Best protein powders for muscle gain?

Quick question regarding the whey from Walmart...
When money is tight (which, let's be honest, happens more often than we'd like 🙂), I usually just grab some neutral whey from Walmart. Now, I'm aware of all the nonsense mentioned above about why certain brands aren't ideal, BUT... there's this one option where 300g costs about $17. It claims to have 89g of protein per serving (with less than 3g of fat), the whey makes up 89%, and the rest is soy and some other protein (I can't recall which one).
The price is reasonable, and looking at the packaging and the nutritional facts, it seems fine. Soy doesn't bother me; a little extra won't hurt anything.
What are your thoughts?

EDIT: Here it is on this site
http://www.das-gesunde-plus.de/cgi-b...hp=1228834415# (it's 5th on the list, they have vanilla too)

silentdriver5 said:What does "despair" actually mean? 🤔 How does that actually stack up if you compare it to, say, a slice of cheese or a smaller chicken cutlet? 🤷

I'm feeling pretty disappointed with PWM. Honestly, there’s just way too little protein in there, and the carb count is through the roof—way too much sugar for my liking.

Comparing this stuff to cheese or meat just doesn't make sense. Those aren't really meant to be your go-to post-workout meals anyway. If you look at low-fat cottage cheese, you're looking at about 12 grams of protein, 2 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of fat. On the other hand, some roasted turkey gives you around 20 grams of protein with pretty much zero fat or carbs. It's all about what you need after the gym.

swiftraven52 said:I have a quick question about the whey from Walmart...
When money is a bit tight (which happens more often than I'd like to admit 🙂), I just grab some neutral whey from Walmart. Now, I know people talk about all that nonsense mentioned above regarding quality, BUT... there is this other one. A 300g tub costs about $17. It claims to have 89g of protein in the mix (less than 3g of fat), the whey makes up 89%, and the rest is soy and some other protein (I can't remember which one).
The price is decent, and looking at the packaging and the ingredients, it seems alright to me. Soy doesn't bother me; a little bit won't hurt anything.
What do you guys think?

EDIT: Here is the link
http://www.das-gesunde-plus.de/cgi-b...hp=1228834415# (It's the 5th one down, they have a vanilla version too)

Like I mentioned earlier, it would be great if a lab actually tested this stuff. Honestly, based on the label, it isn't even that bad. It has a slightly higher carb count (12 grams), but for that price, hey, why not.

Think about it: 300 grams is $17, so 900 grams would be $50. But for $70, you can get 900 grams of that brand new, top-tier UN whey isolate that we know is high quality.

Roger Richardson61 said:Like I mentioned earlier, it would be great if some actual lab could run precise tests on this stuff. Honestly, the composition isn't even that bad. It’s got a bit more carbs (12 grams), but for the price? Come on.

Then again, 300 grams is $17, so 900 grams is $50. And for $70, you get 900 grams of UN-grade, top-tier whey isolate.

No, no... you read that wrong. There are 1.3 grams of carbs per 100 grams.
That other line is calculated "per serving," but they include 270ml of 1.5% milk in that total (it's written in the fine print at the bottom).
Still, I wouldn't bet my life on the quality of these other wheys either... I think some guy did a comparison test with some of the "big names," and it turned out they had less protein and more carbs than advertised (if I recall correctly).

And look, the difference in these $20 isn't negligible. For that 🙂, I could get over a pound of turkey.

Aha, I see what you mean.
I honestly love how some people immediately label any milk-based drink as PWM, even when they shouldn't be touching it.

It’s definitely possible that the stuff from Walmart turns out to be high quality. But look, it isn't exactly a steal. For example, back in my neck of the woods, you can grab 10 lbs of Dymatize at a local supplement shop for about $70, which is basically half the price of the Walmart version. Or you could pick up some Proforce isolate, which is also way cheaper. Both are pure whey, they've been staples in the bodybuilding scene for years, and they have solid reputations.

I mean, sure, Walmart is better than nothing, but... calling this an incredible deal? Not really.

Walmart has a better price, but it tastes almost like banana to me

Same goes for that CLA; it’s cheaper, but man, the gas it gives me...😍

Anyone here from the States 🙂 who orders from that Prosport site over in Canada?

I’d be curious about this too... What does the damage look like once you factor in customs and all those extra fees?

