Protein and workouts - tips and advice

Posted by Geosomin on February 8, 2008 at 11:09am in Untitled Category

I've read and heard that taking in some protein afte ra workout helps your body build muscle. So the husband and I were looking at buying one of the protein shakes out there and having some after workouts. We're usually drinking fruit juice or a glass of milk, but figured this would be better for us and just as easy.
He has heard that you need to keep drinking them once you start or you lose muscle mass if you stop drinking the protein.
I have heard it helps you gain/keep muscle, but I figure as long as you keep working out you won't lose them if you decide to stop drinking protein. It's just a suppliment

Are we right? wrong? Crazy? :)
Anyone on the protein suppliment bandwagon out there?
And if so...can you answer our questions and reccomend any tasty vanilla flavoured ones?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Geosomin on February 12, 2008 at 1:29pm: Sooo...anyone?
I'm curious.
Seriously :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisa Newton on February 13, 2008 at 12:48pm: I'm not a big believer in any suppliments except a daily multi-vitamin. I believe that unless a specific health concern requires a suppliment, we are able to get all the food we need from natural sources.

Dietitian would be the best person to answer this question..................:); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ask The Dietitian on February 13, 2008 at 4:49pm: Geosomin,
All apologies! I don't know how I missed this. But anyway here is the answer . . . Many athletes think that maximizing muscle requires lots of protein, but building muscles starts with a good workout program and sufficient calories. Muscles build when they have extra calories for tissue to develop. So skip the protein shakes unless you absolutely love them.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Eve on February 14, 2008 at 7:52am: I have diabetes, so I'm always reading labels for carbohydrate and especially sugar content. Some "protein" drinks have a pretty high carb count. After looking at some of them I decided I'd be better off having a piece of baked chicken than a protein shake. If you're going to use these, make sure you know what all you're getting - how much actual protein do they contain? what is the carb count? are there any ingredients you'd just as soon skip?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cynthia on March 8, 2008 at 9:39pm: Oh, I agree with this. Definitely check out the nutritional statements and ingredients.

Some of the low carb protein drinks use artificial sweeteners which not everyone may want. I personally don't object to Splenda, but I try to keep my usage to very moderate levels.

I've heard good things about this site, http://www.trueprotein.com, I gather that they can make up protein drinks to your specs... but I have not tried them yet.

There's nothing wrong with trotting some chicken, other lean meat or seafood to the gym with you in a cooler. I've done it and eaten real food post workout! But I have to admit, a shake you can mix with water is a lot easier! And has the benefit of being easy to consume DURING a workout.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cynthia on March 8, 2008 at 9:29pm: I'm not going to swear it helps you build muscle, but doing during/post workout nutrition does absolutely make me feel better after a hard workout! I mean, when I first read about post workout nutrition, I thought it was foo-foo, or just for elite athletes, not fat housewives trying to get fit... then I tried it and wow! It really helped me feel better! I think it also helps my recovery. Then I told my husband he should try it. He also thought the idea was foo-foo... until he tried it himself and he felt better!

Apparently, in my case, for fat loss, it's not the best idea to add a lot of carbs to a during/post workout drink, so I usually just use a low carb whey protein (my brand is Next Proteins Designer Whey) and water. Or for longer endurance workouts, I use Xtreme Formlations ICE BCAAs. The latter is zero calorie and I absolutely noticed a difference in how I feel and how well my muscles recover. Taste... well, I got used to it. The Designer Whey tastes pretty decent to me, but tastes vary.

For muscle building, protein and some carbs is what is needed. A cheap version is plain old chocolate milk!

I've heard that one of the best recovery drinks for during and post workout is Biotest Surge. You can get this at T-nation.com. It's not cheap. I've not tried it myself, since I'm trying to lose fat. But I did just order some of their Metabolic Drive Low-Carb Protein powder in vanilla and it is very tasty!

As for needing to keep drinking them or lose muscle mass, I think that's probably not entirely true, if you've built muscle, if you are eating well and continuing to challenge your body with new exercises or more weight, then you'll keep the muscle or at least most of it. But you may find the supplementation worthwhile just for how much better you feel!

