Best protein powders for muscle gain?

You don't need glucose after an hour of cardio unless you’re literally collapsing on the gym floor from total exhaustion, in which case maybe it’ll save you. If you're talking about mixing glucose with a Whey protein shake, that only actually makes sense if you're doing anaerobic stuff like heavy lifting to prevent muscle breakdown, but for pure aerobic work? I honestly think wasting money on Whey is a joke, and the glucose is just completely unnecessary.

So, I’ve been reading through these threads and everyone seems to have a different opinion, so I figured I’d just ask directly: what should I be taking after these types of workouts?
After 90 minutes of running-
After 90 minutes of rowing-
After 90 minutes of weightlifting (weights, rowing machine)-

After 90 minutes of running, I hit the carbs hard to refill those glycogen stores, and I make sure there's a protein-heavy meal waiting for me in the evening.
After 90 minutes at the gym (lifting weights or hitting the rowing machine), I go with some Whey and glucose, then follow it up with a solid protein meal an hour or two later.
After 90 minutes of rowing, I honestly don't feel a single 🤷

crimsonhound3 said:after 90 minutes of running—Carbs to replenish glycogen stores, and definitely a high-protein meal in the evening.
after 90 minutes at the gym (weights, rowing machine)—Whey + glucose, followed by a protein meal an hour or two later.
after 90 minutes of rowing—I don't feel much of a 🤷

after an hour or two??? My workouts don't wrap up until 11 PM. Honestly, all this makes me want to just skip the protein entirely; it all sounds way too complicated to me.

Look, if it's finishing that late, you might as well just wait half an hour and eat then.

Yeah, right. I'll probably be eating around 11:30, feeling completely exhausted and totally wiped out.

Morgan Torres said:Yeah right, I’ll probably be eating around midnight looking like a total wreck after getting absolutely crushed

hahha, so what's even the point of you working out then?

Should I grab the Multipower formula 80+ or go with a fresh batch of Biotech Whey?

Just stick to Whey, but stay far away from Biotech....

silverfox41 said:Since we’re on the subject, has anyone ever heard of Future Line? They're an Italian company. I spotted their Whey and maltodextrin mix at my gym, but I've never actually come across them before.

Anyone?!

slytrucker47 said:hahha, then what's even the point of you working out?

Could you please explain how what I said actually connects to what you wrote? It’s past midnight and my brain is feeling a bit fried...

He's basically saying if you wrap up your workout at 11 PM and then don't eat a single thing until morning, you're doing more harm than good to your body.

silverfox41 said:What they're trying to say is that if you finish training at 11 PM and don't eat anything until morning, you'll actually end up doing more harm than good.

I have this mental image where I think if I eat late, I'm just going to end up heavier and more bloated than I am right now.😁

Morgan Torres said:I’ve already got this whole picture playing in my head, and let me tell you, if I start eating late, I’m absolutely going to end up heavier and softer than I am right now. 😁

That kind of logic only applies to some guy who never leaves his recliner and spends his entire life glued to the remote.

Morgan Torres said:I've got this mental image stuck in my head—if I start eating later in the day, I'm just going to end up heavier and softer than I am right now. 😁

Just look at this picture: this is exactly where you’re headed if you keep going like this. You aren't eating anything after your workout until the next morning? That’s a total disaster. Your body stays in a constant state of starvation, so it starts hoarding everything you eat as fat reserves—even if you think you aren't eating that much.

silverfox41 said:Just picture this: that's exactly how you'll end up if you keep doing what you're doing. If you don't eat anything after your workout until the next morning, it’s a disaster. Your body stays in a constant state of starvation, and it starts storing everything you eat as fat, even if you aren't actually eating a ton.

Knock on wood, I've actually started eating every two hours now (knock knock). I got the advice to start taking some protein right after my workouts. However, I'm still a bit unsure about whether I should be drinking glucose along with the protein. Oh well, I'll force myself to get it in around 11 PM. =)

And honestly, there’s another major hurdle I have to deal with: I can't eat anything for at least five hours before hitting the gym. If I do, my stomach starts acting up, and things end quite badly.

Morgan Torres said:I've got this specific image stuck in my head—if I start eating later in the day, I’m definitely going to end up heavier and carrying more body fat than I am right now. 😁

Back in high school, my training sessions always ran late—usually between 9:00 and 11:00 PM. Because of that, I was almost always eating midnight meals. To be honest, I wasn't exactly following the "perfect" nutritional guidelines back then; at eighteen, I didn't have a clue what glycemic index even meant. But here's the thing: even after more than ten years of those late-night eats, I never gained any weight. 🙂

Besides that, there’s just no way you don't feel starving after two hours in the gym. Honestly, I'd probably be looking for a massive meal right about then. 😛

Morgan Torres said:I need some good luck here—I’ve started eating every two hours (knock on wood). I got the advice to start taking protein right after my workout. But honestly, I'm overthinking this whole thing about needing glucose along with the protein. Whatever, I'll just force myself to do it around 11 PM. =)

You're overcomplicating it! Just scoop two servings of whey protein and a spoonful of dextrose into about 12 ounces of water, shake it up, drink it, and go to bed.

And as for not being able to eat five hours before a workout—you can definitely eat two hours before. Just don't go eating a steak; stick to something light, like maybe some tuna and a salad.

silverfox41 As I was saying:
You're overthinking it! Just scoop two servings of whey protein and a spoonful of dextrose into about 12 ounces of water, give it a good shake, drink it down, and head to bed.

Look, you don't necessarily have to eat five hours before a workout. You can definitely get something in about two hours beforehand, just try to avoid heavy stuff like beef. Go for something lighter instead—maybe some lean protein like tuna with a side salad.

It’s not that I can’t do it; it’s that I shouldn't. Rowing is an incredibly grueling sport, especially during the winter months when you're stuck training on the erg. You can find yourself sitting there for over an hour, staring at a screen where the data shifts from a decent, realistic pace to that absolute nightmare scenario where your coach pushes you toward a max effort that feels impossible. You have to. Pull it.

I had lunch at noon today, only to end up throwing it all back up by 10 PM tonight. Honestly, my fears about this were justified.

Thanks so much for the info. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear—short and sweet. 😉