Best protein powders for muscle gain?

Jonathan James7 said:Whey isn't even that big of a deal—it’s just something you grab in the morning or after a workout alongside some grapes.
The real preference for bodybuilders is Casein, usually paired with a mountain of chicken breasts.😁

Have you guys seen those YouTube documentaries about steroids? It turns out everyone is juicing...
Even those pretty boys you see plastered on magazine covers looking perfectly shredded.
Some fitness trainers have actually admitted they started at fifteen.
Even Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted he used them.
Pro athletes use them too.

Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVXZzLoFehE

I watched that documentary yesterday... it talks quite a bit about American arrogance—saying one thing while doing another—but honestly, that’s nothing new.
Regarding steroids, in pro bodybuilding, it’s an open secret that everyone is on them because competing at that level without them is nearly impossible nowadays. Other sports are the same; the pace is relentless, professionalism is brutal, and if you want to survive—to stay relevant and make those massive payouts—you eventually have to take something, unfortunately.
Fitness models and their ilk live off every single ounce of muscle, so they occasionally load up, all while peddling their own protein brands or whatever else. It’s transparently about the money; a crowd of people falls for the hype and buys the products, which just boosts the influencers' popularity even further...
Hmm, it was mentioned that, interestingly enough, it's actually the recreational lifters who use the most. I suspect they’re the ones who get hit hardest by steroids, especially since they don't do it properly or under supervision. Pros have medical teams monitoring them, whereas amateurs often just wing it—they lack the education, and that’s how you end up wrecking your health...

Hi there.

Decided yesterday to start putting on some muscle mass...

I hit the gym this morning—maybe 45 minutes, maybe an hour, I wasn't tracking closely—and followed it up with two bananas, a glass of milk, and a sandwich with cream cheese. I intended to scramble two or three eggs, but my mother was busy making lunch, so I didn't have the chance to cook them. I've never messed with protein powder before, but a friend is giving me a sample tonight. His brother, who trains kickboxing, uses it regularly, so he's happy to share. We're planning to lift together and hopefully look like the Hulk in less than a year xD... so, tell me, was my post-workout meal actually decent?

ironorca19 said:Hey there!

So, I decided yesterday to finally start putting on some muscle mass...

I hit the gym this morning for about 45 minutes to an hour—not entirely sure on the timing—and right after my workout, I grabbed two bananas, a glass of milk, and a sandwich with cream cheese. I really wanted to whip up two or three eggs, but my mom was busy making lunch, so I didn't have a chance to cook them. I’ve never messed with protein powders before, but a buddy of mine is giving me a little bit to try tonight. His brother actually uses it for training kickboxing, so he’s happy to share. We’re planning on hitting the weights together and we'll be looking like the Hulk in less than a year xD... so, tell me, was that post-workout meal actually any good?

NO! You've got it all wrong. With that meal, you barely even hit one gram of protein, if that... Seriously, go do some research online. Bodybuilding forums and fitness sites are packed with articles and solid advice on how, what, where, why, and when... First, you really need to learn what muscle is actually made of and understand the roles of proteins, carbs, and fats.... And as for turning into "the Hulk"... with a diet and routine like that, it's going to be tough 😁

Richard Fox7 said:No—you've got it all wrong. You only put exactly one gram of protein in that post-workout meal, not even close... do some digging online; bodybuilding forums and fitness sites are packed with articles and actual advice on the how, the what, and the why... first, you need to actually understand what muscle is made of—protein, carbs, fats, the whole bit. As for turning into "The Hulk," with this current diet and routine, it’s going to be a long shot 😁

:LOL, okay, so I need to eat way more protein after training? I'll go check out some nutrition guides. Though, for the record, I did look at a few sites before posting... and I did learn about muscles and all that back in high school...

Nicholas Chavez70 said:Are you seriously being this reckless? Can't you see how this is going south? 😁 I've been ribbing my buddy the whole time because he won't stop grabbing strawberry, drinking the exact same stuff as Ciganovic—that pink cocktail... 😁 Honestly, I've tried chocolate from plenty of different brands, and most of them taste terrible. Vanilla is the gold standard; it’s a classic, an aroma, and a universally safe bet. You don't run into those instances where one brand's chocolate is decent but the concentrate makes it taste cheap or off. With vanilla, I've never missed the mark. With chocolate? I've been burned. And don't even get me started on alternative flavors like berry swirl... 🤮 I'm not the only one who feels this way...

