Best protein powders for muscle gain?

Has anyone here heard of the company Aminostar? I'm curious if their products actually hold any weight.

mellowsurfer15 said:Anyone ever heard of Aminostar? Is their stuff actually any good?

A few people told me they're decent, but honestly, everyone’s got an opinion on what works for them.☕

Just take the protein after your workout...

If you aren't using whey, you can pretty much slam it all day long. I mean, you could use whey too, but honestly, that’s just not what it's designed for.

Look, if your plan is to chug this stuff constantly, just grab a basic protein powder. That’s exactly what I just went out and did. I picked up a huge tub because my goal is to swap out two meals a day—mostly because I am sick to death of eating the exact same damn foods over and over again. Every now and then, I'll have a shake after a workout and call it a day.

I actually sat down and crunched the numbers, and it turns out my meal costs me roughly $3.25 the amount of protein plus carbs I end up consuming anyway. Since that's the same amount of nutrients I'm getting from actual, solid food, it's basically a wash whether I'm drinking a protein shake or sitting down to a real meal.

Jonathan Miller7 said:If it isn't whey, you can basically chug it all day. I mean, you could do the same with whey, but that’s really not what it’s designed for.

If you're planning on drinking it constantly, just grab some basic protein powder—that's actually what I just did. I bought a big bag because I wanted something to swap out for two meals a day; honestly, I was getting sick to death of eating the exact same damn foods over and over. Every now and then, I'll just shake one up after a workout and call it a day.

I ran the math, and my cost per meal ends up being roughly $3.25 the amount of protein and carbs I'm getting, which is pretty much what I’d be spending anyway on actual food. So, whether I drink a shake or eat a real meal, it's basically a wash.

So, what did you end up getting? Just straight protein without the whey?

Yeah, it’s just your standard slow-digesting protein, not whey. I usually knock it down for breakfast and as my last meal of the day—paired with some carbs, obviously. And honestly, I don't see any problem with having it after a workout too.

Jonathan Miller7 said:Yeah, just your standard "slow-release" protein, not whey. I usually knock it back for breakfast and as my last meal of the day—with some carbs, obviously. And honestly, I don't mind throwing it in after a workout either.

True, but which one though? Like, who’s the manufacturer? That’s what I was actually asking. 😁

Look, I’ve already dropped a few posts on here before, but regarding Optimal Results, I’ve honestly never even heard of it 😁

Jonathan Miller7 said:Look, I posted a few things earlier about Optimal Results, and honestly, I've never even heard of it. 😁

my bad, sorry 😉
I've heard of it, but just a little bit.
Is their protein isolate basically the same stuff?

Basically, "isolate" is just a fancy way of saying they've refined the process to boost the protein concentration. You’re looking at a higher percentage of actual protein per scoop. Like, if a standard whey has about 80%, an isolate might hit 90%. I'm pretty sure there are even more advanced filtration techniques used nowadays to squeeze out even more purity, but honestly, I don't know the technical names off the top of my head.

Jonathan Miller7 said:Isolate is just a term for better protein filtration—basically, those isolates have a higher protein percentage. Like, regular whey might be around 80%, while an isolate hits 90% or something. There are probably even more advanced isolation techniques out there now, but honestly, I don't know the technical names off the top of my head.

Aha, okay. So does that mean I could use an isolate as a meal replacement, sort of like a "slow-release" protein option?

Charles Hill35 said:So, you mean I could basically use an isolate as a meal replacement, like a "slow-release" protein source?

Look, from what I've gathered so far, most people are talking about whey isolates. I can't say for certain if there are just "standard" isolates out there without checking the labels, though I'm pretty sure they exist.

Isolates always come with a steeper price tag, and honestly, I think you're better off hunting for something more budget-friendly. Just look for a decent protein ratio—if you find something with around 75-80g of protein per 100g, you're golden.

Jonathan Miller7, honestly, you probably would've been better off grabbing that Weider stuff with the 80%+ protein content. It’s a blend of four different whey proteins and Casein... which makes it decent for both a meal replacement or post-workout. You went with the Casein Elite, right? I don't really see the point of using that right after training. Why wait seven hours for absorption when you actually need fast-acting protein post-gym? I guess maybe it's better than nothing, though.

Was it that Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Protein Gold Standard brand you picked up?

Charles Hill35 said:So, you mean I should use isolate as a meal replacement during the day, like a "slow" protein source?

Actually, no—that would just be throwing money down the drain...
Whey proteins act much like high-octane fuel for a race car; they move through your system incredibly fast, which means if your body isn't in immediate need of repair at that exact moment, it won't utilize them effectively, and you'll essentially just be flushing your investment away. Think of whey as a specialized tool meant exclusively for the window immediately following a workout, precisely when your muscles are most hungry for nutrients. You could potentially mix it with milk in the morning, since after seven or eight hours of fasting, your body is also craving protein, but adding milk slows things down enough to make it viable.

For sustaining yourself throughout the day, it’s much more logical to lean on slower-digesting protein sources, much like how a slow-burning log keeps a fire going longer than kindling; I'm talking about whole foods like milk, eggs, or meat. Now, if you prefer the convenience of a powder, you might consider looking into Weider 80+, as Alex Long8 suggested, or perhaps opting for some Casein (the version from Optimum Nutrition is quite reliable), or simply making sure every one of your daily meals includes a solid portion of protein.

Alex Long8 said:Jonathan Miller7, honestly, you probably would’ve been better off grabbing that Weider stuff with 80+ protein. It’s got four different types of whey plus Casein... so it works as both a meal replacement and a post-workout shake. You went with the Casein, right? I just don't see the point of using that right after training when it takes like 7 hours to absorb, and you need fast-acting protein immediately after hitting the weights. I mean, maybe anything is better than nothing, I guess.

