Best protein powders?

Could someone point me toward a few decent protein brands that you guys have actually put to the test? I'd love to know what works, and if anyone knows roughly what they’re going to run me for at a local pharmacy or drugstore like CVS or Walgreens rather than just guessing online.

Regarding the professional whey from MuscleTech near $36.

If you want to dig deeper into the whole protein situation, check this out here:
Whey protein

That's just a bunch of chemicals and GMO crap to me.
Yogurt, whey, eggs... you can't beat real food protein.

placidfalcon said:it's all just too much chemicals and GMO crap
yogurt, whey, eggs... you can't beat real food protein

Stop lecturing people about stuff you clearly don't understand.

David Baker3
Optimum Nutrition makes top-tier protein.
I know because I've actually used their stuff.
AnabolicWhey, 100% whey protein, 100% whey isolate...

Just pick whatever fits your goals.

placidfalcon said:it's all just too much chemicals and GMO stuff
yogurt, whey, eggs... you can't beat those proteins

Clearly you have no clue—whey is literally just milk protein...

🙂

David Baker3 said:Can someone recommend some decent protein brands they've actually used? Also, what's the going rate at a local pharmacy?

MuscleTech is probably your best bet... it's a solid enough brand for what you're looking for, and more importantly, it won't break the bank.
What do you mean, pharmacies? You should be hitting up supplement shops like www.gnc.com or similar places.

Noah Barnes5 said:You clearly have no clue—whey is just whey protein!!

🙂

Look, I know whey is just whey protein.
The point I'm making is that I think it's actually healthier and way cheaper to just drink fresh milk whey (a gallon costs less than $1.00) instead of using those powders loaded with random fillers and additives. But hey, if you want that stuff, go for it.

placidfalcon said:I get that whey is just milk protein.
The whole point is that I think drinking fresh whey is healthier and cheaper—like, a gallon costs less than $1.00—than using some powder filled with random additives. But hey, whatever floats your boat.

Of course a gallon is $1.00 and cheap.
But have you actually looked at the nutrition facts to see what's inside?
...If you had, you'd know exactly why it's so cheap.

I agree it's healthy, that much is true.
But if you're someone who actually needs a massive, serious protein intake, plain whey isn't going to cut it.

I’m really looking for some guidance here—what exactly should I be stacking to put on about 22 pounds in the shortest timeframe possible?

Me too

placidfalcon said:it's all just chemicals and GMO junk to you
yogurt, whey, eggs... you can't beat those proteins

Just go with MuscleTech. The whole reason people drink protein shakes is because they hit your system fast—that's why they're the gold standard right after a workout. Honestly, I'd much rather just sit down to some grilled turkey cutlets, but what can you do when it takes 3 or 4 hours for that stuff to actually move from your stomach to your muscles?
If you could just blend my meat into a chocolate-flavored slurry, I'd be drinking it all day long... 😁

Eric White13 said:I want to know what I should take to pack on 10 kilos as fast as possible.

food?
Track your calories... If you're hitting over 4,000 kcal a day, you're set...
Do a full audit of your intake for one day just to see where you actually stand... Obviously, if we're talking about actual muscle mass—and let's be real, there's going to be some fat involved—you need stuff like chicken, turkey, fish, whole grain bread, rice, pasta, veggies, cottage cheese, and so on... Spread those 4,000 kcal out over several meals a day, maybe six... then check back in three months...

Honestly, I could really use a little more muscle mass myself right about now. I truly appreciate everyone taking the time to share their insights and answers with me.👍

I’m still sticking to my guns: those supplements are built for the pros. If you’re just a weekend warrior or a casual lifter, just watch what you eat and call it a day. That’s my two cents. Peace.

I used to toss some Serious Mass from MuscleTech into my shakes—honestly, the vanilla flavor was actually pretty decent. I managed to pack on a few pounds, though, if I'm being completely honest, I ended up losing a bit of that weight once I stopped using it... I think a 3 kg tub goes for about $100 if my memory serves me right...

placidfalcon said:I still maintain that those supplements are meant for pro athletes; for casual gym-goers, just watching what you eat should be enough, that's my two cents, peace.

Look, listen... sometimes it’s actually cheaper and tastes way better to just grab a shake with some whey and glucose rather than choking down endless tubs of yogurt, egg whites, and whatever else.

Is there any way to pick up some whey protein in San Francisco, or am I stuck looking in Chicago?

Frankie said:I'm aware that whey is just dairy protein.
My point—and I think this is important—is that it seems much healthier and more cost-effective to just drink fresh whey (a liter costs less than $1.00) rather than relying on those processed powders loaded with random additives. But hey, if that's what you prefer, go for it.

So, what kind of additives are we even talking about in whey protein??? Look, a liter of fresh whey actually has relatively little protein, plus it's packed with lactose and milk fat—that’s exactly why it’s so cheap. Come on, "genius," give me one single reason why drinking fresh whey would be any healthier???!!!

Frankie said:I still think those supplements are strictly for pro athletes—for casual gym-goers, just watching your diet should be enough. That's my two cents. Peace.

Then walk me through something—after a brutal anaerobic session, when you need a light, fast-digesting meal in liquid form containing high-bioavailability proteins and high-glycemic carbs, what exactly are you eating from "regular" food instead of using supplements? Sure, you can swap Vitargo for something like dextrose, but what are you going to use to replace whey that’s even remotely as effective? I'd love to hear your expert solution.

Charles Morales10 said:Could you walk me through your logic for a moment? After a grueling anaerobic session, when the body desperately needs a light, fast-digesting meal in liquid form—something packed with high-biological-value proteins and high-glycemic carbohydrates—what on earth would you eat from actual, real-world food sources instead of relying on supplements? Sure, I suppose you could swap out Vitargo for some dextrose, but what could you possibly substitute for whey protein that would even come close to being equally effective? Do enlighten me, oh wise one.

If I found myself in that particular predicament, I think I’d probably just grab a sandwich made with two slices of white bread and about seven or eight egg whites. Now, I realize that isn't liquid, nor is it strictly "optimal" by scientific standards, but if we are talking about sticking to "real" food, it's actually a pretty decent choice.
Personally, once my workout is finished, I usually go for a shake consisting of roughly 50-60 grams of whey and about 80-100 grams of glucose. I know some people find pure glucose a bit much—they say it's far too sweet for their liking—but for me, it is honestly the highlight of my day; I practically live for that post-workout window. 🙂