Best protein powders for muscle gain?

electrichawk752 said:I'm 17. I’ve been playing water polo for four years—training about two to three hours a day, six days a week. I'm sitting at 80kg right now, but my goal is to pack on some serious mass. Since I have zero experience with bulking, what do you guys recommend? 😉

Eat more. 🤷

If you can't be bothered to chew—and let's face it, some days the effort just isn't there—just grab some Whey and knock back two or three scoops a day. Simple as that.

Alright, so I'm playing handball and looking to pack on about 15-20 lbs.
I’m not trying to turn into a bodybuilder or anything; I just want a decent, healthy weight.
If I start hitting the protein supplements, am I going to end up looking absolutely massive, or will I just look... normal?
Does this stuff actually help with gaining weight, or is it just bad for you? (Been off the grid for a bit, so I'm asking the experts here)

Getting your nutrition dialed in is the absolute foundation...check out this here. If you're looking at supplements, honestly, just sticking with some Whey and glucose is plenty. You might want to toss in some multivitamins and Omega-3s too...

Anonymous said:The real trick is getting your diet dialed in... check out this. If you're looking at supplements, just stick to some Whey and glucose. Throw in some multivitamins and Omega 3s if you want...

So you're saying I should just grab that massive tub of protein? 🙂

Tyler Wood4 said:So you're saying I should just grab one of those massive tubs of protein? 🙂

The weight gain comes from the calorie surplus. You can hit that surplus by eating more whole foods, or you can supplement with powder—think of Whey protein as basically skim milk powder, minus the fat and sugar. There are technical differences, sure, but it doesn't matter right now. It isn't some magic potion that makes muscles sprout out of thin air.
Bottom line: you need a significant calorie increase, mostly through protein. Most of that should come from meat, cheese, eggs, and the usual suspects. If you're too lazy to chew, go ahead and buy a tub of Whey.

Alright, I’ve got a question for you guys.
Back in November, I started slamming some Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard, and man, it worked—I packed on about 18 pounds in three months (went from 155 to 172 lbs). Along with that, I totally overhauled my diet: way more chicken, turkey, cheese, tuna, grains... the whole nine yards.
Now, I’m done with that stuff, and my neighbor suggested I switch over to some Dymatize Elite Whey, which I bought and have been sipping on for about 10 days now.
The problem is, the banana flavor is honestly pretty gross, and I’ve actually dropped a couple of pounds in the last two weeks. I’m just doing one scoop, about 30 grams, once a day.

So, what’s actually going to happen now that I'm moving from the mass gainer to the Whey?
Am I going to lean out while still getting stronger? Or should I be bumping up the dosage later on?

I’m hitting the weights every other day for about an hour and a half. I’ve got a bench, some dumbbells, and a stationary bike at home. 😁

silenthawk9 said:So, I’ve got a question here.
Back in November, I started using Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard, and over three months, I managed to pack on about 18 pounds (going from 154 lbs to 172 lbs). Along the way, I totally overhauled my diet—way more chicken, turkey, cheese, tuna, grains, you name it...
Now I’ve moved on from that, and a neighbor suggested I try Dymatize Elite Whey, which I bought and have been sipping on for about 10 days now.
Aside from the fact that the banana flavor is pretty gross, I’ve actually dropped a couple of pounds in the last two weeks. I’m just taking one 30g scoop once a day.

What am I looking at here in terms of results by switching from the mass gainer to Whey?
Am I going to lean out while still getting stronger? Or should I be bumping up the dosage later on?

I’m hitting the weights for an hour and a half every other day. I’ve got a bench, some dumbbells, and a stationary bike at home.😁

🤦 🙂

Even after this whole protein supplement topic has been chewed over a thousand times already...
For crying out loud 😁

Has anyone here actually messed around with those slow-digesting protein blends😁😁 like the ones made from various whey sources—you know, stuff like Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard (egg-based, milk-based, etc.)? 😕
I was thinking about maybe mixing some of that with low-fat cottage cheese right before hitting the sack, just to see if it helps. 😕
😁😁😁

placidranger said:You gain weight from a calorie surplus. You can get those extra calories by just eating more regular food, or you can make it easier with protein powder (think of Whey protein as basically skim milk powder—there are some differences, but who cares right now). There’s no magic "miracle food" that's just going to make muscles explode out of you.
Basically, you need to eat way more calories, mostly protein. You'll find the most of that in meat, cheese, eggs, stuff like that. If you're too lazy to chew, just buy a tub of Whey.

thanks 😉)

I don't care about muscles exploding or whatever, I just want the weight 😉

Tyler Wood4 said:thanks 😉)

Look, I don't really care if my muscles pop out or whatever, I just want to see that number on the scale go up, 😉

There’s no such thing as muscle without some serious sweat, so don't even worry about it. 😁

I have never used protein powder or any other kind of supplements before, so I am looking for some guidance.
I am 6'1" and weigh about 190 lbs. I've been hitting the gym for about a year now, and since the start of this year, I've bumped it up to 4 or 5 times a week. I actually started my fitness journey when I hit the 220 lb mark on the scale, and let's just say things got serious pretty quickly. 😁

The issue is that I feel completely wiped out after my workouts. I tried getting some advice from the guys at my local gym, but everyone seems to be pushing their own favorite brand. I even asked the trainer there, but he tried to sell me on ten different supplements at once, so I had to politely decline...

