Posts by Ethan Garcia8

Rebecca Rogers64 said:I gave birth 6 months ago. I'm currently 198 lbs at 5'9". Since the baby arrived, I've lost 45 lbs (yeah, I definitely packed on some extra weight during pregnancy)
I'm looking for the best way to get back in shape. I want to start running, but I don't want to overdo it and injure myself. How many minutes should I run, what intensity, and how many times a week?
Thanks!

I’d suggest following Charles Morales10's advice and sticking to walking or cycling. Most importantly, focus on adjusting your diet. Once you hit a more manageable goal—say, around 155 lbs—then you can really go hard.

Just remember, nutrition is going to be the heavy lifter for you right now. Avoid high-impact aerobic stuff for a bit; carrying 198 lbs while running could really take a toll on your joints. Honestly, cycling is probably your best bet.

120 days 🙂

I'm not really sure. They should probably double-check. I actually had to head over to the Midwest to pick some up from them last time.

Jessica Foster2, give walker_cro a shout.

Anthony Newman6 said:Could use a little help here...
I'm thinking about buying some protein powder... I'm a total beginner, just turned 18. 😁
I found this site with some decent prices, but I have no idea which one to pick...

or

or

or

or

What would you recommend for someone starting out?
Or if there's another good site out there... 🙂

If I were 18 again and actually had the time, I wouldn't be throwing money away on protein powders. Just stick to meat, dairy, and eggs. It's like fuel for a car—just keep the tank full with real food.

Paul Baker29 said:I’d also suggest eating more fish, specifically oily fish. It’s great for fighting inflammation and is packed with selenium and other essential minerals depending on what you pick.

That’s why I lean toward sardines—they tend to have the lowest levels of heavy metals.🙂

Jessica Foster2 said:I might have missed this if it was already discussed, but I've been searching the thread and can't find anything.
So, I'm 23 and I recently started training a bit more intensely. About 4-5 times a week.
)

That's awesome! 😁

You don't actually need protein supplements if you're hitting your goals through regular meals and eating 6-8 times a day. If that’s not doable, then sure, grabbing a shake here and there makes sense. Since you're just starting out, my advice would be to save your money; most powders offer a pretty tiny margin of benefit and feel more like a placebo than a necessity. That is, unless you truly can't manage to eat enough whole foods.

Until then, stick to meat, cottage cheese, whole eggs, and maybe some papaya.

It was recently mentioned in the news as a total hotbed for corruption. Based on what I've seen, the staff at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center certainly didn't earn any praise for their work, far from it. Personally, I wouldn't send anyone there.

Laura Booth6 said:We ended up going with the MVP Pro Whey in cookie flavor after all. Since the Dymatize stuff didn't come in a larger size, we spent forever comparing options before finally picking the MVP. 😢

I’d honestly love to give those Dymatize ones a shot, especially if they have a strong vanilla scent. 😍

Everything else usually tastes way too sweet for me 😳, especially when you mix it with milk, two scoops of glucose, and some honey. It becomes a total sugar bomb.

Just grab the unflavored version from Dymatize. There are no sweeteners in it, so it isn't overly sweet.

ironsurfer10 said:I have the vanilla flavor, but it’s just okay for me... I usually mix it with milk and don't bother adding honey or glucose... does it taste any better that way?

I've never tried it without the glucose. Honestly, if you mix it with milk, some glucose, and throw it in an electric blender, it's incredible. It ends up tasting just like melted ice cream. 😁

Henry Evans3 said:People claim steroids make you "lose your mind"...😳

Anyway, I'm heading out tomorrow to grab some Dymatize protein to see if it lives up to the hype...😁

They're great. They're actually my go-to, especially the vanilla. Honestly, Coke isn't nearly as good.

Ethan Garcia8 said:Steady at 194 lbs, and my body fat is lower than ever. 😁

The workouts are intense. 😬





I forgot to mention that I’ve been cutting back on meat quite a bit lately—maybe just twice a week. 🙂

This is my last photo update. Honestly, I don't think I'll be posting more because, aesthetic-wise, I feel like I've hit everything I was aiming for. There isn't much left to do or say. Looking back at the progress documented month by month, I'm really happy with where I am.

Here’s what my current routine looks like:
1. Military drills twice a week featuring 40 minutes of brutal training; unlike , these sprints follow high-intensity work rather than low.
2. Kettlebell training four times a week. In my experience, this is hands down the most effective thing I've ever tried—and I've tried a lot. Just watch out, as it can burn through muscle mass if you aren't careful.😁
3. Heavy lifting in the gym four times a week (deadlifts, squats, pull-ups, the classics).
4. And now, I'm also prepping to take down some guy for a $300 bounty.

Right now, my body feels like a perfectly tuned, functional machine. At 31 years old, 6'0", and 194 lbs, I'm feeling good.😁

Adding protein shakes won't necessarily speed up your progress. They’re really just a supplement to what you eat. Most people rely on them simply because they don't have the time to prep a full meal or sit down for a proper dinner every single day.

Anonymous said:It’s not that anyone is being foolish; it’s just that everyone has their own method. Some people stick strictly to Pre-Workout, others split it into Pre-Workout and During-Workout, and then there are those who take something During-Workout. You even have people using whey before a workout and casein during, or mixing them together. It all comes down to what works best for you. I can't just say I take my supplements During-Workout and tell everyone that's the gold standard, especially since some people feel lightheaded if they take stuff mid-session 🙂. Just try it out and see what fits your rhythm.

Exactly. Personally, I take mine before, during, and after. There’s a logic to it—it keeps the body constantly supplied with whey and glucose.

On a side note, I was surprised by how good the shakes turn out when you use one of those dedicated shaker bottles; they end up having the texture of melted ice cream. So good. 😁

Post-workout routine. I usually take mine during and after my sessions.

Not really. I’m not one to make a scene for nothing. Honestly, I couldn't care less about that Inca catastrophe.

Nicholas Chavez70 said:I finished my tub of Xtreme Whey a few months back, and honestly, compared to Dymatize Elite, it’s not even in the same league. In terms of flavor or how well it actually dissolves in water or milk, I'd give it a zero. It's just a mess of clumps. 👎 Regarding Dymatize Elite, I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about it, both here in the States and abroad. I can't give you my own take just yet since I only recently started using it, but once I've been on it for a month or two, I'll be happy to weigh in. 😉

It’s true—the solubility of that stuff is an absolute Inca catastrophe. On the other hand, Dymatize Elite is easily a top-tier protein and probably the most popular Whey on the planet.

I had some digestive issues every single time I used that strawberry flavor from Scitec. On the other hand, Dymatize sits really well on my stomach.

Christian Harris2 said:Not quite. I’ve posted this link three times now. 😁

But that isn't even whey.

I steer clear of anything with artificial sweeteners, and I don't touch processed foods—especially those controversial chemicals people are always debating.

nimbleskipper89 said:Exactly. You see it in tons of snacks too—it’s just a classic American marketing ploy where they label things "aspartame-free." They just swap it out for sucralose because it's cheaper and you can use much less of it. If you do a little digging online, you'll see what I mean. Ideally, nothing would be in there at all, but that's not how it works. When it comes to marketing, Americans are light years ahead of Europe; they can sell almost anything just by branding it well, regardless of the actual quality. That's just my take, if anyone cares.

The whey proteins that don't use artificial sweeteners won't have any sucralose in them either.