Grondar

Heya everyone.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am going to start going to the gym again starting tomorrow.

I have been reading quite a few posts at the forums here, and was curious about protein drinks; primarily their downsides, if there are any.

I am not going to the gym to lose weight as much as I am to lift some weights, be active, and do some cardio. Putting on some muscle would be nice, and providing I stick with it, I am expecting some sort of benefit, if only better fitness.

To get back on track.. Are there any negatives/downsides to drinking protein shakes?

As an example, if I were only to do cardio, and drink a protein shake/drink every day, is there any chance the drink would do more harm than good?

If not "utilized" properly, could the protein turn into fat, and thus counter my efforts?

If I put on weight, I'd like it to be muscle mass, yet I am not too familiar with protein shakes/drinks, and how they work.

If someone could give me an "overview" of the good/bad of protein shakes, and if they are only recommended for certain workout routines, I would greatly appreciate it.

Also, if anyone has other comments regarding protein shakes/drinks, I'd be very interested to read them.

Thanks much.

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SiNai

Nah, I don't think you would have a problem with it making you fat, but it probably wouldn't make you bigger, if you aren't doing a proper weight workout. If you are doing weights, do drink a shake everyday as the days you are off weights and doing cardio your muscles are healing/growing and need that protein

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Grondar

Again thanks for the reply.

In my other thread you mentioned Whey protein.

Is that different than the protein found in a protein shake/drink?

Also, in an "ideal" situation, would I be drinking both a protein shake, and eating/drinking whey protein each day, or are they the same thing, and thus redundant?

Also, when is the best/ideal time to drink a protein shake. Before workouts, during, or after?

Also, if for some reason I miss a day and don't work out, should I still drink a shake then?

Thanks again!

__________________
"Yes, I rather like this God fellow. He's very theatrical, you know, a pestilence here, a plague there. Omnipotence. Gotta get me some of that." -Stewie

dimbulb

whey protein is one of the types of processed protein powders available. There are egg and soy protein available.

However, Whey protein is absorbed very efficiently and very fast, so it is preferable to the other types.

Treat protein as another type of food. If you consume too much food/calories, it'll get stored as fat. The upside of protein powder is that it lets you get a lot of protein without eating too much meat (which always tend to contain some amount of fat.)

A good guideline is that no more than half of your daily protein intake should come from protein powder...

Phaenx

If you over-do it in one sitting your body starts to store the excess as fat. 40g protein is the limit for one meal. But 40g + milk makes even a fatty like me stuffed to the raftors.

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Cowman

Grondar: Like someone said , whey protein is a type of protein. A protein shake will contain a type of protein, whey egg or soy most likely, and the best type to go with is probably whey.

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maleficent

It's always been my understanding that unless you're working out really hard, with the intent to do some serious bulking up -- then the protein drinks are really just empty calories.

Kinda like gatorade and sports drinks are really just empty calories for 90 percent of the population

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stevie667

your probably right there for Grondar's situation.

Grondar: It sounds like what you want is a meal replacment drink instead of a protein shake.

A replacment will still have good levels of protein, but will contain all the essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs, especially if your going more cardio than pure bulk.
A protein shake will just give you protein, great if you want to bulk, but you can't drink a few each day and expect the gains that regular meals would give you.

AST Ny-Tro Pro-40 is meant to be quite good, i'm planning on getting a box when i have the cash.

a place with good articles on the subject is www.bodybuilding.com, they have miles and miles of archives that will help you out.

remember, unless you do plan on doing some serious working out and do want to bulk, then protein suppliments are really unnecessary.

Grondar

Thanks for the replies, and great information.

I honestly think I am more into cardio, and thus I may not desire protein drinks, as many of you have stated.

I want to get more "fit," but not necessarily massively muscular.

I intend to lift weights and do cardio, but given my practices in the past when I went to the gym, it seems cardio will be a pretty large part of my routine.

Is there a good way to find out how much vitamins and minerals, as well as other nutrients, I should eat in order to be eating a "healthy" diet?

I don't eat a lot, but I do take multi-vitamins, as well as Vitamin C and occasionally E to make up for that.. Should I be taking other things as well; a nutritional drink for instance?

I do watch what I eat, and don't eat fast food or drink soda anymore, but I am not really sure if I should be taking in "nutrient-specific" products, such as a drink, etc.

Thanks again. I appreciate the responses a lot.

__________________
"Yes, I rather like this God fellow. He's very theatrical, you know, a pestilence here, a plague there. Omnipotence. Gotta get me some of that." -Stewie

maleficent

As long as you aren't making a diet of junk foods, and aren't starving yourself, you should be getting your reccommended daily allowances of all the essential vitamins in a day. (or eat Total like the commercials say)

The food pyramid seems to change on a regular basis, but as long as you eat vegetables, some protein (in the form of yogurt, soy, cheese, milk) don't overdose on coffee or other empty beverages, your diet should be fine. Keep a food journal for a week or so and make note of what you do eat - I'll bet you're getting all the major food groups in there.

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