Best protein powders for muscle gain?

Ever since I started this job, my schedule has been a total mess. When I work afternoons, I hit the gym in the morning... but then I'm stuck wondering if I should be hitting the protein shake before or after my workout. Then, when I have the morning shift, I train in the afternoon and just drink them after the session. Is that actually okay?

Yeah, there's actually a solid reason why people mix whey with glucose right after a workout.

Maybe this is a bit of a dumb question—don't judge me—but... does protein powder, whether it's whey or whatever flavor you grab, actually have artificial sweeteners in it? I’m hoping it isn't just straight sugar 😕, though if it is, that's bad... then again, I don't really know if stuff like aspartame is any better or worse...🤷 Is there even such a thing as a version without any of that junk? 😕😕

You’ll run into aspartame quite a bit, sure, but there are plenty of options that don't have it. Honestly, I don't see why a little extra sugar would be such a dealbreaker for you when most people are already consuming plenty of glucose anyway.

Look, I don't really care about the sugar—I mean, I'll eat my fair share of sweets anyway 😁 but since you mentioned athletes loading up on glucose during workouts... I was just reading this debate about artificial sweeteners in high-end cooking, so I was curious what kind of stuff actually goes into those protein powders...

Diet, diet, diet... I just can't do oatmeal in the morning. It absolutely wrecks my stomach and leaves me feeling nauseous. Is there anything else I can eat for breakfast instead of those oats?

I’ll just find a way to work them in. I think if I toss in some extra raisins, they'll taste a bit better...

brightcanyon7 said:This might sound like a rookie question, but I need to know... regarding protein powders—whether it's whey or whatever else—do they contain artificial sweeteners? I’m hoping it isn't just straight sugar😕, though I'm also not sure if aspartame and those types of additives are actually good for you...🤷 Is there an option that doesn't have any of that stuff at all?😕😕

Labrada makes aspartame-free protein. Incospor Unlimited is also free of artificial sweeteners and keeps sugar levels extremely low (I believe it's about 0.5g per 100g). The catch is that the "unlimited" version is unflavored, so it tastes pretty bland. If you try to add flavor back in, you're essentially adding sugars again. It's a bit of a Catch-22.

electricheron9 said:Diet, diet, diet... I honestly can't do oatmeal in the morning. It kills me; my stomach just turns at the sight of it. Is there anything else out there besides those oats?

What are you mixing the oats with? Personally, I’ve been crushing about 80g of oats with 30g of protein powder every single morning for two years now. Sometimes I use milk, lately I've switched to water. For the last month, I've even been tossing in some diced watermelon or peaches. To me, it’s a top-tier breakfast. Truly. Plus, the best part is that you’re hungry again in two hours, so you can just eat again.

stormyhawk3 said:I’m aiming for a muscular build, but I don't want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger. The goal is functional strength without being overly bulky.

🙏

Roger Garcia78 said:So, what do you actually mix into your oats? For about two years now, I've been hitting 80g of oats and 30g of protein powder every single morning around 8:00. Sometimes I use milk, lately I've just been using water. For the last month, I've also been tossing in some chopped watermelon or peaches. Honestly, it’s a great breakfast. It tastes good. And the best part is you aren't starving again in two hours, so you can wait until your next meal.

Do you eat them with milk? It doesn't taste that great. Also, why do you put protein in your oats in the morning? How many scoops do you use?

aha 30g

I’m curious about how much protein I should actually be looking at right at the start—keeping in mind I haven't used supplements before, just whatever I happen to get from my regular meals. Also, what kind of ratio should I be aiming for when mixing it with some Gatorade, assuming I’m hitting the gym three times a week?
thanks

Jesse Martinez23 said:I'm wondering how much protein I should start with since I've never used supplements before—just the stuff from my regular meals. Also, how much should I mix with my Gatorade if I'm hitting the gym three times a week?
thanks

Aim for 30-50 grams.

Is this just one of those little measuring scoops they throw in with the packaging?

So, I’ve been wondering—is it actually better to eat eggs boiled or raw? And what about the ratio of whites to yolks...
I feel like I read somewhere that a 4:1 ratio of whites to yolks was the way to go.

Jesse Martinez23 said:Is that just one little scoop included in the tub?

Dunno. Just buy a scale.

Eat whole eggs, unless your cholesterol is trashed... and never eat them raw.

Thanks, Nicholas Kern90

Can someone please give me some advice on the best way to pack on weight? I train kickboxing and I eat a ton, but I just can't seem to put on any mass (I'm 5'11" and about 147 lbs). I have zero interest in hitting up a gym, so I want to hit my weight goals strictly through supplements. What do you guys recommend?

Start with a 20g creatine loading phase during the first week—after that, you can scale it back to 10g
Mix 5g of Glutamine with 30g of whey protein and some fruit juice—the juice helps with the absorption of the Glutamine
Stick to this routine for four weeks, then take a month-long break from both the creatine and the Glutamine; you want to prevent your body from getting too used to the creatine and stalling its own natural production, though you should definitely keep up with the whey

Make sure you take this immediately following your workout while your glycogen levels are essentially at zero—but honestly, even if you don't hit it perfectly, it works. Just a little tip: don't bother mixing the shake at home beforehand; instead, just toss the powder into a shaker bottle, give it a good shake right after your training session, and drink it down