Best protein powders for muscle gain?

driftingcyclist24 said:Hey everyone.

What are your thoughts on taking one scoop of Mass Extreme before training on an empty stomach, followed by some Gold Standard Whey and dextrose after the workout? Is that a solid plan?

It might be more effective if you take that first supplement in the morning when you wake up and save the rest for after your session, though I suppose you could certainly stick to the routine you just described...

Has anyone here ordered supplements from that Flex online store or any other shop and actually driven up to the border to pick them up? Me and my buddies are thinking about making the trip, so I’m wondering what the process looks like and how much they charge for delivery right to the border.

Jack Reed52 said:Do whatever you want, man. Personally, I think it's a pretty decent meal replacement. I used to rely on them back when I was stuck at college all day—just grab one during a break and call it a day.

So I wake up this morning and go to try what I whipped up last night... and holy hell, this is easily the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted. I feel like I'm gonna have to toss every single bar into about a cup of milk, blend it, and just "drink" it because there's no way I can eat them like this.🙂

I am curious if anyone here has experience DIY-ing a supplement based on whey protein that also includes a significant amount of carbohydrates. Specifically, I want to know what else I could add besides just dextrose... or is that sufficient? My reasoning is simple: I want to be able to whip up a shake specifically for carb-loading to fuel activities like long-distance running, mountain biking, rock climbing, or whatever else comes up. I was thinking of using a protein base, essentially turning it into a homemade mass gainer—something in the ballpark of 15-20g of protein and 45-60g of carbs, with a tiny bit of fat. I have absolutely no intention of wasting money on pre-made commercial products; buying them is just not cost-effective in my opinion.

Just find a buddy who’s willing to lend you two scoops.

Walter White said:I was wondering if anyone here has experience mixing up their own supplement using a whey base but adding a higher amount of carbs? I'm curious what else I could toss in there besides just dextrose... or would that be enough on its own? My reasoning is that I want to whip up a shake specifically for carb-loading to fuel things like running, mountain biking, climbing, or whatever else comes my way. I'm thinking of using protein as the foundation, so it's almost like making a homemade mass gainer—maybe around 15-20g of protein and 45-60g of carbs with just a little bit of fat. I really don't want to waste money on pre-made stuff since buying those commercial blends just doesn't seem worth the price.

Using dextrose should be plenty for your post-workout shake...
but does it really make sense to drink that right before you head out for a run or a bike ride?
Wouldn't it be better to just eat a solid meal about half an hour beforehand, like some chicken, rice, and a salad?
As for the whey plus dextrose (like the stuff you find at CVS) to use after your workout, that works perfectly.

Richard Rivera5 said:Find a friend who’ll actually lend you a two-scoop serving.

Don't even get me started on those so-called "friends" who have massive tubs of whey protein sitting in their cabinets but suddenly become too busy to answer a single text or call...

besides that, I've got plenty of whey on hand... I just have no clue what else to mix it with.

Walter White said:I wonder how many of those so-called friends, the ones who always have a surplus of protein powder stashed away but suddenly go silent whenever you actually reach out with a call or a text, there really are?

Besides that, I have some whey protein on hand, though I find myself wondering what else might be worth mixing it with?

I start my mornings with some oatmeal, and then follow that up with dextrose after I finish my workout... does anyone else find that routine works best?

Walter White said:And don't even get me started on those so-called friends who have stacks of protein tubs sitting right there but won't even pick up the phone when you text them...

So, I guess you're just the "good friend" they call whenever they run out of whey? 😁
Well, check this out—here's a link for you: www.musclepharm.com
Give them a ring! They’ve got plenty of stock too, and I’m pretty sure they actually answer their phones when you call.

-Joe

not sure if I should ask here or on a different thread... proteins and creatine, or proteins and casein? thanks in advance..

briskjackal5 said:So, are you that reliable friend who calls them whenever they need more whey? 😁
Here’s a link for you: www.gladiator.com
Give them a ring; they have plenty of stock, and I'm certain they'll get back to you.

-Joe

Thanks for the link, but I’ve already checked their site twice and the layout is an absolute mess... it turned me off immediately. And look, I’m one of those weirdos who actually scrutinizes labels—I even check the nutrition facts on a $0.46 pudding cup. A phone call won't mean anything to me until I've researched everything down to the last detail.

Austin Ward4 said:not sure if I should ask here or on a different thread... proteins and creatine vs. proteins and casein? thanks in advance..

So, you mean protein plus creatine, or just protein plus more protein? 😂

hm? That’s the question now...

Sam Roberts said:so you mean protein and creatine or just protein and protein? 😂

hmm? what's the deal now

some guy told me I should grab casein since it digests way slower than the regular stuff, so I can just snack on it whenever... sorry pro...

Walter White said:I'm wondering if anyone here has messed around with making their own whey-based supplement that’s loaded with carbs. Basically, I want to know what to mix in besides just glucose powder... or is that enough? Here's the deal: I want to whip up a shake specifically for carb-loading to fuel things like long runs, mountain biking, or climbing—whatever. I was thinking of using protein as a base, so it’s almost like a DIY mass gainer... maybe around 15-20g of protein and 45-60g of carbs with a tiny bit of fat. And look, I'm not trying to blow my budget on pre-made stuff; buying commercial brands is just a rip-off..

