
No worries!

Matthew Campbell13 said:Hey guys, I have a question about protein intake after working out... I know people say you have to take it within 20 minutes or whatever, but here's what I'm wondering... if I eat a huge meal, like say I just ate three burger patties and two slices of bread, and then I go do a hard workout for maybe half an hour and take my protein right after, does that even work? Or does my stomach need to be somewhat empty so the protein hits my bloodstream faster? I mean, would it just move slowly because my stomach is busy digesting the burgers, or will my body still "release" the protein quickly? Thanks!

I'm not quite sure what it is you're actually asking.

-Joe

You’re actually going to get both. I mean, if you're eating in a true surplus, you’ll be putting on both fat and muscle at the same time.
Which one ends up being more—and how much of each—really just depends on a bunch of things, like how hard you're training, your genetics, what kind of workouts you're doing, and even where those extra calories are coming from, I guess.

-Joe

It really just comes down to what's actually inside them.
Basically, a "weight gainer" is packed with both protein and carbs, whereas "protein powder"—well, like the name implies—is mostly just protein.

-Joe

Nathan Wilson67 said:Does anyone happen to know if there’s any kind of whey protein out there that doesn't have soy lecithin added? I've got a pretty bad allergy to soy and soy lecithin specifically... it's a real pain.
Thanks!

Maybe check this out -

I mean, I'm pretty sure everything on here should work for you, and they even have their phone number listed up there if you want to call them to double-check everything just to be safe.

-Joe

Chloe Watson82 said:Please don't roast me right away for my protein shake choice, but I really wanted to try the budget-friendly option first... I'm trying to drop about 10 pounds, so I decided to swap out my breakfast for this protein shake from Walmart... It actually works in the sense that it keeps me totally full, but about thirty minutes to an hour later, it makes me feel incredibly bloated. Like, gas and even had to run to the bathroom twice already... Usually, certain foods or just stress can make me feel puffy, but I never know exactly what's causing it, so it's always such a gamble for me😁 but with this one, I'm positive it's the culprit because it's happened every single morning for two weeks now...
I'm definitely stopping this stuff, but does anyone have advice on a good alternative? Something that isn't super expensive? Just to be clear, I'm working out three times a week and trying to eat as healthy as possible throughout the day whenever I can.

Thanks!

Oatmeal

-Joe

Jesse Sanchez4 said:So, I just realized I have about 2 lbs of whey protein left in this big 5 lb jar—but the expiration date on it says 03/2011. Just doing some quick math, it feels like that leftover amount is worth $83, and man, I really hate the idea of throwing away 😁.

The lid was shut tight, the powder didn't pick up any moisture and it's still totally fine and powdery; I don't notice anything weird with the smell or the taste. So, I wouldn't say it's actually spoiled... but, I guess I have no clue if there's even any nutritional value left in it at this point.

It does.

I also have half a container of creatine sitting here (dated 09/2011), which I'm guessing would still be pretty useful.

What do you guys think?

Man, I'm not totally sure about that one.
Maybe just drink it for a couple days straight; if it doesn't absolutely wreck your stomach, then it’s probably fine. 😁

-briskjackal5

Zachary Mendoza2 said:That is correct, though I would argue it directly impacts purchasing power. Supply is extremely limited right now, making it possible to buy as much as one wants given how few buyers there are. As demand rises here in the States, supply issues will inevitably arise regardless of current pricing.

Supply just isn't really an issue here anyway, because most people end up heading over to Washington, D.C. to pick up their physical gold instead.

-Stipe

The fact that about 99% of people out here have absolutely no clue what’s actually going on doesn't really change a thing when it comes to the gold prices you'll see at the shop.

-Steve

Anthony Evans78 said:The trick is just to take advantage of the fact that nobody has a clue what's actually going on.🙂

But, uh, how exactly would we do that?

