Best protein powders for muscle gain?

slydriver52 said:🤦
Sorry, but you didn't actually mention what kind of athlete this 16-year-old kid even is...
Is he doing fitness, or maybe bodybuilding where he needs all that "mass" you mentioned?
You can't just give a teenager some blunt advice about nutrition being the most important thing when you don't even know who he is. If I'm not mistaken, the guy is into combat sports, and you can't advise him to eat like some casual gym rat who thinks he can become Arnold by crushing oatmeal and half a kilo of protein powder just to get abs and bigger arms. How do you know he wouldn't prefer something like a burger before training? Do you really think elite athletes eat exactly like bodybuilders? Every single sport has its own specific requirements, and menus are built around those needs. It’s not just about the different sports either—it's about the athletes themselves, since we're all built differently. An athlete's form isn't judged by how ripped or pumped up their muscles look, but by their overall physical readiness, which comes primarily from training, not from typical bodybuilding diets that only work for them because bodybuilding is a visual pursuit... if it's even considered a sport at all.
The kid is 16 and still growing, so he can probably eat pretty much anything, especially since he's active. Genetics will play its part, and he might never look exactly like the person he admires physically. He shouldn't obsess over aesthetics; he just needs to train, eat, and everything will fall into place eventually. Also, he should pick up a 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."😉

We all know what healthy eating looks like, and that applies to everyone from infants to seniors... btw, maybe you should spend a little more time browsing T-Nation, you might actually learn something.

Richard Fox7 said:Everyone knows what healthy eating looks like—it applies to everyone from infants to seniors right up until the end. By the way, you might want to spend some actual time reading T-Nation; maybe you'll finally learn something.

It’s comments like this that make me lose interest in posting here.
I honestly doubt you have the slightest clue what constitutes a healthy diet.
Why don't you come down to an LA Fitness in Washington, D.C. and try to educate us? Since you're clearly such an expert based on your "research" on T-Nation.🤣.
The strength and conditioning coaches would love to hear your wisdom, and I'll be happy to set up an appointment for you.

Is it possible to drop by and check out that training session? 😁

slydriver52 said:🤦
I'm sorry, but you neglected to mention which sport this sixteen-year-old kid actually plays.

Well, he clearly isn't into ballet... 😉 whatever sport he's playing, at 5'11" and 143 lbs, he's struggling. His coach already told him the truth: he needs to put on some serious mass.

Sam Roberts said:Can I just drop by and check out this training session? 😁

Sure, you can, but don't hold your breath. Honestly, I'm not even sure you'll wrap your head around any of it—that’s just how T-Nation content works. It's heavy stuff.🤣

Elizabeth Gomez3 said:Clearly doesn't do ballet... 😉 whatever sport he's in, at 5'11" and 143 lbs, he's thin. Just like his coach told him, he needs mass!

Either you’re playing dumb to avoid my point, or you genuinely don't get it.
The issue isn't whether he needs a few extra pounds—it's that the advice you're pushing is fundamentally flawed. Go ahead, define "balanced nutrition" for a 16-year-old kid training in combat sports. And explain how someone can lose their conditioning if they're actually eating correctly. While you're at it, define what "athletic form" even means. What's the difference between a healthy diet and an athlete's diet? Let's hear it.

I’m still sticking to my guns: you don't need to "save" creatine for later. I didn't start taking it right away myself, but we dragged a buddy of mine into the gym with a solid program, dialed-in nutrition, and proper technique. He made an insane transformation in just a few months, and honestly, we'll never know how much better he would've looked without the creatine, unfortunately... I think people put way too much hype on a supplement as basic as creatine. And don't even get me started on cycling or ephedrine (not that I know much about those since I'm not looking to go down that road right now)... As for loading phases, I don't think they're necessary, but if you want to hit peak saturation faster, why not?

