Best protein powders for muscle gain?

Walter White said:If you don't mind me asking, where do you order from over in Canada? Thanks!

Check this out here:

Steven Reed54 said:Take a look at this. I am once again forced to address the absolute lack of intelligence being displayed in this thread. It is frankly exhausting. I see several people here acting as if they have discovered some groundbreaking secret to muscle growth, when in reality, you are all just circling the same basic principles. It’s repetitive, it’s tedious, and quite frankly, it’s insulting to anyone who actually understands nutrition. Regarding the discussion on protein supplements: stop obsessing over every minor brand variation. If you want results, stick to the staples. I personally rely on Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey because it works, and I don't have the patience to waste money on experimental garbage that promises the world and delivers nothing. Using MuscleTech or Labrada Nutrition is fine if you prefer their profiles, but let's not pretend there's some magical difference that will suddenly turn you into a pro bodybuilder overnight. To the individual making claims about MusclePharm—your logic is flawed. You cannot simply supplement your way out of a mediocre training program and a disorganized diet. It doesn't work that way. It's physics, not magic. And for heaven's sake, can we please move away from these constant debates about specific local brands? We are talking about fuel, not fine dining. Pick a reliable source like Optimum Nutrition Whey, hit your macros, and stop whining. I find myself constantly having to correct these misconceptions. It is a heavy burden to bear when one values efficiency and science over hype and ego. Expecting better discourse from this group was clearly my first mistake.

Thanks. I'll be careful.

There are a few big players out there, but if you want the most widely available option with the biggest selection, look into MusclePharm. Just hit up Google and run a price comparison.

slydriver52 said:Hard to pick a single winner, but there are plenty at the top level for good reason. You've got Optimum Nutrition, MuscleTech, Labrada Nutrition, BSN, and so on...
Personally, I think Optimum Nutrition Whey is great. It mixes easily in milk—which shows it's actually high quality—doesn't have too many artificial sweeteners, and the flavors are solid. Honestly, you'd be better off just buying Nesquik if you want cheap sugar.

I order that one too, but the flavors are just okay for me. Some are better, some are worse...

BSN tastes better

Could someone please weigh in here? I feel like I've lost my way a bit...

Up until now, I’ve been mixing two scoops of protein with about 8 or 9 large tablespoons of sugar into a single post-workout shake..

But now I've decided to split things up—one shake in the morning and one after my evening workout.. so, does that mean I'm looking at a combination of 1 scoop of whey and that same 1 scoop of sugar? (I read somewhere that one scoop is roughly 50g)

Then, just yesterday, I come across some advice suggesting that anyone weighing over 155 or 165 lbs should be consuming at least 70g of carbohydrates (sugar) in every single shake..

Am I losing my mind here, or am I just being foolish?
Now I'm not even entirely certain if a single scoop of sugar actually hits that 50g mark :S

I honestly don't get where you're getting lost here.
Like, what are you even trying to achieve? What exactly are you drinking, and what's the logic behind it?
Also, maybe just drop the whole thing about scoops from the conversation? Since you don't actually know the exact measurements, bringing that up just makes things way more confusing than they need to be. I guess it would be much easier if you just stuck to grams.

-Joe

Hey everyone!
I picked up some Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey today.

Does anyone here have any expert insight on this stuff? What’s the best way to take it—just shake it up with water right after a workout? Also, would it be a bad move to add some glucose to it? I'm trying to drop about 5 or 6 pounds...

To be totally honest, it doesn't taste great just mixed with water. I went with the cookie flavor...

You could take it right after your workout, or honestly, just mix it with some water whenever.
And hey, maybe try adding some glucose? I guess about 50 grams would be a solid amount for you.

As far as dropping those pounds goes... well, you're probably going to need to either burn more calories throughout your day than you currently do, or just cut back on what you're eating.
It’s really a combination of both your diet and your training sessions.

-Joe

Is this protein actually any good? I'm planning on hitting the gym way harder than I am now...

Also, where else can I pick up some glucose? I heard they don't carry it at GNC.

So I've been reading about how when you take whey, your body uses what it needs and just turns any extra protein into energy... Makes sense, since whey hits the system so fast and anything that doesn't go straight to muscle repair just gets burned off. Does that same logic apply to casein though? Since casein is slow-release—I read it can last up to 7 hours—it feels like there wouldn't really be much "excess" unless you're slamming huge amounts at once. Because it trickles into the bloodstream so slowly, there's basically no surplus... What would be the max amount of casein in one sitting that the body could actually use up? For whey, I saw somewhere it's around 30-40 grams, but what about casein?

It’s exactly 47.6 grams.

@ Painkiller, if they don't have it in stock over at Dover right now, I guess it'll show up soon enough.
The protein content seems pretty solid to me.

-Steve

Question:

I’m 25 years old—standing about 5'9" and weighing roughly 170 pounds. My main goal right now is to pack on some muscle mass. What would you guys suggest I take before or after my workouts? Specifically regarding protein supplements...

Oh, and just for context, I do combat sports.

