Best protein powders for muscle gain?

Steven Lopez35 said:Just stick to creatine and whey protein. If you've got the extra cash, maybe grab a mass gainer.

Good luck!

Mass gainers are total garbage, unless you're buying some high-end stuff. Honestly, even the whey and creatine are a waste of money right now. You're just flushing cash down the toilet because your first cycle is going to be the most effective anyway... better to build up a solid foundation and get some real mass first, then worry about the supplements.

Anthony Campbell4 said:You can even do this in the morning with some oats... it's a simple, killer breakfast that’s super fast. Way easier than messing around with eggs and stuff. Just toss in the oats, water, and whey and you're done. Obviously do it after training... or you can have it between meals too, especially if you're cutting and keeping carbs low.

Just my two cents, but I’ve tried some nasty stuff, and this is easily the worst. The mere thought of it makes me want to gag. 🙂

And why would anyone call mass gainer trash? Also, what kind of nonsense are you talking about regarding creatine...

Mass gainer isn't trash—if you've got the cash, it's an awesome option. If you don't, well, sucks to be you. As for creatine, sure, the effects hit hardest at first, but they stay solid for a few months before you just cycle it. Do a month washout, then go back at it. And I don't see why a beginner wouldn't be able to take creatine; it's cheap and it's a straightforward supplement.

Steven Lopez35 said:Just my two cents, but I’ve never tried anything more revolting. Even thinking about it makes me nauseous... 🙂

And why on earth would a mass gainer be trash?

You clearly have no clue.

Oats from Trader Joe's, water or rice milk, and some whey makes for a solid breakfast. Throw in some blueberries or similar fruit after a bit

But sure, go ahead with that Papaj mass—super healthy...

rapidhound82 said:Hey everyone.
First time posting in this thread. I’ve been reading through everything, but I could use some advice—specifically from people who actually know what they're doing...
So, I train French boxing. Up until this season, I was competing in assault (no contact, just technique), but next season I'm moving up to combat (full contact)... Since I'm naturally pretty lean—about 143 lbs at 5'11"—I was thinking about bulking up a bit to gain some strength. My coach suggested the same thing... My questions are: first, is it even smart to mess with supplements at my age, being 16? Second, if it is, any recommendations? I'd start with something for weight gain, maybe muscle mass later on—nothing crazy, just enough to look decent. I have a relative who uses them and looks great; we were talking about it, and he takes a lot of vitamins along with his regimen too... So, if anyone could share a "recipe" or a stack, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.

Anyone able to weigh in?

Look, kid, if you're gonna start supplementing, you might as well just go with some whey protein

Steven Lopez35 said:Just my two cents, but I’ve never tried anything more disgusting. Even thinking about it makes me nauseous.. 🙂

And why on earth would a mass gainer be garbage? As for the creatine thing, what kind of nonsense are you spouting...

A mass gainer isn't trash if you have the money to pick an excellent one... if you don't, well, sucks to be you. And creatine? Obviously, you see the biggest results early on, but those effects hold up for a few months before you just cycle it. Do a month-long washout, then go back at it. I also don't see why someone who isn't an experienced lifter shouldn't take creatine; it's a cheap, straightforward supplement.

It's not trash if it's a QUALITY mass gainer. That's the whole point. The cheap ones are loaded with sugar. At that point, you might as well just eat straight sugar. It's cheaper 😁 ... and you end up in the same spot. Sugar is trash... period. If you want quality, you pay for it. Better to just stick to whey, plain and simple... and who says you can't take creatine? Of course you can. I'm just saying, since he's never used it before, he can still make massive gains without it. He'd be better off progressing naturally first, and then starting creatine later—the results will actually be better. Right now, he'll probably just waste it because he's still got plenty of room to grow without it.

Sam Roberts said:you have no idea what you're talking about.

Oatmeal from Trader Joe's, some water or rice milk, and a scoop of whey makes for a solid breakfast. Throw in some blueberries or something similar...

But sure, just stick to your mass gainers—because those are so incredibly healthy.

Whey and oats are the best way to start the day 😁 ... or eggs and oats. Oats are non-negotiable. Nothing else comes close.

Anthony Campbell4 said:A mass gainer isn't trash if it’s actually high quality. That’s the whole point. Most of the cheap stuff on the market is just loaded with sugar. If you're buying that, you might as well just eat straight sugar—it's basically the same thing and way cheaper 😁 ... end of story. Sugar is garbage. Period. You pay more for quality. Honestly, you're better off sticking to whey, simple as that. And who says you can't take creatine? Of course you can. I'm just saying, since he's never touched creatine before, he still has plenty of room to grow without it. It's smarter to make those gains naturally first, then hit the creatine later. He'll see much better results that way. If he starts now, he's basically wasting it because he'd still be making solid progress without it anyway.