Here's some links to some very good articles on this, both from http://www.johnberardi.com:

Post Workout Nutrition by John Berardi

Advanced Workout Nutrition by John Berardi

Berardi is not some nut case... he's very well respected in the sports nutrition field. One of his clients, Valerie Waugaman, played "Siren" recently on American Gladiators. Man, I wish I looked like her!

At any rate, I hope this helps!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Angie Schumacher on March 10, 2008 at 7:57pm: I can honestly tell you that by adding Prograde Workout after my workouts, I am seeing amazing results in just a couple weeks. I was using the wrong protein/carb ratio when it came to post workout shakes, but these are perfect and taste amazing! The Prograde Meal Replacement I use before my workouts. Again..yummy tasting and perfect ratios!

I am constantly stressing to my clients, the need for that "post workout shake"....its the most important meal of any day!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Julieanne van Zyl on May 1, 2008 at 6:34pm: I can't see how stopping from drinking the protein would make one lose muscle. After all, we all have protein in some form anyway. I agree with you, that muscle mass is lost when we stop working out. I've seen that happen with lots of people.

My husband and I used to have the Herbalife protein shakes years ago, as a meal substitute and they worked really well for stopping us from being hungry, and also helped us lose quite a few pounds in weight.

My husband wanted me to buy some more, and I was looking at buying a good quality whey powder instead. It's probably easier and tastier to put some herbalife (or some other protein supplement) shake in a "shaker" mix it with some milk or water, and drink it.

However, most of the protein supplements have additives like vitamins and some kind of sweetener, that I don't need at the moment. I'm already taking a vitamin supplement so I don't need extra vitamins.

So, what do people think about buying some whey powder, and making a tasty shake with some nice fruit in a mixer? Isn't that better? or not?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cynthia on May 2, 2008 at 8:45am: There's nothing wrong with using plain whey protein to make shakes if that's what you want to do! I don't know what the absolutely plain stuff tastes like though. I've heard it's not that nice. If you want to customize a mix, I've heard a place called True Protein can do that for folks and I've generally heard good things. But I have no personal experience with them.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by David on May 1, 2008 at 10:22pm: On this one, I'm going to have to go lone wolf on all you guys :-) In all my years as both a competitive athlete and working-out for fun--I have never used any kind of protein drink or supplement before, during, and after even some of my hardest regimes.

That being said, I am not arguing against it, I think that if one is really dehydrated during a workout or hungry, then water or a banana can work--on occasion.

I've spent many hours at one time for one work-out and find that the endurance, muscle fatigue, and heart rate help to define my own personal parameters for building muscle.

With respect to consuming protein after a workout--a nutritious meal afterward is what works for me. I use weight training, cross-training, and stretching to help build my muscles along with my swimming--so I can honestly say that no matter the level that one is at with their skill levels, I would personally recommend first and foremost to focus on the exercise and take it from there.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cynthia on May 2, 2008 at 8:50am: There's nothing wrong at all with just eating your protein... but the protein powders are CONVENIENT, especially for during and right after a workout, where you want to get the protein in as quickly as possible. For instance, as I live up on a hill, I like to run by the store after my workout at the gym and pick up food as opposed to going home, fixing a meal and then going out again. Saves gas!

So drinking my protein powder after a workout gets my muscles what they need and fast and then I can do a quick errand and then fix a quick normal meal, say a chicken and spinach salad when I get home. Yeah, sometimes I have brought meals to the gym with me in a lunchbox cooler, but it's one extra bulky thing to stuff into the locker.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Linda on May 13, 2008 at 10:37am: I haven't trained for years now, but when I did I drank 2 protein shakes a day. To maintain your muscle development you need to have plenty of protein, but also carbs. If you are members of a gym, any of the personal trainers there would be able to direct you as to what's best for your personal goals. But I say ... Load up on that protein ... you can't over do protein ... if your body can't use anymore it's not like it turns to fat like carbs.
Good luck! Linda ... air cleaner; ▶ Reply to This