Best protein powders for muscle gain?

briskjackal5 said:I’m also not buying what slydriver52 is selling regarding using maltodextrin as a sweetener.

-Steve

I never stated that maltodextrin was being used as a sweetener. ☕

slydriver52 said:The guy doesn't have some mysterious allergy or intolerance; he’s just got a completely unbalanced diet. It's obvious he polished off half a pound of oats today, and now he's acting shocked that he's constantly bloated and glued to the toilet.
I've gone even harder on the oats myself, but only because it's the easiest thing to whip up when I'm being lazy. My diet is pretty trash, honestly, but I'm not complaining about the extra trips to the bathroom or the constant gas because at least I know exactly why it's happening.

Give me a break. You eat 100 grams of oats and suddenly you're posting volumes of crap the size of a freaking SUV.😁
It just swells up once you add water. Either you chew it forever or you eat it dry and then your body just sucks all the water out of you like a vacuum, and you end up right back where you started.
+ On top of that, you're guaranteed to be farting like crazy and poisoning your system with all those rotting byproducts.
You can try taking enzymes, but it won't do squat.
Basically, it's garbage food. And I have zero intention of shitting like a horse every single day just to get 100 measly grams of carbs.

slydriver52 said:Take something like Gaspari Nutrition Intra Pro
or some other random Hyper Whey
and so on...
But I’m not talking about using it as a sweetener, and I definitely never claimed anyone uses maltodextrin for that!
Some brands over at Twinlab even throw fructose in there.

So what's even the point of having maltodextrin in whey?

Jonathan James7 said:Give me a break. You eat 100 grams of oats and end up producing five cubic meters of crap.😁
You try loading up on water or chewing them thoroughly, or even eating them dry only to chug water later, and you still end up right back where you started.
Plus, it’s a guarantee you’ll be bloated and poisoning your system with all those fermentation byproducts.
You can take all the enzymes you want, but it won't help.
Basically, it's garbage food. I have zero intention of shitting like a horse every single day just to get 100 grams of carbs.

Look, that's your call, your choice. It doesn't mean oats are objectively bad; it just means they don't work for you personally. For me, they are an excellent source of carbs and fiber, plus they pack a B-complex.

slydriver52 said:Cutting oats out of your diet just to afford some supplements from the USA is honestly pretty dim-witted—and saying oats are garbage? Bravo, genius.
Ever considered that maybe you're hitting the restroom so often because oats actually contain fiber?
You’re probably one of those people who doesn't grasp that supplements are just that—supplements. For your information, maltodextrin provides sustained energy over a longer period. It’s a polysaccharide with low osmolality, unlike the cheap glucose you find lying around here which is a monosaccharide with high osmolality.
Because of that low osmolality, it absorbs faster and gets stored in the muscles as glycogen.

What "chemicals" are we even talking about? Most of this stuff is derived from corn.
All I'm saying is that this powder consists mostly of long-chain polymers. It's nothing like that crappy maltodextrin you pick up at the local grocery store, which is so heavily processed it shouldn't even be classified as a complex carb; the molecular bonds are so broken they practically digest in your mouth, and by the time it hits your stomach, the chains have already completely fallen apart.

Jonathan James7 said:What’s even the point of adding maltodextrin to whey?

I could go on about this, but I can't be bothered. Even though maltodextrin is a polysaccharide, it has a high GI, so maybe that's why they toss it into whey—but I'm no expert, so I can't say for certain. Honestly, companies throw just about anything into these powders; you end up with a product that's barely 60-70% actual whey, with the rest being nothing but fillers.

Jonathan James7 said:What kind of chemical junk is even in corn products?
My point is that most of this powder consists of long-chain polymers. That’s a far cry from the cheap maltodextrin you find at a local grocery store. That stuff is processed so heavily it can barely be classified as a complex carbohydrate; the molecular bonds are so broken that digestion practically starts in your mouth. By the time it actually hits your stomach, those chains have already completely disintegrated.

Isn't that just Waxy maize?
It's fine to use, but you need to know where to draw the line. You have to view supplements as exactly that—supplements. They aren't meant to be a total replacement for actual, real food.

slydriver52 said:I could go on about this forever, but honestly, I don't have the energy right now. Even though maltodextrin is technically a polysaccharide, it has a high glycemic index, so maybe that's why they toss it into whey—but hey, I'm no scientist, so take my word with a grain of salt. Companies put all sorts of junk in their protein powders; you end up with a tub where it's only about 60-70% actual whey, and the rest is just filler.