That’s exactly why I told the guy that if he’s got the cash... 🙂

Also, that whole thing about creatine is total nonsense.

Steven Lopez35 said:That’s exactly why I told the guy—if he’s got the cash... 🙂

Also, what you said about creatine is flat-out wrong.

Creatine actually works 😉 ...trust me... that first cycle is always the most intense... or rather, it hits the hardest. I’m not saying it won't work later... it will, but nothing beats that first run... I remember my own experience

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey:
100% Whey Gold Standard:

So, look, I haven't scrolled through the old threads yet, so I figured I'd just ask: which one of these two is actually better? I’m hitting the gym 6 days a week, standing 6'1", and weighing about 180 lbs.

Tyler Wood4 said:Gold Standard Whey:
Gold Standard Whey:

Haven't caught up on the old posts yet, so I'm just looking to see which of these two is better. Training 6 days a week. I'm 6'1" and about 180 lbs.

Gold Standard Whey

Just take it right after you hit the weights... pair it with some glucose

hey

So, here’s the deal—I started hitting the gym about two weeks ago. I’ve been going four times a week for about an hour to ninety minutes per session, and on my off days, I usually go out for a two or three-hour bike ride.
I’m planning on adding some protein supplements to my routine, but I’m a bit confused by people mentioning taking it along with glucose—since I’m pretty new to all this, I’m not entirely sure what that entails. Is that something you just pick up at a local GNC or a nutrition shop, and what’s the best way to actually take it?

I figured someone on this forum probably covered it already, but looking at the 180 pages of history here... well, I just don't have the time to read through everything.

Thanks much,

Steven Lopez35 said:That's exactly why I told the guy—if he actually has the budget... 🙂

Furthermore, this talk about creatine is simply inaccurate.

The reality is... you first need to maximize your results through a disciplined diet... and only once that diet reaches its limit should you consider outside supplementation. 😉 That is how you achieve optimal progress. 😉

Mark Mendoza7 said:hey

So, I started hitting the gym two weeks ago. I'm going four times a week for an hour or ninety minutes, and on the other three days, I cycle for two to three hours.
I'm planning to start taking protein, but I don't understand what people mean when they say to take it with glucose (I'm a novice here, so I have no idea what that is). Is that also something you get at a fitness shop, and how do you take it?

Someone on this forum probably explained it already, but there are 180 pages here. I don't have the time to read through all of that.

Thanks.

Check your DMs, 😁 500g is roughly around $5.00

Elizabeth Gomez3 said:The truth is... you have to squeeze every bit of potential out of a solid diet first... only once the nutrition alone isn't cutting it should you look for outside help. 😉 That’s how you actually see real progress. 😉

Check your DMs 😁 500g is roughly $5.00

Nutrition doesn't directly build physique when we're talking about creatine; the training itself does the heavy lifting. It seems like most people here don't have the slightest clue what creatine is actually for. I agree that you don't need to supplement with creatine right out of the gate. You should only pick it up once your training becomes more intense—meaning it gets serious and shifts toward a specific goal or result. Creatine just makes hitting those peaks easier.
Take a maximum of 6g daily. Forget about "loading phases." Especially not for soccer players or other athletes where explosive power, acceleration, and agility are the priorities.

slydriver52 said:Diet isn't the primary driver for physical conditioning when we're talking about creatine; it’s the training itself that matters most. It seems many people here don't have the slightest clue what creatine actually does. I agree that you don't need to supplement with it right out of the gate. You should only consider it once your workouts become more intense—more serious—and specifically targeted toward a certain goal or result. Creatine just makes hitting those benchmarks easier.
The maximum dose should be 6g daily. There is no need for loading phases. This is especially true for soccer players or other athletes where explosive power, acceleration, and agility are critical.

I know exactly what creatine is for... but I maintain that, at the start, nutrition is the most vital factor. Of course, training is a given, whether you're using creatine or not. 😁

Elizabeth Gomez3 said:It's true... you have to max out what you can get from a solid diet first... only once the food isn't cutting it anymore should you look into outside help 😉 That's how you see the best results 😉

Check your DMs 😁 500g is roughly $5.00

Facts... too many beginners jump straight into using everything under the sun... huge mistake. Unless we're talking whey, you don't really need any supplements... everyone knows when and why to use whey for maximum effect. Everything else is just a waste of money... if you nail your nutrition and your training, you'll make massive gains for years... once you actually start hitting a plateau, then maybe you should think about other stuff...

