Best protein powders for muscle gain?

amberowl7 said:Just a quick beginner question here...

Is everyone watching every single gram they eat? Is having almost three teaspoons of sugar a day actually okay?
Honestly, I don't get it... 😕

Sugar is fine if you're bulking up. If you're just trying to cut, keep those carbs to a minimum.

Sam Roberts said:Sugar is for when you're trying to build muscle. If your goal is just losing weight, you should probably stick to fewer carbs like that.

I'm actually looking to put on some muscle mass... why would I be worried about losing weight? 🙂

amberowl7 said:Look, I actually need to put on muscle mass... what do you mean "weight loss"? 🙂

Just eat a balanced diet and hit the gym. It's not like you absolutely have to eat sugar to function. 🙄

Whey protein mixed with dextrose... seriously the best combo ever!

Sam Roberts said:Check out their website and look at the prices. These local guys are straight-up robbing us blind. You can find a few decent shops just over the border in Canada...

Which other stores are you thinking of?

Feel free to shoot me a DM with the links.😉

you got that thing mentioned above and that FlexShop one

How long can protein powder actually stay good once it's been opened? I have some tubs sitting around from back in January—I stopped using them when I took a break from my fitness routine, so they’ve just been gathering dust... are they still safe to use, or should I just bite the bullet and buy a fresh batch?
Also, does it even make sense to keep drinking them if I'm not working out? I'm vegetarian, so I don't get much protein through my regular meals, which is why I'm asking...

ironsurfer10 said:How long can protein powder stay open? I have some left over from January since I stopped working out, so they're just sitting there... I guess I wonder if they're still good to use, or if I should probably just buy some new ones?
And also, does it even make sense to drink them if I'm not exercising? I'm a vegetarian, so my protein intake is pretty low, which is why I'm asking...

Since you're a vegetarian, I suppose it might be a good idea to keep up with the protein. If it's whey, maybe try having it in the morning with breakfast, but if it's a different type, then whenever works. As for the powder itself, protein is a pretty hardy substance; I don't think it spoils or loses its effectiveness all that quickly. In fact, the shelf life for protein supplements is usually quite a bit longer than what's printed on the package.

So what if you're vegetarian? You've still got plenty of options—nuts, algae, dairy, soy, and a whole list of other stuff
Just don't treat whey like a meal replacement three times a day. It's best used right after a workout, nothing more.

I know which foods are actually good protein sources, but since my life is such a whirlwind lately, I haven't been eating very well... I was thinking about just trying to pack more protein into a single meal to make it easier, but I'm honestly not sure how to balance everything out. Also, I was curious about the shelf life of some of these options—Christian Harris2, thanks for the help! 🙂

ironsurfer10 said:Christian Harris2, thank you so much 🙂

I suppose I feel the same way. 🙂

...I’ve still got one left from back in January—I actually stopped drinking them once I quit my workout routine, so they're just sitting there gathering dust now...

..well, why didn't you just stop eating altogether? It seems like everyone assumes there's some sort of magic ingredient in home-cooked meals, and I honestly don't get why people think protein is strictly necessary when you're hitting the gym, yet totally optional when you aren't...

I'm trying to put together a morning training routine focused on gaining mass, since before 7 AM 😠 is my only window of free time. I’d really appreciate some advice and corrections from you all.

Because I'm intolerant to cow's milk, I rely on soy protein, glutamine, and B-complex vitamins.

What other foods would you recommend eating before and after my workouts?🤷 My sessions consist of light running or hill sprints, push-ups, and weightlifting.

Should I take my protein before or after the workout? And what about fruit or vegetables?

I'm nearly 50 years old. I'm healthy, but due to stress and spending way too much time sitting at my desk, I've lost a significant amount of weight, conditioning, and strength.

My diet mostly consists of goat yogurt and kefir, lean meats, fruits, and vegetables.

Thanks a lot in advance.

nimbleskipper89 said:...I still have some left over from back in January. I actually stopped taking them because I fell out of my workout routine, so they've just been sitting there gathering dust.

I’ve been wondering lately... why haven't you stopped eating? It feels like there's this collective assumption about what actually goes into the food we prepare ourselves. And I'm curious about your take on protein, too—why is there such an intense focus on hitting those numbers when you're working out, but then that logic seems to vanish during a normal day? What are your thoughts?

I honestly think I need to bump up my protein intake on days when I’m actually pushing my muscles through a workout, rather than just sitting on the couch in front of the TV all day doing nothing. It isn't like I don't understand what protein is, what it does, or how much I should be hitting daily; I've always tried to maintain a pretty balanced diet. However, since my eating habits haven't been exactly stellar lately, I decided to check the expiration dates on my supplements just to be safe before deciding whether or not to use them. I really don't see what the big deal is—I don't understand why asking a simple question like that is being treated as if it's somehow entitled or rude.😲

ironsurfer10 said:I don't get why there's an issue here, or why the question was so damn arrogant.😲

Look, you have to realize that not everyone is capable of having a decent conversation; some people are just stuck up and rude, and that's really all there is to it...😉

Don't sweat the small stuff...🙂

Henry Evans3 said:you just have to accept that not everyone is up for a real conversation. Some people are just arrogant and dismissive, and honestly, that's all there is to it.😉

Don't let the nonsense get under your skin...🙂

Especially when you're dealing with people online. 😉

Honestly, that’s just nimbleskipper89—probably hyper enough as usual from all that intense training she does. 😁

They say steroids make you "lose your mind"...😳

btw. I'm heading out tomorrow to grab some Daymatize protein, let's see if they actually live up to the hype...😁

Henry Evans3 said:People love to claim that steroids turn you into some kind of raving lunatic. They say you "lose your mind" or go completely off the rails once you start cycling. Honestly, it’s one of those tired clichés people cling to whenever they want to sound concerned or superior.😳

By the way, I'm heading out tomorrow to pick up some Daymatize protein. I want to see if they actually live up to the hype.😁

My boyfriend and I are heading over to the Tratinski office this Monday to pick them up ourselves. 😍

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.