That’s exactly why you should just grab some MVP ISO Muscle 100 Hydrolyzed. It’s pure protein, nothing else, and once you try it, you won't even look at another brand again.🙂

The only downside is the price tag. It’s pricey, but if you play your cards right, The Crew can sometimes snag a discount at the local supplement shop.

slydriver52 said:Could it be that Waxy maize stuff?

Look, Waxy is garbage. Don't even bother picking that up.

What you actually want is high polymerization maltodextrin.

It's a pure source of complex carbohydrates derived from LCPF-50 (long-chain polymeric fraction) maltodextrin. It Contains complex glucose polymers that metabolize at a slow, steady pace through time-released absorption. Honestly, it’s the smartest move for athletes looking to bump up muscle endurance and mass without dealing with all the messy side effects of simple sugars.
Contains: 3.5% mono and disaccharides—just enough to hit those immediate energy needs without causing an excess spike that turns into fat; 34% oligosaccharides, which are medium-chain carbs meant for glycogen replenishment and mid-range energy; and over 62% long-chain polysaccharides that break down into glucose over the next two hours to give your body a controlled, continuous energy stream. It provides a really high degree of glucose polymerization, hitting 88%
pentasaccharides or higher and 65% decasaccharides or higher. It levels up your pre-workout energy and helps with post-workout recovery. Plus, if you pair it with protein in decent amounts, it definitely helps with size and weight gain.

P.S. Don't worry, I still eat actual food... I just try not to overload my stomach with stuff that makes me blow up my gut for no reason. 🙂

slydriver52 said:Okay, look, that’s totally your call, your choice. It doesn't mean oats are bad or anything, just maybe they don't work for you personally. For me, they're actually an awesome source of carbs and fiber, plus they've got B vitamins in them too!

You aren't playing in the big leagues yet.
You're eating oats instead of straight carbs sourced right here in the USA.
Once you reach the level where you're swapping out milk for protein powder, then maybe you'll be qualified to join the debate on here.

-Steve

briskjackal5 said:You aren't a real player.
You're out here eating oatmeal instead of drinking high-quality whey straight from the USA.
When you actually reach the level where you're swapping milk for protein powder, then you'll be qualified to join this conversation.

-Steve

Ha! That was good!🙂

Hey everyone, does anyone happen to have a spare moment to give me some advice on the fundamentals of sports nutrition—proteins and all that jazz? I’m getting back into the gym routine, hopefully balancing it alongside my college coursework, and like everyone else, I'm looking to pack on as much muscle as possible in the shortest timeframe. Thanks in advance...

Eat Sleep Rave Repeat

-briskjackal5

So, I picked up some 100% iso whey from MuscleTech. Now, I'm looking at the label, and it says I'm getting 47 grams of protein in 300ml of water. Honestly? That sounds like way too much powder for that little bit of liquid. I feel like if I try to mix that, I’ll just end up with a thick, clumpy mess at the bottom of my shaker. Has anyone actually dealt with their stuff before? Any idea if it even mixes properly?

Nicole Fisher3 said:I picked up some 100% isolate whey from MuscleTech. Now I'm looking at the label, and it says 47 grams of protein per 300ml of water. That feels like a bit much, though maybe it won't mix well. Anyone have experience with their stuff?

Sorry to be the one to break it to you, but MuscleTech products are pretty garbage. I say that from my own experience and from reading what tons of people online say, too. I know some folks had issues after using their creatine. I once bought their whey because I didn't know better, and the taste was bad—plus the quality wasn't great either. I guess it's no surprise since it's the cheapest option. Also, I'm not sure I follow your question about 😕what to mix it with?

Is Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey actually worth the money?

Thomas Cook54 said:Look, I hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but MuscleTech products are absolute garbage. I’m basing this on my own experience and the countless horror stories I see online. I know plenty of people who dealt with issues after using their creatine. Personally, I once bought their whey out of pure ignorance; the taste was revolting, and I eventually realized the quality was just as pathetic. It shouldn't surprise anyone that they're the cheapest option on the shelf. Also, your question is a bit vague—😕what exactly are you trying to mix?

What's your take on MVP?

Ronald Cox96 said:Is that Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard actually worth the money?

How much cash are we talking about? If you're looking at roughly $40, then yeah, it's worth it.
The flavors are elite, it mixes perfectly, and you're getting BCAA and glutamine in the mix too.

slydriver52 said:What's your take on MuscleTech?

Way better than BioTech🙂

slydriver52 said:So, what kind of price are we talking about here? If you mean roughly $35, then yeah, it’s worth it.
The flavors are killer, it mixes perfectly, and it's even got BCAA and glutamine added in.

Wait... $35? It used to be closer to $55 for a 5lb tub.☕