Best protein powders for muscle gain?

wearynomad6 said:Look, if you actually want to torch fat, maybe try eating like Michael Rivera63. Though, honestly, that 2:1 depletion/repletion ratio seems a bit light to me... can you even hit ketosis in such a short window?

Well, look...
I dropped 40 pounds in three months, so I'll figure out how to get there...😁

Kenneth Robinson85 said:Question: how can you actually lose weight using protein?🙏

They’re incredibly filling—meaning you can't exactly shovel them down in massive quantities. Theoretically, that should keep you on track, though I've seen some people manage to avoid gaining weight even on an all-protein diet simply by eating much larger portions of protein than necessary.

And don't forget—you’re just losing all that water weight held by the carbs you're eating. That isn't actual fat loss. Once you go back to your normal diet—ugh—that weight comes right back.

wearynomad6 said:If your goal is fat loss, you might want to take a page out of Michael Rivera63's book regarding nutrition, though I have to wonder if a 2:1 ratio for fasting versus feeding days is aggressive enough; can you truly trigger ketosis in such a narrow window?

Actually, hitting ketosis isn't a requirement; as long as your total daily caloric intake ends up being lower than what you burn, you're essentially on the right track...
-It’s one of those straightforward approaches to shedding weight—perhaps spending two days at a deficit followed by one day at maintenance or a slight surplus. Ultimately, if your weekly math shows a net deficit, you've succeeded...
-You could even try a "zig-zag" method, which functions much like a pyramid where you transition from low calorie counts to higher ones...

Everyone eventually discovers the rhythm that works best for their own lifestyle, provided the fundamental rule remains constant: ensure your energy intake stays below your expenditure, and you'll be fine.

placidranger said:they're satiating—so you can't eat much (theoretically, though some people somehow manage not to gain weight on a pure protein diet by just eating massive amounts of protein)

and because you lose all that water weight held by the carbs you're consuming—but let's be clear, that isn't actual fat loss. once you start eating normally again, ugh, the weight comes right back.

Aha... well, thanks... that's exactly what I was wondering about... 🙂 thanks

Harold Booth68 said:Why don't you just drink it yourself? lol

Honestly, I can't stand those whey proteins loaded with artificial sweeteners.

A quick heads-up on the sweetener situation if you care: http://www.building-body.com/Umjetni...esulfam-K.html

http://www.building-body.com/Supleme...tml#jfd0761bcf

Ethan Garcia8 said:The Dikanov diet. Total nonsense for idiots. Skip it.

Did a quick Google search on that Dikanov thing 😁

http://www.nytimes.com/diet-fads-and-fails/731894/

What’s the deal with eating multiple times a day? It makes zero sense.
Plus, there aren't even any portion limits listed—how is anyone supposed to lose weight doing that?? 😕

rustyowl4 said:you don't even have to hit ketosis; if your daily calorie count ends up being lower overall, you're golden...
-it’s one of the easier ways to drop weight—just two days of low calories followed by one day at maintenance or a slight surplus... basically, if you're running a deficit on a weekly basis, that's all that matters...
-you can even do a zig-zag approach, moving pyramidically from low calorie intake to high calorie intake

Everyone finds what works for them. At the end of the day, as long as your energy intake is less than what you burn, you're set...

No way...
you've got it completely wrong...
My diet isn't just "two days without carbs, then one day of refueling" (meaning I eat whatever I want). It's actually two days following my carb-loading day, followed by four days with carbs (two days of low GI/low glycemic load, and two days of high)...

Is it okay to swap out glucose for fructose when I'm taking my whey protein?

Raymond Hughes said:Is it okay to swap out glucose for fructose when I'm taking my whey?

Not even in your wildest dreams.

Raymond Hughes said:Can I swap out glucose for fructose when I take my whey?

Any carb works—the effect on protein anabolism stays basically the same. You could go with fruit, honey, or if you want to keep it simple, just some powdered sugar.

I was browsing an old fitness forum the other day—some guy mentioned using Jolly Ranchers for their post-workout window. 😬 😬

Jonathan James7 said:Not even in my wildest dreams.

