Any opinions on protein shakes?
 

Seems like the guys that are marginally serious about lifting all drink protein shakes after working out.

The one guy I talked to uses Muscle Milk, Protein Pro. Says he has noticed a difference since using it. Of course, this same guy was drinking a can of chicken broth in the locker room. :) First time I have ever seen that.

I've been casually lifting for close to a year now. "Subsistence lifting" I would call it. Not very hard, not very heavy, to try and maintain a certain level of strength in the least amount of time possible. I would like to get a bit more serious.

I bought EAS 100% whey. Cheap at Sam's.

No results yet. But I wonder if my goal of losing some weight is in conflict with protein supplementation.

I am 30lb heavier than a year and change ago. 25lb of that might be muscle.

My typical "fighting" weight has been about 180. Yet I am now about 190. I wonder how much of that 10lb increase is muscle. And how much is fat. If I could maintain strength and lose 10lb fat, I would be pretty ripped, I think.

I use that, but I prefer whey protein isolate because it isn't as heavy. I lift pretty hard and a protein shake after a workout really helps with recovery.

Most weightlifters I know swear by it, under the theory that you need to get protein to the muscles within fifteen minutes of completing a workout to repair damage done to the muscle fibers. Chicken broth is an excellent solution. You're at an age when weight gain will come easily.

I don't want to gain weight. I want to lose weight. But I do want to be ripped, a bit more.

Will the leg press help my vertical? I did about 12 reps of 500 lb today. I don't want to push it too hard, fear of hurting my knees.

Manny Pacquiao does 3,000 situps a day. I figure I can manage at least 30.

Becoming ripped is a process of good genes, diet, and a proper balance between weights and cardiovascular.

You seem to have good genes for that. I have no idea about your diet.

I put my sons on a program of 2500 situps, 1500 pushups and 2000 pull ups, i.e., Hershell Walker's workout.

To date, elder son only does 500 situps, 200 pushups and 100 pull ups, but it's a start. His diet needs improvement.

I'm down to about that many as well. Too little time.

a month?

Daily work out but you knew that.

I'm definitely getting stronger. And I'm gaining lean weight as well. I only drink the protein after I workout and after I play basketball. So probably on average 4 servings per week, maybe 5 some weeks. So not much.

I'm not sure if it's made a difference. I think it might be helping with recovery. Maybe it makes me more serious about the lifting and motivates me to try harder, in addition to any physiologic benefit it might be providing.

I don't want to gain weight. But I'm not minding getting stronger. So I will just see where this goes. I think I will worry if I get up to 200lb, because that will be about 17lb over my normal weight. I guess it's possible I have put on 15lb lean weight, who knows.

Since starting the shakes, I have been making more of an effort. Today I was at 215lb, 4 reps unassisted + 1 assisted. I am getting reasonably close to my goal of doing reps at 225lb. That is of course 2 45s on each end.

With a bit more time to lift, and someone to spot me, I think I could make more rapid strides. That set today was the first I have had someone to spot me.

Anyway, not a world-beating effort, but I am getting close to the strongest I have ever been on bench. And I have never been too serious about it.

During my last year of residency, I put on some weight. When I deployed to afghanistan I weighed in at 245. I am now down to 225 and I am lifting more weight than ever before.

I use GNC's AMP whey protein. It has 60gm of protein per serving and only about 250 calories. I take it right after I lift. I am also running or biking for 30-40 minutes a day as well.

As far as weights, I have been increasing the weight, increasing the number of sets and decreasing the repetitions. For example: I am benching 225 4 sets of 8. Instead of trying to do 3 sets of 10. You lift more overall weight by doing this. I will be increasing from 4 to 5 sets and will go up in weight once I can do 5 sets of 8. By doing this I have seen significant improvements in my lifting.

I still hate running but I do it so I can keep trimming down the table muscle. Some of the guys in the unit are going to start P90X in the afternoon and that will be my PM workout.

Nothing like deployment to get you into shape!

I'd like to request a moratorium on people posting about lifting more weight than me.

But seriously, I could use a spotter. THat would help me improve.

I tend to do 6 reps per set.

At your age, lifting lots of weight should not be the objective, but many repetitions and multiple variations should be.

Corrected.

ah yes, the huge downside to deployment....

I think that a protein shake is a good. I have one in the morning, and sometimes for lunch. If you really want to be healthy, I would go to a natural route. Protein does work for muscle gain. You should not take any protein drink if you have any form or family history of kidney problems though.

Hi Mike,
I have started taking protein shakes last month when I switched to heavy lifting.
I prefer home made protein shakes as they are more healthier and cheaper.