I have a quick question... I just can't seem to stomach whey protein when I mix it with water; it constantly makes me feel nauseous. Would it be acceptable to try mixing it with milk instead? Perhaps something like a skim milk or a 1% version so it isn't too heavy 😁
. I am well aware that the common consensus is to stick to water to ensure faster absorption, but my body simply isn't having it 🙂
.

jadeowl said:I have one question... I just can't stomach whey mixed with water; it constantly makes me nauseous. Would it be okay to mix it with milk instead? Maybe something like skim milk or a 1% version so it isn't too heavy? 😁
I know everyone insists on using water for faster absorption, but my body simply won't tolerate it. 🙂

Stick to water after your workout! How can you not enjoy it? Just throw in some dextrose if you need more. Personally, I love whey. 😍

maybe you're just obsessive about your whey intake 😁
...

Elizabeth Gomez3 said:Make sure you always grab some water right after your workout! I honestly don't know how anyone could skip that step. Personally, I like to mix in a little bit of dextrose to help things along, and I absolutely love using whey protein. It’s become such a staple in my routine. 😍

I’ve tried adding a bit of granulated sugar to smooth things out, but honestly, it just doesn't do the trick. It’s a bit disappointing, really! I suppose there isn't much else I can do about it, so I guess I'll just have to grit my teeth and drink it exactly as it is. 😁

jadeowl said:I could add organic cane sugar myself, but it still won't help, haha... basically, there’s no other way. You just have to struggle through and drink it exactly how it is. 😁

Don't torture yourself. Add milk, add whatever you want. If it tastes bad to you, you'll eventually develop an aversion to it, which creates a negative psychological loop.
Regardless of how effective a supplement is, if the flavor is repulsive, the chances of you sticking to it long-term are virtually zero.

Seriously, what kind of whey are you drinking that tastes that nasty? If you’re mixing it with the right amount of water, I’ve never had one that wasn't at least drinkable, let alone absolutely revolting. :S

Is that whey protein actually overpriced? And does it just make you put on fat?

Steven Lopez35 said:What kind of whey are you even drinking if it tastes that bad? If you’re mixing it with the right amount of water, I haven't had a single brand yet that was anything less than drinkable, let alone disgusting. :S

It comes down to taste. Some people like sauerkraut, some don't. Some people like fish, some don't. Some people like whey mixed with water, some don't. 😉

Steven Lopez35 said:What kind of whey are you drinking that tastes that awful? If you’re mixing it with the right amount of water, I’ve honestly never had one that wasn't at least drinkable, let alone terrible. :S

That is exactly my point... I've tried various brands and different flavors, and they were all perfectly fine.😁

Carol Ortiz9 — if you want to check out some prices, look here: http://www.bodybuilding.com/shop/supplements/proteins

A 30g serving (one shake) is about 128 calories... packed with protein... and frankly, that protein content is the whole reason anyone bothers drinking it in the first place.😉

Elizabeth Gomez3 said:exactly my point... I've tried various brands, all sorts of flavors... and they were all pretty good 😁

Carol Ortiz9 - you can check out the prices right here,

A 30g serving (one shake) is about 128kcal... packed with protein... and honestly, that's the whole reason people drink it in the first place 😉

I'll look around locally, but if the prices are sky-high, I'm passing

I have another (admittedly) slightly silly question, haha... how exactly do they come up with all those different whey flavors? Does anyone actually know what gets added to the powder to make it taste exactly like cookies and cream, vanilla, coconut, or mint? And honestly, just how many varieties are even out there... 🤷

steelskipper74 said:I have another silly question, haha. How do they actually make all those different whey flavors? Does anyone know what kind of additives they use to make it taste like cookies, vanilla, coconut, or mint? It seems like there are endless varieties.. 🤷

😕

It’s the same process for the various pudding flavors, ice creams, and different types of creams...

I ended up grabbing a massive bag of banana chips, so I’ve been tossing them in my morning shake with some creatine 😁