Hey there.
So, I have a few things on my mind...
I was hoping to get some advice from Steve—from what I can gather by reading his posts, he seems to have a much broader grasp of these little details than anyone else here, no offense to the others whose comments I haven't really noticed.
First off, how much of an impact does Whey protein Isolate actually have—either positively or negatively—when you're taking it alongside other supplements meant to help kick this winter flu out of your system?
For example, I’ve been fighting this cold for two weeks now. Some days the fever hits hard, but I went to the gym anyway and felt better immediately after; then, two days later, I'm right back in the trenches despite getting plenty of rest. Is that because of mixing those two things? Or is it just my body struggling with the illness and general fatigue?
I’m also wondering how much protein can actually be harmful. We all know it's essential—especially that powder after a workout due to how fast it absorbs—but how much does it truly stress the liver and kidneys? A neighbor of my aunt went in for a checkup recently, and apparently, his liver looked like that of a heavy drinker because of his protein intake. I don't know exactly how much he was consuming, but regardless, it was concerning.
Is there a specific cycle one should follow when using protein? For instance, with Omega-3 fatty acids, people often take them for three months and then take a three-month break—which essentially means two bottles of 100 capsules last you a year.
Does that same logic apply to protein? I’m becoming a bit skeptical because everyone says something different about it; people are either totally for it or completely against it, and I'm honestly lost on where to find solid advice. I even consulted two nutritionists, and they didn't seem to have any issues with it if the goal is gaining mass quickly—assuming we can't quite hit our targets through whole foods alone—yet on the flip side, there's still all this hesitation.
Hmm.
If it isn't too much trouble, could I get a bit more concrete clarification? That's why this forum exists, isn't it?
Hehe.
Best regards,
😉

I usually just order stuff online, though I wouldn't mind a quick drive to a small US town just to pick up a package at the post office.

If you have it shipped straight to your house, you’re looking at a 10% customs fee, 22% tax, plus about 9 bucks for shipping.

But if you make the trip over to a neighboring state to grab it, you only deal with their 8% food tax. Of course, you'd have to sneak it past the border, but that's really no big deal unless you're trying to haul fifty kilos of protein in your trunk.

And I was asking about that stuff you mentioned you were looking into... are you planning on picking some up soon? Maybe we could work out a deal. 🙂

Phew, I’ve got over 13 pounds of whey sitting in my pantry right now, so I’m pretty much set for a good chunk of the year.

But seriously. If you've got a car, you can be there in about 20 minutes, and you don't even need to worry about those annoying highway tolls if you just stick to the old backroads through 6.2 miles.

Jesse Martinez23 said:Hey there!
So, okay, I've been thinking, and there are just a couple—maybe two or three things—that I'm really curious about...
I was hoping I could get some advice from Steve—I mean, looking at his posts, he seems to have a much broader grasp of all these little details than anyone else around here. No offense to the rest of you, I guess, I just haven't really noticed anyone else's comments as much!
I was wondering... just curious, really... how much of an impact does whey actually have—you know, both good and bad—when you're dealing with the flu? Like, if I'm taking it alongside all those other supplements to try and kick this winter demon out of my system, does it actually help or just get in the way? Maybe it helps with recovery, or maybe it's just extra work for the body? I guess I'm just trying to figure out if it's worth it while I'm feeling this crappy!
So, I’ve been stuck in this weird cycle with this cold for like two weeks now... just totally dragging. Some days the fever hits me out of nowhere and I feel like absolute garbage, but honestly? I went ahead and hit the gym anyway. I figured, hey, maybe a workout will help? And for a second there, I actually felt better! But then, after just two days of chilling out and trying to recover, everything just crashed again. It's like I'm right back at square one. I guess I'm wondering... is that because I tried to mix working out while sick? Or is my immune system just completely trashed right now? Maybe it's just pure exhaustion catching up to me. I don't know, it's hard to tell!

When you're dealing with the flu, I guess there are really just two main things you need to keep in mind.
I mean, at the end of the day, it really just comes down to the fact that everyone's body reacts a little differently, you know? It’s all very individual. I guess what I’m trying to say is that you just have to listen to your own body and see what works for you!
So, my second point is that the flu itself is just a massive stressor on your body. I mean, it’s basically the same thing as a heavy training session or any other major physical strain—that's why your cortisol levels spike when you're hitting the gym, right? It's all about that physiological stress.

So, what does this whole second thing actually mean for us? I mean, I guess we're all just sitting here wondering, right? Maybe it's a big deal, maybe it isn't... who knows! But seriously, what's the actual impact on our situation?
I mean, honestly, a healthy body actually reacts pretty positively to a certain amount of stress, right? It’s almost like... I don't know, maybe it's just prepping itself? Like, it kind of readies itself so it's way more prepared for whatever comes next down the road. It makes sense, I guess!
That’s why you can just keep pushing yourself further and further with every single workout session! It’s all about that gradual progression, I guess. And honestly, even your stress levels have to be managed—like, they have to be carefully dosed. I mean, it’s pretty obvious when you look at it, right? Like, nobody is out there trying to pull a 25x1RM deadlift with only 30-second breaks between sets... seriously, that wouldn't make any sense at all!

Look, I mean, if you’re constantly pushing yourself to the limit without actually giving your body any downtime... and if you aren't really paying attention to your own internal rhythm? Like, seriously, just try training hard while barely getting any sleep for five days straight, and I bet you'll feel it by day five. Your body is basically going to scream at you to stop! It’ll demand rest—think along the lines of overtraining syndrome—and honestly, your performance is just going to tank. It's like, you can't ignore it forever, I guess.

Man, being sick with the flu already puts a massive amount of stress on your system; I mean, it’s just a lot to handle. If you decide to push through and hit the gym while you're feeling like garbage—though, honestly, I'm not even sure if you *should* be training at all when you have the flu—you might just cross that line. You know, that point where you move past "good" stress and straight into territory where working out becomes totally pointless. It’s risky, too. I guess you're looking at a much higher chance of getting injured, or maybe you'll just end up putting in all that effort only to realize the workout didn't actually do anything for you. Just my two cents!

