Best protein powders for muscle gain?

Hmm, that sounds quite effective.
If I were to stick to just one shake a day, how long do you think a five-pound tub would actually last me? I don't think I'll need any more than that to get started, 🙂

120 days 🙂

Let’s hear some different perspectives here. How much protein should I actually be hitting daily? I'm currently bulking... trying to cram in as much as possible, but I'm struggling to push past 1.5g per kg of body weight. Right now, my floor is about 90g of protein for my 183lb frame. A buddy of mine insists I need at least 2g per kilo, but from what I read, anything north of 2g is mostly for pro bodybuilders and the hardcore crowd. That’s not really my scene; I'm just a recreational lifter.

Look...
low-fat cottage cheese in two 250g servings (that’s about 60g of protein total)

Lunch with some meat—say 30-40 grams

Throw in a can of fish, maybe some tuna or something similar... that's another 25-40 grams.

Add a few hard-boiled eggs, let's say 3 of them... gives you 18 grams.

Then just whatever you snack on during the day, even if you only snag another 20 grams from that.

That puts you at roughly 170g total. Is that really such a big deal? Basically, 500g of cottage cheese, lunch with some lamb, a couple of eggs, and a tin of fish. It gets you right up to that 2g per kg mark practically.
I don't know how old you are, and hey, if you aren't living on your own and can't really afford all this, then whatever... but I think this kind of routine is pretty easy to stick to while you're growing, especially since you're eating plenty of carbs too, which shouldn't be an issue, and fats either. Just add some workouts😬

And honestly, hitting 2g is a must in my book. It’s the sweet spot. Anything less is usually cutting it too close, and anything more is often just overkill... so at least try to aim for that 2g mark.

Every night I eat about 200-250g of cottage cheese mixed with a small fruit yogurt. I can't stand the taste of plain cottage cheese on its own...

Here’s my food log for today:
I was working, hit the gym, and then in the rush, I skipped my usual oats with a scoop of Optimum Nutrition whey or just having them with milk and a few eggs... Instead, I grabbed a sandwich at work and 180g of tuna—about 30g of protein out of that 140g serving. While waiting for the bus back home, I ate some chicken breast, though who knows how much actual chicken they actually put in those things. Once I got home, I had more tuna like I did at work, and around 11 PM, 200g of cottage cheese plus some fruit: two bananas, an apple, and some tangerines. No protein there, so I didn't bother counting it; that's just for energy.

I think I'll add another shake with cottage cheese and fruit yogurt... But listen, if I brought that to work, how long would it last at room temperature? Would it spoil? It would be perfect since I have one long break where I eat my tuna, plus two tiny 10-minute breaks where I barely have time to finish half a sandwich or a piece of fruit. Having cottage cheese and yogurt in a container that I could just knock back in a few minutes would be ideal. Could that sit out from 7 AM until my last break at 1 PM?

Also, regarding the eggs—how many boiled eggs do you think equals 18g of protein? From what I've read, there's about 8-9g per 100g, and 100g feels like a decent amount of eggs. I'll weigh them out in the morning.

someone’s gotta foot the bill for a diet like this

Alex Long8 said:And man, let's talk about eggs for a second. How many boiled eggs does it actually take to hit 18 grams of protein? From what I've read, there's only about 8 or 9 grams per 100 grams, and honestly, 100 grams feels like a whole lot of eggs to eat at once! I guess I'll just weigh them out tomorrow morning and see how it goes.

Well, 100g is roughly one and a half eggs.

Sam Roberts said:someone actually needs to fund a diet like this

And honestly? I work a part-time gig through a campus service, and the extra cash really matters to me. From my paycheck, I set aside at least $100 a month just for things like low-fat cheeses and stuff. Most seniors end up buying the canned tuna... meanwhile, I’ve been sitting on the same 5lb tub of whey for months.

Look, I get it... nothing in life is handed to you on a silver platter, but if you've got some whey on hand, just mix things up. I usually throw mine in some oatmeal in the morning—that’s my go-to—and then again after a workout. Just do what you can with what you've got. Since plant-based meals make up like 40% of what I eat (especially if you toss in some nuts), it works out. Honestly, if you're doing two scoops at 250 calories each, it feels way easier on the wallet than buying full meals, and probably a lot healthier too...

Anyway, during this time of year, I actually leave my tub out of the fridge all day just so it warms up a bit... don't like eating it straight from the freezer, you know? It stays fine sitting out for a while without spoiling. As for eggs, just eat as many as you can handle and as many as your budget allows. Yesterday I ran out of whey, so I just smashed three boiled eggs with half a scoop right after training...

Long story short, if you stick to what you're already eating—assuming you aren't skipping the oatmeal, the whey, or the eggs—you're basically missing about one to one-and-a-half meals minimum. So yeah, you hit the nail on the head... just grab a shake alongside those vegan options and snack on some almonds or peanuts, and you're set.

And man, you really need to sleep... aim for at least 7 or 8 hours.