-Steve

Anthony Evans78 said:History repeats itself whenever fiat currency is involved. People flock to precious metals because they’re scared—and rightfully so—that the money printers will eventually wipe out their life savings.
The whole QE1 and Queen Mary 2 era was just throwing cash at banks to keep them afloat. It wasn't even meant to help the economy, let alone save it. 🙂
If you ask me, we aren't even in the second phase yet because the Everyman hasn't started buying gold. Around here, nobody understands this stuff outside of us on forums like this. Seeing a few "we buy gold" signs in US cities isn't a sign of a bubble. We can talk about hysteria once reporters are stationed at the borders interviewing people who are fleeing the country just to BUY gold. But unlike other speculative manias, this won't be about trading profits; it'll be a fight for survival.
Crises don't just happen by accident. The same people trying to "fix" the current mess are the ones who caused it in the first place. There's a reason for that. The wealthy get wealthier, while the poor scavenging for scraps don't have much to lose anyway. The real victims will be the remnants of the middle class, who are basically being turned into serfs. Location doesn't matter—America, Europe, Asia... it's all the same. The system is collapsing, and 99% of people are completely oblivious to what's actually happening.
As long as they stay blind, precious metals will keep shining.

Personally, I wouldn't count what's happening in America as any kind of important factor in my analysis at all.
We aren't leading the charge in these kinds of shifts, and our local market doesn't have any real pull on prices anyway. Prices are set globally. We're just along for the ride, watching from the sidelines.
So, whether there's some crazy gold fever or a bubble happening right here locally doesn't really matter. It doesn't change a thing, and it's definitely not an indicator worth paying attention to, I think.

-Joe

dustyheron5 said:It’s classic AT&T—always timing these uncomfortable announcements right before the weekend. It gives investors, hedge fund managers, and the rest of the crew enough time to knock back a few Nomobals or Apaurins just to stay calm until Monday.🤣.........that way they don't go making any reckless moves before heading out on a fishing trip for the next few months.😍

If Italy is rated BBB, then what does that make us? Some kind of bottom-tier joke?😂

BBB-, which is basically just one tiny step above junk bonds (for those long-term loans).

-briskjackal5

wiredowl69 said:That’s true, but I guess it’s still a pretty big factor when it comes to health.

Well, I mean, just like pretty much anything else we eat or drink, it all really comes down to the dosage, right?

As far as aspartame goes—just like most other things—I don't think you're consuming enough of it for it to actually be a real issue.

-briskjackal5

Honestly, I don't think aspartame even matters when you're picking out a protein powder.

-briskjackal5

darkpilot19 said:I feel like I really need to focus on my legs and glutes because compared to everything else, my lower body is always super skinny. My legs especially, though my arms are pretty thin too. My upper body—like my chest and stomach—is actually okay, although there’s a little bit of fat on my belly that I’d love to get rid of, probably because I spend way too much time sitting around at my desk lol xD..
I guess what I really want is to even out my legs so they build up and shape a bit, and then I assume that would help my glute shape and my stomach too..
Maybe you guys could recommend some exercises I can do at home? As much as I’d love to hit up a gym or something, I just don't have the extra cash right now, unfortunately 😢

Honestly, there are like a million different ways to do squats and lunges.

..so yeah, I've been eating quite a bit during these two weeks off, but yesterday and today I haven't eaten that much..
Yesterday I had a huge breakfast 🙂 consisting of biscuits and some hearty chili :P if you like that stuff, go for it! I know I absolutely love it ^^ hahaha... later on I had a sandwich, and since I was traveling last night and got back late, I was just exhausted and crashed, so I didn't eat anything else... Today I had soup, a cutlet, and rice, then a sandwich and yogurt later on.. I snacked on some chocolate in between, and had pasta for dinner :/ maybe I'm not exactly eating healthy...
I've also noticed that protein is getting pretty expensive, so combined with the cost of a gym membership, I just don't have enough money to do more than workout at home.

That's not exactly an ideal lineup when it comes to food choices... you want to gain weight, but you don't want to gain it in places where you'll just have to lose it later.
You might want to browse through the other threads here to see which foods people recommend, and then you can slowly start swapping out what you're eating for the stuff you find.

Consistency and your daily habits are really what will determine how successful you are. For example, a day where you just eat biscuits, chili, and a sandwich as your whole diet obviously doesn't really fit with your goals.

Whether you actually gain weight or not depends on your daily intake, and your intake depends on your habits. Whether that intake comes from protein powder or actual food doesn't matter much (and honestly, you won't notice much difference in price). What matters is that you need to gradually increase it. That shouldn't be too hard to do if you're currently skipping meals.

-Steve