Best protein powders?

briskjackal5 said:That’s a typical outcome when you start posting things that people on more specialized forums would just label as "trash."😁

One thing that might help you stay more grounded is to stop obsessing over the scale—those numbers don't really matter.
Some women are just naturally built better at certain weights. There is no such thing as an "ideal" weight, not even as a concept. Not only are the numbers misleading, but the idea itself is a myth. They can be rough guideposts, sure, but they aren't nearly as important as how you actually look and feel.
Think about it this way: you could lose a pound of fat, drop a pound of water, and gain a pound of muscle. Even though it’s "just one pound," the change in your physique will be obvious. On the flip side, you could lose three pounds of water weight and look exactly the same, except maybe a little more washed out.

The mirror tells the real story, so try to ignore some of those random comments you hear. 😁
And the real progress is found in the healthy habits you're building.

-Stipe

Exactly. I couldn't agree more.

Steve thanks, briskjackal5 and bad little fear.🙂
I really wanted to pinpoint exactly where my diet was going off the rails—but after chatting with you all, I realized I didn't need a total overhaul, just a better way to organize everything I eat. Once I got things sorted, I actually stopped eating certain stuff entirely—not even on purpose, they just don't appeal to me anymore!
And honestly? I think I'm finally getting there—I feel so much better!
Of course, I still allow myself a tiny "cheat" every now and then—just enough to stay sane without hitting that crazy deficit stage where you end up binging because you're starving!! For example, I have one single square of chocolate every day (literally just one!) and in the last two or three months, I haven't even had a massive craving for it... I guess I'm getting enough nutrients consistently.
As for coffee, I haven't touched it in two months and I don't even miss it—I'm strictly a tea person now...😉

Lisa Nelson96 said:Thanks so much, briskjackal5 and bad little fear.🙂
I really wanted to figure out where my diet was going wrong, and honestly, after chatting and messaging with all of you guys, I realized I just needed to organize everything I eat a bit more effectively... and now that I've finally gotten things sorted, I've actually cut out some stuff without even trying—it's just not what I'm craving anymore.
And I think I’m doing better now, I feel so much better!
Of course, I still let myself have a tiny little "slip-up" every once in a while, but nothing major, so I don't end up in that crazy deficit situation where I start obsessing over food and then binge on it!! For example, I have one single square of chocolate every day (just one!) and I haven't had a massive chocolate craving once in these last two or three months... I guess I'm getting enough nutrients regularly enough.
I haven't even touched coffee in two months, nor do I even want it; I've just been sticking to teas...😉

Way to go, Lisa Nelson96!

That's exactly how you do it! 😁

-Steve

briskjackal5 said:Way to go, Lisa Nelson96!

That's how you do it! 😁

-Steve

Thanks. Now go find me over in the thread about contractors, please...😛

Look, I’ve been scouring the web for ages and haven't found a straight answer anywhere, so I'm hoping some expert happens to see this 😁
I'm hitting the gym three times a week for ninety-minute sessions—high intensity stuff. I'm 6'2" and sitting at about 175 lbs... what I need to know is if I should be adding protein supplements or just trying to bulk up? My doctor told me I have a crazy fast metabolism, and honestly, he's right. I eat like a horse, but I just can't seem to budge past that 175-180 lb mark 😁. Thanks

Yeah, if you’re actually looking to pack on some serious mass, you're definitely going to need to bump up both your protein and carb intake. I learned that the hard way when I was first trying to bulk up back in college—you can lift all day, but without the right fuel, you're just spinning your wheels. You can find more specific details over at http://forum.teretana.net.

Look, I’ve been scrolling through all these forums and everyone keeps obsessing over bodybuilding. That's not my thing. I don't need bulk; I need pure speed for my training. My weight class is actually spot on, maybe just a couple of pounds off...

Post-workout routine, IMO:
Whey protein mixed with some glucose

You need to be eating at least six high-quality meals a day, spaced out every two or three hours or so.

And honestly, you really ought to focus on a bulk first; you’re way too light for how tall you are...

But yeah, blah blah blah, I've seen a thousand threads just like this one... maybe try doing a little more searching next time.

I’d like to jump into this discussion—it’s a topic I find myself circling back to quite often. Personally, I have the same goal: I'm looking to pack on a few extra pounds of lean muscle 🙂
. Currently, my routine involves hitting the gym four times a week, and I recently picked up some Whey protein to supplement my intake. After every session, I’m having one scoop—about 32g total, which breaks down to 24g of actual protein—mixed with milk. However, after doing a bit of digging, I’ve found myself feeling a little lost regarding the "ideal" dosage. According to the label—based on my stats (roughly 6'1" and 155 lbs)—it suggests I could take up to 126g of powder, which would be about four scoops. It’s all a bit muddled, though, especially since the clerk at the nutrition shop where I bought the stuff told me straight up not to exceed one scoop; apparently, the body just can't process that much protein at once...

I also have a follow-up question: should I still be consuming protein on my off days—you know, those days when I’m just lounging around the house doing absolutely nothing 😁—or is it unnecessary?

Thanks in advance for the insight.

Try taking one and a half scoops post-workout mixed with glucose or dextrose and water, rather than milk.

You can certainly use them as a supplement, though they aren't strictly necessary if your diet is already dialed in. That being said, you can still take them even on your non-training days.

Best regards,

Richard Bennett44 said:wants to jump in on this—I’m trying to pack on some weight too, specifically muscle mass. 🙂
I hit the gym four times a week and picked up some Whey protein. I take one scoop (32g total, with 24g protein) with milk after every workout. I was reading up on it and now I'm wondering how much protein I actually need. The label says for my height/weight (6'1", 154lbs), I could take up to 126g of powder—which is like four scoops. It's kind of confusing because the lady at the supplement shop told me not to go over one scoop since my body wouldn't be able to digest that much anyway...

also, should I be drinking protein on rest days—you know, when I'm just chilling at home doing nothing😁 or not?

thanks in advance

Look, protein is basically what we're made of—muscles, skin, hair, nails, all that stuff.
You need it regularly just to stay functioning.
If you're actually looking to build quality muscle, you need about 2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.
How you get there is up to you. Sure, you can use supplements, or you can just eat enough food to hit that number naturally.
Bottom line: if you're using Whey protein, try taking it right after training with some dextrose and water. A scoop and a half to two should absorb just fine.
If you want to drink it during the day away from your workout, mix it with milk to slow down absorption—otherwise, you might actually work against yourself.
That clerk told you that you couldn't digest more than one scoop? Honestly, just typical nonsense you hear from retail workers...
The average body can handle two scoops in one sitting no problem. And you can have multiple servings throughout the day depending on what you're aiming for.
Personally, I'd suggest keeping the Whey protein for post-workout and focusing on solid meals or maybe a casein/egg protein blend during the day since those digest slower.
Whether you train that day or not, you still need protein if your goal is building muscle. So yeah, consume it on training days and rest days alike.
And one more thing... for most natural lifters, gaining even a few pounds of actual muscle takes a year—maybe longer—of consistent training and eating right.
So just be patient...