Oh, and obviously, I'm not even counting common colds in that at all... I mean, those don't really count! 😁
I honestly think this is such a perfect example of how you can just tune in to what your body is telling you and nail a workout regardless of the circumstances. I mean, maybe if you feel like you’re hitting a wall or getting tired a bit faster than usual, you could always dial it back a notch... but otherwise, you can pretty much just power through without any issues at all!
Look, if the flu has you absolutely pinned to your bed, I honestly think every single lift is going to feel twice as heavy as usual. You know? Like, everything just feels like extra work. I mean, sure, you could try to do something a bit lighter just to stay moving—and staying active is always a good idea, I guess—but you really have to listen to your body. If it's telling you it needs to sleep, then just let it happen. Just brew up some tea, load up on Vitamin C, and just... rest. It's probably for the best!

When it comes to protein, honestly? Just keep drinking it! Don't even worry about it, and definitely don't let having the flu stop you. You're good to go!

I’ve been wondering lately—just how much damage can protein actually do? I mean, we all know it's basically essential, especially that powder stuff you grab right after hitting the gym because it absorbs so fast, but I'm getting a bit worried about the impact on your liver and kidneys. A neighbor of my aunt's went in for a checkup recently, and get this—his liver looked just like an alcoholic's, all because of his protein intake. Now, I honestly have no clue how many grams he was slamming a day, but regardless of the amount, it really makes you think, doesn't it?

I mean, honestly, you’re already getting plenty of protein from your actual food anyway! I guess it just kind of makes you think about it, right? Maybe we don't even need all those extra supplements if our diet is on point. Just a thought!
Honestly, if you’re a healthy person, those protein powders you pick up? They aren't going to mess with your liver or your kidneys at all. I mean, I guess that applies to like 99% of people out there, anyway!

Is there like, a specific time when you should just stop taking protein for a bit?

Just while you're sleeping, I guess... 😁

...
I'm wondering about the same thing with protein? Because I'm getting a little skeptical, honestly, since people say totally different things about it—some say yes, some say no, and I don't even know where to look for advice anymore. I actually asked two nutritionists, and they didn't have any issues with it if the goal is quick mass gain, especially if we can't quite hit our targets through regular food alone, but then on the other hand, they're kind of hesitant about it too.

You can, obviously, notice that if you're already hitting 150g of protein in your diet, you could reach a target of, say, 200g just by adding an extra 10 ounces of chicken.
So, it's not like they're strictly necessary.

Also, I always think it's worth checking any info you hear against a few other sources to see if it actually makes sense and how it fits with what you already know about nutrition.

I remember once, one of our most "highly regarded" nutritionists told me, "Why are you drinking whey? That stuff is for women..."
She'll probably list a bunch of reasons, for sure. It's not like you shouldn't listen to anyone at all.
But that comment was something else! She didn't even ask if I liked it, or why I was using it, or why specifically whey—nothing! She just said it was "for women" and that I needed something "stronger"... which, coincidentally, was exactly what she was selling... so I was just like, yeah, I'm sticking with my whey, and I'll always have plenty in stock, so those ladies can come talk to me whenever they need some... 😁

-Steve

Thanks, you've really helped me clear up that dilemma.

Hey Roger Richardson61, would you mind dropping the link to the site where you grab your protein?

www.prosport.net

Roger Richardson61 said:Like I said before, it’d be great if some actual lab tested this properly. Honestly, the ingredients aren't even that bad. It’s got a bit more UH (12 grams), but for the price, whatever.

But look, 300 grams is $17, so 900 grams is $50. And for $70, you get 900 grams of UN's new top-tier, high-quality whey isolate.

I tried that crap from Walmart and the result was bloating followed by diarrhea. Conclusion? Way too much lactose (regardless of what the label claims)!!! My buddy tried it too, same story... wouldn't recommend it to anyone (though I'm sure, as usual, there'll be at least one person who thinks it's totally fine).

Terry Young94... your Post-workout meal dose should be based on your body weight, not whatever is printed on the label (it makes no sense for a Post-workout meal to be the same for someone who weighs 110 lbs versus 330 lbs, regardless of what those "30g of protein per meal is the limit" crowd claims).

I'm sitting at 6'4" and 192 lbs. So, what's the move here?

EDIT: I was tossing back about 3 scoops over the summer, but honestly, I didn't feel any different.

Ronald Cooper27 said:Terry Young94... look, your standard Post-workout meal should really be scaled to your body weight rather than just following whatever is printed on the tub—because, let's be honest, a Post-workout meal shouldn't be the same for someone weighing 110 lbs as it is for someone at 330 lbs, regardless of those folks claiming "30g of protein is the absolute limit the body can synthesize per meal."

So, does that mean we're looking at 1 gram per kilogram of body weight? That would imply 154g of protein for a 154lb person—even if people argue that when you're training intensely, you shouldn't exceed something like 220g total?