Elizabeth Gomez3 said:I know exactly what creatine is for. But let me be clear: if your nutrition isn't dialed in first, you're wasting your time. You can take all the supplements you want, but they won't fix a broken diet. And obviously, training is a non-negotiable requirement—with or without the creatine. 😁

Let's look at this logically. Why are you placing such heavy emphasis on nutrition for someone who is just starting out? Do you even know what sport they actually practice? You seem to be operating under the assumption that everyone walking into a gym for the first time is solely obsessed with aesthetics, which is a massive oversight. What are this person's actual goals? How old are they? What is their physical build? You can't prescribe a regimen without understanding the fundamentals.
Genetics play a massive role here. By the time kids hit 14 or 15, they’re already specializing in specific sports, meaning their training is hyper-focused on a singular discipline. One guy is over here rambling about creatine like it's some magic pill, but you’re trying to link nutrition directly to performance by claiming people should "maximize their potential through diet first, and only then look for outside supplements once food isn't cutting it anymore." Let's be blunt: nutrition is the foundation, period. It works every single time. You can't build anything without fuel. No food, no results. It's that simple.
I believe that if a person eats every day and simply scales up their caloric intake when they aren't seeing results, that’s enough to ensure constant progress. When you're talking about athletes, the real driver is the training, not the diet. Sure, if your goal is purely aesthetics, you have to watch what you eat, but that’s a whole different conversation. It isn't easy to design a meal plan for someone who only hits the gym to supplement a primary combat sport. Besides, as I've pointed out before, genetics play a massive role in this equation.
Before you start handing out advice like it’s free candy, try picking up a professional textbook and actually applying some legitimate training methodologies to your own routine. Maybe then you'll actually have something worth teaching.

slydriver52 said:Fine, let’s look at it this way. Why are you assuming nutrition is such a critical factor if he’s just a beginner? Do you even know what sport he plays or what his specific objectives are? Do you honestly believe everyone walking into a gym for the first time is primarily focused on aesthetics? You haven't mentioned his age, his body type, or any of those variables.
Genetics play a significant role here. By the time kids reach 14 or 15, they are already specializing in specific sports, meaning their training is tailored toward a particular discipline. You mention some nonsense about creatine, yet you link diet strictly to physique by claiming "one must first maximize results through proper nutrition... and only when diet alone stops working should one seek outside assistance." Nutrition always works. Without fuel, there are no results.
My view is that a person eats every day, and simply increasing caloric intake is often enough to ensure steady progress. When discussing athletes, the variable is the training, not necessarily the diet. If the goal is purely aesthetic, then yes, nutrition matters, but that is a separate conversation entirely—especially since designing a meal plan for someone who uses the gym merely as a supplement to a combat sport is quite complex. As I stated previously, genetics are a major factor.
Before you start handing out advice, perhaps try reading an actual textbook or applying some legitimate training methodologies to yourselves. Then you might actually learn something.

Let’s try practicing some reading comprehension. The kid is 16 years old, 180cm, and weighs 65kg. His coach told him he needs to put on weight. Given those stats, do you really think he needs "definition"? Come on... Training for definition versus mass is remarkably similar; the difference lies in the diet. 😉 And based on what I have personally tested and achieved, I am more than satisfied with my own results. 😉

🤦
Look, you didn't actually say what kind of athlete this 16-year-old kid is.
Is he into fitness or bodybuilding? Is that why he needs all that "mass" you're talking about?
You can't just give a teenager broad nutritional advice without even knowing who he is. If I'm not mistaken, the kid is into combat sports. You shouldn't be telling him to eat like some casual gym rat who thinks he can become Arnold by choking down oatmeal and half a kilo of protein powder just to get some abs and bigger arms. For all you know, a burger might actually be what he needs before training. Do you honestly think elite athletes eat exactly like bodybuilders? Every sport has unique requirements, and menus are built around those specific needs. It’s not just about the discipline; it's about the individual, because we're all built differently. An athlete's true form isn't measured by puffed-up, shredded muscles; it's about functional readiness achieved through training, not following a standard bodybuilding diet that only works for them—and even then, bodybuilding is more of a visual pursuit than a traditional sport.
The kid is 16 and still growing, so he can probably eat just about anything, especially since he's active. Genetics will play its part, and he might never look exactly like the people he admires. He shouldn't obsess over aesthetics; he just needs to train, eat, and things will fall into place. Also, he should pick up a real textbook and learn from actual professionals instead of reading T-Nation and other nonsense.
And believe it or not, even pizza can fit into an athlete's "proper diet."😉