This stuff is perfect for any athlete looking to pack on quality muscle without adding unnecessary fat. It's clearly an isolate since the guy only listed isolates (at least, that's how they market themselves). My point was that Newmont Gold Standard is priced perfectly considering it's a top-tier product. If someone really wants to overpay, they can grab Platinum, though I haven't heard of anyone actually buying it. It's probably just for pro MMA fighters or people who obsess over every tiny, insignificant detail.

Since when was Gold Standard considered an isolate?

Tell your buddy not to be touching my Whey. I'm out here grinding through college just to afford this stuff, and if he keeps running around using my supply, I'm gonna lose it on him. 😁 😉

Hey, it’s me again! ;-)

I need some help putting together a solid daily meal plan—honestly, I can't seem to trust my own judgment lately :S Since money is tight, I’m staying away from Optimum Nutrition for now... maybe in three or four years once I'm actually working. For the plan, feel free to work with what I've got: Egg, milk, olive oil, corn flakes, bananas, and other decent fruit. I also have cabbage, lettuce, and various other quality veggies, plus some dairy products—though I'm not entirely sure how healthy these banana shakes or certain dairy spreads really are. I could probably eat just about anything if it's good... My wife buys cottage cheese, but she usually finishes it before I can get through it in two days xD As soon as I have the cash, I'll pick up some Whey 😉 I'm about 5'7" and roughly 121 lbs... I haven't actually tracked my stats in years lol. Last time I measured myself was a few months ago, and I haven't stepped on a scale in a year or two, heh

So, if you wouldn't mind doing me a small favor and drafting a daily meal schedule 🙂 thanks in advance!

Ditch the sugary cornflakes and pick up some old-fashioned oats instead. You really can't go wrong with a steady supply of Eggs, Eggs, Milk, Milk, Eggs, Eggs, then plenty of fresh fruit and veggies, followed by more Eggs, Eggs, Milk, Milk. If you haven't quite caught my drift by now, just focus on eating tons of eggs, milk, and oats.

Fair enough—I actually thought someone here might help me map out a daily meal plan, but no big deal... I managed to get an answer over on another forum. ;-)

Anyway, cheers to you ;-)

feralorca7 said:Ditch the cornflakes and grab some oatmeal. Eggs, eggs, milk, milk, eggs, eggs, fruit, vegetables, eggs, eggs, milk, milk. If you haven't caught on by now, it’s plenty of eggs, milk, and oats.

I couldn't agree with you more if I tried. Even in first grade, they teach kids about the necessity of a balanced diet. Here is the reality: breakfast should consist of things like oatmeal, plus eggs and milk—basically anything fast-absorbing to provide necessary energy. As for eggs, eating two or three is perfectly sufficient, provided you eat three whites and two yolks. Since yolks have high cholesterol concentrations, two yolks is the absolute limit, yet you suggested four eggs and then added "plenty of eggs." 😲 Regardless, I am not going to write out an entire daily meal plan because we have debated that topic a hundred times already. Just remember one thing: "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper"—that is a guaranteed way to maintain both your health and your results.😛

Matthew Thompson32 said:I honestly can't see eye to eye with you on this at all. I remember back in elementary school, they start teaching kids early on about how essential a varied diet is for growth. For instance, a solid morning routine should probably involve things like oatmeal, maybe some Egg or milk—basically stuff that digests easily so you actually get that sustained energy boost throughout the morning. Regarding the Egg situation, eating maybe 2 or 3 is plenty, though if you want to be smart about it, sticking to 3 whites and 2 yolks is usually the sweet spot because those yolks have such a high concentration of cholesterol; having just 2 yolks is more than enough, yet you mentioned 4 Eggs and then followed it up by saying "lots of eggs." 😲 Anyway, I’m not going to sit here and write out an entire daily meal plan since we've already debated that topic a hundred times over, but just keep this one thing in mind: "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper"—if you follow that, your health will stay on track. 😛

Do you actually believe in that food pyramid nonsense?
Two yolks is the limit?

We are talking about actual science here, not old wives' tales or some weird pseudo-logic, so please just click that little red X. Thanks.

feralorca7 said:Do you actually buy into this health pyramid nonsense?
Two yolks at the top?

We are talking about science here, not grandma's myths or cosmic logic, so just click the red X. Thanks.