Honestly, protein powders are your cheapest bet if you know where to shop for them. Otherwise, just stick to milk or chocolate milk—they're solid choices. Also, don't bother hunting down specialized glucose powder; plain old table sugar works just as well, if not better. It breaks down into glucose and fructose at a 1:1 ratio, and since fructose helps replenish liver glycogen while glucose hits the muscles, it's actually a smarter move.
Long story short 🙂

Walter White said:thanks for sending that link over, though I actually visited the site twice and found it so cluttered and hard to navigate that I almost gave up right then... I suppose I'm just one of those odd people who actually stops to read the nutrition labels on a snack from $0.46, so I find it hard to commit to anything until I've had a chance to look through every single detail myself.

Everything you need is laid out clearly here and they have a pretty solid selection; I've actually been ordering from this site http://www.building-body.com/
for a few years now.

goldencyclist60 said:Protein powders are actually the most cost-effective protein source, provided you know where to shop. Otherwise, regular milk or chocolate milk are solid choices. And there's no need to buy specialized glucose supplements; standard sucrose (table sugar) is just as good, if not better, since it breaks down into a 1:1 ratio of glucose and fructose. Unlike glucose, which exclusively replenishes muscle glycogen, fructose helps fill up liver glycogen reserves.
In short, 🙂

I personally prefer chocolate milk after a long run. There are plenty of studies showing it's effective for post-workout recovery... honestly, I have no desire to chug stuff loaded with extra glucose when there's already too much of it everywhere else... and powders aren't exactly cheap. I mean, sure, those pure protein ones are one thing... but when I look at things like mass gainers where you pay $200 for a 2kg tub$100 and then realize you only get about 8 servings because you have to mix 3 scoops with milk just to hit 300-500 calories, it's madness... it doesn't even last a week... I'm not exactly a high-profit athlete.

Regarding this fructose and liver glycogen point, I'll have to look into that further... is it somehow detrimental or what? Because I usually carb-load before something like a half marathon specifically to top off my glycogen stores... so that's exactly my goal. Unless this liver aspect negatively impacts performance. As for proteins and other supplements, I take them strictly for functional capacity and muscle recovery for future training... bodybuilding isn't my interest.

Walter White said:I'm all about chocolate milk after a long run. There’s plenty of research showing it works fine post-workout... honestly, I just don't feel like shoveling massive amounts of sugar down my throat when there's already too much of it everywhere else... plus, supplements aren't cheap. I mean, sure, some are just protein... but when you look at those mass gainers where you pay $200 for a couple of kilos—$100 and by the time you realize you need like eight meals because you have to chug three scoops with milk just to hit 300-500 calories, I'm out. It doesn't even last a week... and I'm not exactly trying to be a pro athlete here.

I still need to dig into this fructose and liver glycogen stuff... is it actually bad or what? Because before a half marathon, for example, I basically gorge myself to top off my glycogen stores... so that's the whole point. Unless this liver thing somehow tanks my performance. I only take protein and other junk to help with functional strength and muscle recovery for the next grind... I couldn't care less about bodybuilding.

Hehe, look, sugar is NECESSARY after training. If you aren't going to shovel it in, you're sabotaging your own recovery. You really only need the protein powders; mass gainers are a total scam where you're just paying a premium for sugar disguised as protein. My honest advice? Stay far away from them. If you want to put on size, just eat more throughout the day. No mass gainer is going to save you there.
There are two types of glycogen: muscle and liver. Muscle glycogen is way more abundant, but liver glycogen isn't negligible and definitely impacts your performance.

Austin Ward4 said:some guy told me to grab casein because it digests way slower than the standard stuff, so you can basically cheat the system whenever you want... sorry, "pro"...

look, casein is just a type of protein. like you said, it digests slow. creatine is a totally different thing. everything you need is right here on these forums if you actually bother to read... maybe try scrolling back a few pages once in a while😁
post-workout, better to go with a whey blend or just straight whey. save the casein for morning or before bed

goldencyclist60 said:hehe, you actually NEED sugar after a workout. if you aren't loading up on it, you're basically sabotaging your own recovery. all you really need are protein powders; mass gainers are nothing but a total scam where you pay a premium just to get sugar disguised as protein. my sincere advice? stay far away from them. if you want to pack on size, just eat more throughout the day. no mass gainer on earth is going to do that work for you.
There are two types of glycogen: muscle and liver. Muscle stores are much larger, but don't overlook the liver stores—they play a significant role in your performance.

That is exactly what I am getting at... I never had any intention of buying gainers anyway. To me, they sound just like that junk food I was thinking about smashing... basically just enough protein mixed with a mountain of crap... but the price tag is absolutely ridiculous, so I don't waste my money on them...

So, you're telling me it's impossible without sugar? Ugh... and as for a natural alternative to stupid white sugar... honestly, I try to avoid it as much as possible because I already eat way more junk than I probably should. :-)

Sam Roberts said:so casein is just a protein, right? like you said, it digests slower. creatine is totally different stuff—you can find all that info on these forums if you actually bother to scroll back through a few pages. 😁
after a workout, maybe a blend or just straight whey. save the casein for morning or before bed.

well yeah, that’s why I’m asking... can I take creatine before my workout and then hit the whey after?