Or maybe that Optimum Nutrition brand you picked up

I grabbed a protein blend—the label says whey, Casein, and milk protein isolate—but I'm pretty sure the slow-digesting stuff is the main component here. And as for Weider, there's no way. Their prices are absolutely insane.

No, the brand is actually Optimal Results, man. 🤷

EDIT: Up until now, I've just been eating a solid, real meal after my workouts, and I think I'll just stick to that. There isn't any whey 🙂 in it, but frankly, I haven't noticed any difference in my gains anyway. I stopped using whey a long time ago, so if you ask me, this whole "post-workout whey" thing is kind of a joke. In my opinion, a basic protein is fine, or honestly, it's all the same.

Jonathan Miller7 said:EDIT: Up until now, I've always made sure to eat a substantial, solid meal after my workouts, and honestly, I think I'll just stick to that plan. There isn't any whey 🙂 involved in those meals, yet I haven't noticed any noticeable difference in my progress; since I stopped relying on post-workout shakes quite some time ago, I've found that a regular protein source works just as well as a specialized shake.

That makes perfect sense to me; since I am still in the learning phase of my fitness journey, I haven't touched any protein powders for about five months now, and I can tell you that the progress is still happening and the results are definitely showing, regardless of whether I use them... I mean, just like the name implies, they are merely dietary supplements. They are certainly convenient because you don't need much preparation—you just toss it in a shaker, give it a quick shake, and you're good to go—but you absolutely can achieve your goals without them 😉

Just picked up a 5lb tub of Isogainer from MuscleTech.
The label says three scoops per serving, which totals 179g. That’s ridiculous. At that rate, I'll burn through the whole thing in less than three weeks.
Is it a bad idea to just take two scoops as a post-workout shake? I'm calculating that two scoops would give me about 40g of protein and roughly 60g of carbs, which seems solid enough.
And what if I accidentally miss a meal before training? I usually make sure to eat 200g of oats about an hour or two before hitting the gym since that's my breakfast, but if life happens and I haven't eaten in ages, would it work to have one scoop pre-workout and then another scoop as a post-workout shake?

I'm already planning my next move once this runs out. If I could actually bump up from my current 175-180 lbs to around 185 lbs within a month or two, I'd be thrilled. Then I'd probably hit 185-190 lbs by adding some whey protein—likely that Weider 80+ stuff, which is expensive as hell. But honestly, I can't justify dropping that kind of cash right now when I need to save for a couple bags of this gainer to last me a month. It would be great to have a fast-acting protein for post-workout and maybe some Casein for later... assuming my diet stays on point, of course.

Oh, and I was thinking about grabbing some BCAAs. Which ones are the best value for the money? I think I have a 20% discount at GNC.

rustyowl4 said:Nah, that’s just flushing money down the drain...
Whey protein is fast-acting stuff. It moves through your system pretty quickly, which basically means if your body doesn't need it right that second, it won't use it—you'll just end up peeing it out. Total waste. You should really only be hitting the whey right AFTER a workout when your muscles are actually screaming for it. I guess you could mix some in with milk in the morning since you haven't eaten for 7 or 8 hours and your body needs a boost then, but yeah, stick to milk if you go that route.

For your regular meals during the day, you want slower-digesting proteins—things like milk, eggs, meat, whatever. Now, if you're dead set on using powder, your best bet is either grabbing Weider 80+ like Alex Long8 suggested, or maybe some Casein (the stuff from Pronutrition is decent), or honestly, just make sure you're eating enough actual protein in every meal throughout the day.

http://www.pronutrition.com/index.php?page=18&id=8 This one?

Yes, whether you're looking to wind down in the evening or just need a steady boost during the day, it's a solid choice😉

Alex Long8 said:I just picked up a 5lb tub of Isogainer from Nutrabolics.
The label claims three scoops per serving, which totals 179g. It feels a bit ridiculous, honestly; at that rate, I'll run through the whole thing in less than three weeks...
Would it be alright to take two scoops as a post-workout shake? Based on my math, those two scoops would provide about 40g of protein and roughly 60g of carbs, both of which seem like solid numbers...
...Also, what if I happen to miss a meal before training? I usually make sure to eat about 200g of oats for breakfast roughly 1-2 hours before hitting the gym, but if life gets in the way and I haven't eaten in a while, would it be okay to have one scoop about an hour before training and then another scoop as a post-workout shake immediately after?...

Right now, I’m thinking ahead to how I’ll use this gainer. If I could manage to climb from my current 175-185 lbs to somewhere in that range within a month or two, I’d be thrilled. From there, I’d likely aim for 185-190 lbs by adding a high-quality protein powder—maybe that Weider 80+ stuff, though it's incredibly expensive. I think I can swing it, though, since I don't have much extra cash to set aside for those two bags that might last me a month or so. That would be ideal: a fast-acting protein for post-workout and some Casein for a slow release... provided my overall diet stays on point, of course.

Oh, and I was also thinking about picking up some BCAAs right now. Which ones offer the best value? I believe I have a 20% discount waiting for me over at the Weider shop near Saville...

You can certainly go ahead with two scoops, and yes, you can definitely use them around your workout window—either before if you're running low on fuel, or after—as long as you stick to using the gainer specifically for those times and try to avoid it during the rest of the day.
Your calculations are perhaps a bit too rigid; rather than being overly strict with every gram, just focus on ensuring you're making steady progress toward your goals. Even gaining a couple of pounds a month is a fantastic result when you're bulking.
At the end of the day, your supplement options are really only limited by your budget; if you have the funds, go for it.😉
-BCAAs are fine, but they can get quite pricey. In my opinion, if money is tight, you're better off putting that investment back into more protein.