I am happy with my muscle gains, so I am not overly concerned about getting too bulky; however, I still have a bit of a spare tire around my midsection that I would like to lose. Lately, I've hit a plateau with weight loss, and I suspect it's due to my diet—I tend to overeat whenever I am feeling exhausted.

I am planning to start using some protein; Dymatize Elite Whey looks like the best option to me, and I actually know someone who can pick it up at a discount in Canada.

http://www.dymatize.com/index.php?sr...tegory=Protein

Is this a solid choice? Should I be taking anything else alongside it, and what should the typical dosage look like? I also read something about dextrose; would that be worth incorporating?

P.S. Since I usually train after work during the week, I don't wrap up until around 8 PM. Is it actually worth taking a shake on a Friday night if I plan on having a few drinks later in the evening? 😁

Thanks for the help! 🙂

stormylynx96 said:No sweat, no gains. So don't sweat it. 😁

And what you're saying 😁

Raymond Hughes said:I’ve never touched protein shakes or any other supplements before, so I'm looking for some guidance here.
I'm about 6'1" and roughly 190 lbs. I've been hitting the gym for about a year now, and since the start of this year, I've bumped it up to 4 or 5 times a week. I actually got started after I hit the 220 lb mark on the scale and realized the joke was officially over. 😁

The issue is that I'm absolutely wiped out after my workouts. I tried getting advice from the guys at my local gym, but everyone’s just peddling their own favorite brand. I even asked the trainer there, but he tried to upsell me on ten different things at once, so I pretty much shut that down...

I'm happy enough with my muscle gains—it's not like I'm trying to get huge overnight—but I've still got a little extra fat around my midsection that I'd love to lose. Lately, my weight loss has stalled, and I have a feeling it's because of my diet; I tend to overeat whenever I'm exhausted.

I'm planning on picking up some protein; Dymatize Elite Whey looks like a solid choice, and I actually know someone who can grab it cheap over in Canada.

http://www.dymatize.com/index.php?sr...tegory=Protein

Is that a good call? Should I be taking anything else besides that? And how much of all this stuff am I actually supposed to be using? I also saw something about dextrose—is that worth looking into?

P.S. Since I usually train after work most days, I don't wrap things up until around 8 PM. Is it even worth botherin' with a shake on a Friday if I'm planning on having a few drinks later that evening? 😁

Thanks for the help! 🙂

Look, if you're trying to burn off that stubborn fat around your stomach—those spots that just won't budge—you really just need to crank up the cardio. You could also look into fat burners, too. I've used one myself and honestly, I was pretty stoked with the results. If you need more info, just ask! 👍

If you're already using protein supplements, I’d definitely suggest checking in with a nutritionist first. It's really not a good idea to rely on protein powders without putting in the work at the gym; if you're using them, you should be training every single day instead of just sleeping 😉 because those muscles aren't going to build themselves...

Man, those muscles

Alexander Lee81 said:If you’re already messing around with some kind of protein supplements... Look, I’m just going to say it: stop playing guessing games with your diet and go talk to a professional nutritionist. Seriously. You can spend all day scrolling through endless threads or following some random fitness influencer's "miracle" meal plan, but at the end of the day, you're basically just throwing darts in the dark. I know, I know—it sounds like expensive advice, and yeah, maybe it is, but think about what you're actually spending on supplements and failed diets that don't work. It’s much better to sit down with an actual expert who knows how to look at your specific body chemistry and goals. They can help you cut through all the noise and figure out what your body actually needs to function. Trust me, it's worth it to get it right the first time instead of wasting months spinning your wheels.

🤣

Man, I swear, I feel like I know half these people personally—specifically those nutritionists running around with Herbalife. It’s honestly ridiculous. These people act like literal robots; they just cram their heads full of whatever nonsense they read on some cheap flyer and then go around pushing the exact same tired scripts to everyone they meet. They don't have a clue. Seriously, they don't understand a single thing about metabolism or anabolism, yet they talk like they're experts. It's exhausting.

Honestly, if you’re looking for the real deal on nutrition—like, actually useful info about what to eat and which nutritionists are worth your time—this forum is basically the holy grail. It’s all right here.

Jonathan Miller7 said:🤣

Man, the people I run into... seriously, take those "nutritionists" from Herbalife, for instance. They’re basically walking robots. They just swallow whatever nonsense they read on some glossy flyer and try to push the exact same tired lines to everyone. It’s honestly a joke—they don't have a clue about metabolism, anabolism, or anything else they're rambling about.

Everything you actually need to know about nutrition is right here on this forum. Who needs those "experts"?

🙂

I’ve never actually messed with any supplements myself, but I’ve heard all sorts of tall tales. One story I keep running into is about these proteins that supposedly boost your strength and stamina almost instantly—like, within thirty minutes or an hour of taking them. Obviously, it’s not a permanent thing; it just lasts for a few hours, I assume. Does anything like that actually exist, or would I end up feeling like garbage a week after using it?

fadedsailor17 said:I’ve never touched any of those supplements myself—too many rumors floating around—but I’ve heard stories about certain proteins that supposedly make you stronger and boost your endurance almost instantly. Like, within thirty minutes or an hour once they kick in. Obviously, it's not a permanent change, just a few hours of extra juice. Does anything actually exist like that, provided it won't kill me a week after taking it?

Proteins? No.

But coffee—meaning caffeine—and similar stimulants work exactly like that.

fadedsailor17 said:Look, I've never actually messed with any of those supplements myself, but man, you hear the wildest stories out there. One of them is that there's even such a thing as protein types...

Amphetamines? 😁