Best protein powders for muscle gain?

goldenfox24 ....I’m just wondering if this is actually a solid move: say I grab some WEIDER PURE CREATINE (95% protein) and L-Glutamine from Weider? Basically, I wouldn't even need to drink whey twice a day, just once after my workout... and also, what kind of results am I looking at if I just stick to taking a Mass Gainer?

Honestly, what I laid out for you should be more than enough to get a beginner started
. Besides, those Mass Gainers are way overpriced—you can basically replicate the same thing by mixing some creatine, Glutamine, and whey, and you’ll end up with nearly the exact same protein count
. If you want my take, I'd suggest sticking with Biotech products; they're reliable, tried and true, and if you grab those three doses, you should be looking at roughly $180
for about two months' worth of supplies.

I think you're spot on, that's exactly what I'm gonna do.... I was just asking about Mass Gainers because I looked at the macros and they didn't seem half bad... For instance, a 3lb tub of Weider Crash Mass Gainer is like $30 and it's got (23g protein, 64g carbs, and 3.3g fat).... Is that some kind of scam? Seems way too cheap to be true.

To be honest with you, I was browsing around online the other day and stumbled upon some info suggesting that $116 would run you about $55—not that I'm really sure if mixing milk with whey is even the best move

goldenfox24 said:Honestly, I’d highly recommend it. Biotech. Look, I've personally vetted these products. You’re looking at about a two-month supply with those three doses, so you should have them arriving around then. $180

I’ve heard from pretty much everyone that this might be the absolute worst protein on the market right now. I actually tried it myself, but after finishing just one tub, I was done. Honestly, I wasn't touching it again. People are saying the actual protein content isn't even close to what they claim on the label. Total joke.

My personal trainer actually suggested I give this one a shot

stormyheron4 said:I've heard from several different sources that this might actually be the worst protein on the market. I tried one tub myself, but after that, I wasn't interested in touching it again. People claim the actual protein content isn't even close to what's listed on the label.

Amen.

Justin Hernandez6 said:I think what you wrote is actually the best way to go about it, so that’s exactly what I’ll do... I was honestly just curious about the Mass Gainer situation because I was reading up on the macros and they didn't look half bad. For instance, I saw a Weider Crash Mass Gainer, a 3.3 lb tub, priced at around $30, and it packs about 23g of protein, 64g of carbs, and 3.3g of fat. Is that some kind of marketing trick? It feels almost too cheap to be true...

Just don't bother with mass gainers, stay away from Biotech or MuscleTech, skip the L-Carnitine, don't touch Herbalife, and so on.

Man, I should probably write a whole damn ballad about this and pin it as a top thread.😁

Well, if you've got a recommendation for a solid manufacturer, please—I’m starting to feel like I just threw my hard-earned cash straight into a bonfire
I'll finish off this stash of Glutamine, creatine, and whey first, and once that's cleared out, I'll look into upgrading to something a bit more high-end

So, this was back when we first kicked things off

Hey, is the coffee ready yet, Doc?

Just a heads-up—I’ll be posting some progress shots in about two weeks once I've really gotten into a rhythm with my Biotech supplements, so we can all have a good look and chat about them then!

goldenfox24 said:this was right when we first started

So, is the dentist appointment finally over???

Btw, I'll be posting photos in about two weeks once I've been using Biotech for a bit, so we can all talk about them.

To be totally honest, back when I was using Biotech proteins, I swear that was exactly when I blew up. My shirts were getting tight right then. But I read somewhere that someone actually sent it in for lab testing and it turned out there wasn't even that much protein in there.

Since whey is basically the only supplement I use, I don't feel like cheaping out on it. I'd much rather grab something proven, even if it costs more. We're talking maybe a $100 or $67 difference per month, and I'm just not interested in buying stuff that people say might be spiked.

You’ve actually got quite a few solid options there; honestly, pretty much everything you listed is more or less fine. I’d say Scitec sits somewhere in that middle ground—a bit of a step up from the basic stuff, but still not quite hitting the level of the heavy hitters like Dymatize, Pro Nutrition, or Optimum Nutrition.