I absolutely believe in the health pyramid. Two yolks is plenty; if you’re that obsessed with Egg, just stick to the whites. I’m not saying eating three or four whole Eggs a day is instantly lethal, but I want to know if you plan on keeping this up for years without dealing with high cholesterol, heart issues, blood pressure, and the rest of the list. These diseases are rampant today precisely because people refuse to think about their long-term health and just shove every piece of crap they find into their bodies.🙂

Matthew Thompson32 said:I’m a big believer in following a nutritional pyramid approach. Honestly, having just two Egg yolks is plenty; if you're really that obsessed with eating them, just stick to the whites. I'm not saying eating three or four whole Eggs a day is going to kill you instantly, but I do wonder what happens if you keep that up for several years—whether you'll end up dealing with high cholesterol, which leads to heart issues, blood pressure problems, and all sorts of other stuff. That’s why these chronic illnesses are so common today; people aren't thinking about their long-term health when they just shovel junk food into their systems. 🙂

http://www.ajcn.org/content/65/6/1747.abstract
http://www.ajcn.org/content/55/6/1060.abstract
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/59/1/39.full.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation

Since testosterone is actually synthesized from cholesterol, does that mean testosterone is bad too? 🙄

Hello everyone 🙂. I have a question regarding my nutrition. Since I started hitting the gym a few weeks ago, I decided to pick up a 5kg tub of Optimum Nutrition Whey, which is about 80% pure, based on a recommendation from a friend. I also purchased some glucose powder, and now I am wondering about the best way to prepare my post-workout shake. Up until this point, my routine has been mixing two large scoops of protein with one scoop of glucose in about 1.5 cups of water. Is this approach correct? If not, I would sincerely appreciate some guidance and an explanation of how to optimize this mixture 🙂

Some people swear by calculating everything based on your body weight and specific goals, trying to nail down the exact ratio of Whey and dextrose—you know, that sugar hit—to get things right. But honestly, if you ask me, even just a single scoop is enough to spike your blood sugar and get that insulin surge going to support the anabolic process, though you probably don't even need the extra boost since most of us struggle with poor insulin sensitivity anyway.

feralorca7 said:Some people argue that everything depends on your specific body weight and fitness goals, suggesting you should precisely calculate the exact amount of Whey and dextrose (that's the sugar component) required. Personally, I believe even just one single spoonful is sufficient to trigger a spike in blood sugar and insulin, which helps support the anabolic process—though, honestly, you probably don't even need it since your insulin sensitivity is likely poor regardless.

Could you please provide a more detailed explanation of how to perform those calculations?

Well, a good rule of thumb is to aim for about half your body weight in grams of Whey, and then match your dextrose intake in grams to your weight in kilograms.
So, if you're sitting around 200 lbs, you'd be looking at roughly 45g of protein and 90g of carbs.

BUT, before you go doing anything, you really ought to lay out your full diet for me first, because it might be a total waste of time to dump an extra 350 calories of pure sugar into your system if your current nutrition isn't even on track.

feralorca7 said:Well, you can roughly estimate it by taking half your body weight in grams of Whey, and then matching the weight of dextrose in kilograms to the number of grams of dex you want.
For someone weighing 198 lbs, that would mean about 45g of protein and 90g of carbs.

HOWEVER, please list your current diet first. It might be completely counterproductive for you to be adding an unnecessary 350 calories of pure sugar to your daily intake.

So, does that mean I should be using twice as much glucose? I clearly received some bad advice from a friend who told me it should be half the amount of protein.😕 Regarding my diet, I have recently overhauled everything because I am underweight for my height. Currently, I am eating five larger meals a day, making sure to eat something every 2-3 hours, and I am drinking more water to help support my metabolism.

If you’re already eating something every couple of hours, you probably don't even need to bother with that dextrose. Just keep hitting those meals and focus on growing. 🙂

After taking a three-year hiatus from the gym, I’m looking to finally get back into a training routine. I happen to have two five-pound tubs of Optimum Nutrition sitting in my basement—they’ve been there for about three and a half years now. I opened them yesterday, and honestly? The smell and taste seem fine, and there isn't any weird clumping. On the surface, everything looks okay...
The manufacturer's expiration date has definitely passed, so I have to ask: is it actually safe to use this protein? It was stored in a cool basement, and I only just cracked the seals yesterday after all this time...
I can't help but notice that protein prices have skyrocketed compared to what they were three or four years ago—it’s ridiculous. So, from a purely financial standpoint, it would be a massive win if I could still make use of this Whey...