Also—and please, let's keep it realistic here—don't go suggesting any of those crazy expensive, high-end supplements. I'm looking for something sensible that fits a regular guy's budget.😉

granitecobra80 said:I have a question:

So, I’m twenty-five years old, standing about 5'9", and weighing in at roughly 170 pounds. My main goal right now is to pack on some serious muscle mass—I really want to see that scale move in the right direction, but in terms of lean tissue. Given where I am physically, what would you all recommend taking around my workout windows? Specifically, when it comes to protein supplementation—should I be looking at certain things before I hit the gym, or is the real magic happening in that post-workout window?

By the way—I actually spend quite a bit of my time training in combat sports.

By the way—please, I’m begging you—don't go recommending those overpriced, high-end supplements to me. Just give me something sensible that won't break the bank—something for the average person's budget. 😉

For years now, I’ve stuck to the exact same ritual when it comes to my post-workout protein intake—I’m talking about a pretty disciplined routine that hasn't budged in quite some time. I usually go with about 7 ounces of chicken breast—wrapped up nicely, of course—along with roughly 10...$4.00 Looking at the nutritional breakdown here—we're talking roughly 32 grams of protein per meal.

When it comes to your dinner, I really suggest leaning into those healthy fats—think things like Omega-3s, Omega-6s, and the rest of that essential crew. We’re talking about incorporating plenty of olive oil, fish oil, or even some high-quality peanut butter into your evening meal. The logic here is actually quite simple, though vital: our muscles undergo their most intense period of regeneration while we sleep. It’s essentially the body's "maintenance window," so you want to make sure you've supplied them with all the necessary building blocks to ensure that recovery is as efficient and high-quality as possible.

If there’s anything else on your mind—absolutely anything at all—please, don't hesitate to ask. I'm more than happy to dive deeper into the details.

👍

Thanks so much for getting back to me.

Could you please suggest a specific product that actually contains those fats? ...I don't really mean just any random oil—I was looking at some last night, but 😉

Forgive me if these questions seem a bit silly—it’s all quite new to me, honestly—😁

I'm 17, 5'7", and about 150 lbs. I play soccer three times a week plus two games—so my schedule is pretty packed. I don't hit the gym specifically, but I’ve got some weights at home and stuff, though I’m looking to level up the intensity. Anyone actually know their way around protein supplements? Give me some recommendations.

granitecobra80 said:thanks for the reply.

can you recommend a specific product that has those fats? ...not really looking for just oil, I took some last night😉

sorry for the dumb questions, just new to all this😁

grab some almonds or peanuts. fish oil can be a bit heavy on the stomach at night

Why does everyone seem to hate on weight gainers so much? And seriously, is there not a single girl in this thread? ... Figures...

granitecobra80 said:thanks for getting back to me.

Look, can you please just give me some actual product recommendations that actually contain those fats? I don't mean just eating oil last night... 😉

Forgive the stupid questions, I'm still totally new to all this stuff. 😁

Just grab some Omega-3 tablets—and don't bother with the cheap crap at CVS, go to a real pharmacy instead. Honestly, do yourself a favor and Google "Omega-3" before you jump to any conclusions.
But then again, when I really think about it, only people who are too lazy to read ten pages of info or spend five minutes on the internet even ask these kinds of things. Thank God we have forums and websites to cater to everyone's lack of effort...
After your workout, hit the whey protein isolate—the 5lb tub is always the best deal and it lasts you about a month and a half—mixed with some grape sugar (grab it at Walgreens, $4.25) and make sure you don't eat anything for at least half an hour after that. In the morning, load up on carbs like Corn Flakes, but as you get closer to dinner, start tapering off the carbs and bump up the protein intake. The main thing is don't starve yourself. Take your Omega-3s after dinner and, well, that's basically the whole "live a healthy lifestyle" lecture right there. By the way, it actually works.
If you're going to ask something, have the guts to Google it for thirty minutes first.

mellownomad15 said:Why does everyone seem to have such a vendetta against weight gainers? And yeah, there aren't any women here either, right? Figures.

I can't stand them because they’re usually loaded with sugar and overpriced, so you’d honestly be better off just pairing protein with some glucose. Then again, I’ve tried both approaches. Since I wasn't exactly disciplined enough to stick to a strict diet and everything else, the fact remains that it worked for me. That said, while I was using it, I made a point to avoid sweets and junk food; all that sugar used to make me feel like garbage. Once you get used to the routine, though, you don't even crave the sugary stuff anymore. Just for context, I’m a damn ectomorph by nature, so putting on mass is an uphill battle, but the gainer definitely helped. Now that I'm planning to get back into the gym, I’m weighing my options regarding getting back on the gainer.

William Collins6 said:I have some... what specifically are you looking for?

You're basically looking at carbohydrates and pure protein (meaning the amino acids).
The real question is what your end goal is and how you plan to utilize them.
But I’m assuming you’re planning on hitting the gym...

Since you're asking for advice, here is my take.

Grab a 100% whey isolate or maybe an anabolic whey blend, though if you aren't careful, you'll definitely pack on the weight.

Go check out the bodybuilding forums for more specifics.

I mean, think about it—what would actually happen if you were just taking protein supplements without doing anything else? Would it even make a difference to you?