If you have some extra time, maybe take a look at what they’re stocking over at Helix, Sports Nutrition, or similar spots.

Are you seriously telling me that Biotech proteins aren't any good??
I picked up a 3 kg tub just yesterday 😢
So, should I be taking them at a 3:2 ratio with glucose strictly post-workout, or is daily use better?
Also, am I cutting the protein's effectiveness by mixing it with 400ml of water or milk—as the label suggests—or would 200ml be enough?

Jesse Martinez23 said:Don't tell me that Biotech proteins aren't any good??
I picked up 3 kg yesterday 😢
Should I be using them at a 3:2 ratio with Glucose only post-workout, or should this be a daily thing?
Also, am I diluting the effectiveness by mixing it with 400ml of water or milk like the label suggests, or is 200ml enough?

Well, since we're going there, let's list things out so you don't waste your money for no reason...

whey:glucose = 1:2

You aren't reducing the effect; just add as much water as you personally prefer...

I've been hearing from a few different places lately that green and black tea might actually be harmful if you consume them in the amounts suggested by most studies—like, up to three cups a day
Is there any truth to that??

Hey slytrucker47, since I just started getting into protein supplements myself—tell me, is it actually necessary to mix in some Glucose, or am I fine just sticking to a "pure" protein shake?

Fair enough... I'm hitting the gym three times a week myself—would it be better to stick to taking them just after my workouts, or would it actually do me any harm to take them every single day?

Jesse Martinez23 said:And also... I hit the gym three times a week. Should I be taking them strictly post-workout, or would it be alright to take them every single day?

There is absolutely no need to consume them daily. Taking them alongside glucose or dextrose following a workout is specifically intended to maximize efficacy—essentially replenishing those glycogen stores you depleted during your session. Consuming protein alone without carbohydrates is, quite frankly, pointless.

I would suggest preparing a shake before your training session as well; drink half about thirty minutes before you start, and sip the remaining half while you work out. Following the session, have a second shake, similar to how one uses PWM. Roughly an hour later, sit down for a solid meal consisting of proteins and carbohydrates in a 1:1 ratio.

Best regards.

Since I’m still the new guy here, I was hoping you could walk me through a few things—I know it might sound a bit naive since I'm still getting my bearings, but hopefully, I'll catch on quickly. Is it actually a thing to drink protein without any carbs? Could you clarify that for me... am I supposed to be getting my carb intake by mixing the protein with some Glucose or something?

And one more thing—what exactly is PWM?

Thanks a ton🙂

Jesse Martinez23 said:I am new here, so I will ask for a bit more clarification. I realize it might seem foolish that I am not yet well-versed in this, but hopefully, I can get up to speed through this discussion. Drinking protein without any carbohydrates? Please explain that to me. Am I supposed to source those carbs by mixing my protein with some Glucose?

And what exactly is this PWM stuff supposed to be?

Much appreciated.🙂

Don't even try it, man.

Carbohydrates—however you choose to label them—serve as the primary fuel source for the body. Generally speaking, we categorize them by their absorption rates: fast, medium, and slow-digesting. Following a workout, the strategy is to utilize fast-acting sources, such as glucose or dextrose, to facilitate the rapid transport of whey protein into the muscle cells to replenish glycogen stores.

PWM refers to your post-workout meal—that specific window immediately following training where you focus on a protein-to-carb ratio of roughly 1:2. This meal is absolutely critical if you want to avoid catabolism, or essentially, prevent your body from breaking down muscle tissue. Once about an hour has passed since your PWM, you should transition to a solid meal, such as chicken breast paired with brown rice and a side salad to ensure everything digests smoothly.

Just a quick word of advice: when you're prepping your meals, try to avoid pairing heavy carbohydrates with high fat content in the same sitting. If a few extra grams slip through the cracks, it’s hardly a catastrophe, but do try to keep it in mind. The reasoning is simple—since both fats and carbs serve as primary energy sources for the body, consuming them together in large amounts can easily lead to unwanted fat gain.

Your final meal of the day should ideally consist of proteins and fats. For instance, you could opt for low-fat cottage cheese paired with flaxseed oil, though choosing fish oil would be an even better move.

Greetings, my friend.😉👍