+ 1000000

placidranger said:Look, you can basically grab whatever carbs you want—it doesn’t matter which specific one you pick, because they're all going to have the exact same effect on protein synthesis. Whether you want to go the natural route with some fruit or honey, or if you're just looking for something easier to toss in a shaker like some powdered sugar, it's all the same deal. It's about getting that fuel in there.

I was scrolling through some fitness forums the other day, and I saw someone claiming that Miloš Šarčev calls those Post-Workout supplements "Kiki candies." Honestly, what a joke. 😬 😬

Look, I’m just as guilty as anyone else when it comes to mindlessly snacking on candy during a workout. Honestly, what am I even doing? It’s like my body is just screaming for a sugar hit mid-set. What a joke. 😁
Sometimes I'll even cave and grab some of those chocolate raisins. 😁

Michael Rivera63 said:Nah, wait,
you guys totally missed my point here.
It's not like I go two days without carbs followed by one loading day (where I just eat whatever). What I actually do is two days after my load, then four days with carbs—specifically, two days of low glycemic stuff and two days of high glycemic.

Aha! So that's how it works.😉, you're basically doing carb cycling. From what I understand, the whole depletion/loading thing usually lasts about three days using protein and fat-heavy meals while keeping carbs under 30g (getting them strictly from veggies) to kickstart ketosis for faster fat burning, followed by one day of carb loading to reset your hormones.

wearynomad6 said:Well, there’s a massive catch hidden in there... 😉 So, if you're talking about actual carb cycling, the way I understand it, you spend about three days doing a depletion phase—keeping your carbs extremely low, maybe around 30 grams, mostly just from veggies—to force your body into ketosis for faster fat burning. Then, you follow that with one day of carb loading to basically reset your hormones.

Something along those lines...

With carb cycling, you're supposed to time your intake based on the time of day—you know, before and after workouts, and presumably in the morning.
But honestly, my routine is pretty much the same every single day, though I do rotate through three different types of daily setups...

Jonathan Miller7 said:Look, I’m also guilty of mindless candy snacking during my workouts—just trying to clear out the sugar rush, I guess. 😁
Sometimes I even go for those chocolate-covered raisins. 😁

That’s just how it goes, man—pure hardcore mode. 🙂 😬

Hello. I’ve been hitting the gym for two months now. Since switching up my diet about ten weeks ago, I’ve dropped 10 pounds. My goal is to lose another 8. Currently, I'm training five days a week for about ninety minutes per session. Lately, I've been looking into protein supplements. From what I've read, they don't necessarily lead to bulk, right? 😁
I spoke with my trainer, and he mentioned there are various types available—some even labeled as "mass" products, if I understood him correctly.

Looking through some catalogs, three options caught my eye as potential fits: PowerBar, BodyShaper, and Weider. I checked out a specific line at CVS recently called Das gessunde plus; the macro ratios seem reasonable for what I need.

Any suggestions? My aim is to shed those final 8 pounds while maintaining a fit, toned look. I'm not looking for anything flashy. 😍

I guess I've always wondered, why is it that protein supplements are recommended for people trying to bulk up AND for those trying to lose weight?

Look, if you’re still seeing those pounds drop, just keep doing exactly what you're doing 👍. Out of those three Weider options, I think the one with four different protein sources works best. It's solid enough to use as a meal replacement or even a post-workout shake. Honestly, that Perfect Body stuff has some pretty questionable ingredients in it.

It really just comes down to what your specific goals are for taking protein supplements.

I asked my trainer about post-workout supplements, and he started going on about protein and why I should bother with it. To be honest, I figured it might help speed up fat burning or help build some muscle definition. Though, maybe taking L-Carnitine before the workout would be more effective. 😕

I'm not entirely sure, so I thought I'd ask for some advice here. 😁

rapidtrucker14 said:Why is it that these protein supplements are recommended to people trying to bulk up AND to people trying to lose weight?

Because it makes it way easier to sell them, obviously.