Optimum Nutrition Elite Whey in vanilla... honestly, it’s a top-tier protein. I’ve been sticking with it for a year now, and I couldn't be happier with the results.
People tend to rave about Optimum Nutrition, and frankly, they have every reason to.

By the way, you can find their current lineup right here on this site:
Proteins
I'm staying loyal to Optimum Nutrition for the foreseeable future. I did try some Weider and MuscleTech once upon a time, but the price tag was just too steep...
The quality is probably comparable to what Optimum Nutrition offers, I suppose, but the cost is just significantly higher.

Noah Barnes5 said:Optimum Nutrition Elite Whey in vanilla is top-tier. Been crushing it for a year now and I'm totally sold.
People hype up Optimum Nutrition for a reason.

By the way, you can find deals on this site:
Proteins
I'm sticking with Optimum Nutrition for the long haul. Tried Weider and MuscleTech before, but they’re way overpriced.
The quality might be similar to Optimum Nutrition, but you're paying a massive premium.

What kind of crappy web shop doesn't even take credit cards??😕 plus the prices are kinda steep

Noah Barnes5 said:Optimum Nutrition Elite Whey in vanilla is an awesome protein. I've been drinking it for a year now and I'm totally stoked with it.
People rave about Optimum Nutrition for a reason—they really hit the mark.

By the way, you can find their stuff right here:
Protein Store
I'm sticking with Optimum Nutrition, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. I've tried Weider and MuscleTech before, but they tend to be way more expensive.
The quality is probably pretty similar to Optimum Nutrition, but you're definitely paying a premium for it.

I'm actually looking specifically for that Optimum Nutrition Elite Whey—any idea where I can pick some up in Washington, D.C.? I'd rather not deal with shipping delays if I can help it; I was hoping to just swing by somewhere tomorrow. Does anyone know if there's a shop near downtown that stocks it?
Feel free to shoot me a DM if you aren't supposed to post links here...
thanks!

Noah Barnes5 said:Optimum Nutrition Elite Whey in vanilla is actually a solid protein. I've been using it for a year now and I'm totally satisfied.
People rave about Optimum Nutrition for a reason... they really nail it.

By the way, you can find their stuff on this site too:
Protein Store
I'm sticking with Optimum Nutrition and I don't plan on changing. I've tried Weider and MuscleTech before, but they're just way too overpriced.
The quality is probably on par with Optimum Nutrition, but you're definitely paying more for the name.

Man, $270 a 10lb tub of Optimum Nutrition whey costs a fortune...😲

I picked it up for $50 back in the States...😁

Retailers here are a total rip-off. Honestly, thank God for Canada (never thought I'd see the day)... 🙂

Anyone tried this protein before?
link

The brand isn't exactly a household name, but I usually stick to the old mantra: "a protein is a protein." My main concern is how easy it is on the stomach. Some cheap brands—looking at you, Weider—always leave me with a massive stomach ache right after. When I have a bit more cash to burn, I just order the good stuff to avoid the hassle. $83 You really can't find anything cheaper than this for a 2.2kg tub, especially since it’s loaded with 5g of BCAAs and glutamine. Honestly, looking at their site, it feels similar to ordering from sites like Bodybuilding.com or Vitamin Shoppe. The only difference is you just email them your info and shipping address.

I also noticed they have 5kg of maltodextrin for about $25. Usually, that's what you'd pay for just 1kg here in the States. $27 That price is absolutely insane.

Anyone looking to grab some Dymatize Elite Whey, the 5lb tub? Hit me up.😁
Or maybe you're more about that Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard stuff? Let me know.😁

Are you passing this on to someone who'll actually appreciate it? 😁

wearyotter81 said:So you're just giving it away to some good cause? 😁

Not quite... 😁

Alex Long8 said:Has anyone actually tried these proteins?
link

The brand isn't exactly a household name, but I usually stick to that old mantra: "a protein is a protein." My main concern is how easy it is on the gut. Some of the cheap junk out there—looking at you, MuscleTech—always leaves me with digestive issues. If I had more breathing room in my budget, I’d just order from a premium supplier once and be done with it, because honestly, $83 you aren't going to find anything cheaper than this for a 5lb tub, especially since they've tossed in 5g of BCAA and glutamine. Looking through the forums, people seem to pick up similar stuff from sites like Vitamin Shoppe or Bodybuilding.com. Here, you just shoot them an email with your info and shipping address and call it a day.

I also noticed they have 5kg of maltodextrin for $25, which is wild considering what we pay for a single kilo around here. $27 That price is absolutely insane.

Half a pound of glucose at a place like CVS will run you about $4.00 if I recall correctly, so a full pound is basically $8.00. At 5 times 24, that's $40, which is still less than 25 bucks 😉.

Patrick Chase11 said:Is that glucose level at CVS actually okay? $4.00 Briefly, that's a pound. $8.00. 5*24 = $40Less than $25. 😉

And just to be clear, glucose isn't maltodextrin.