I’ve been lurking around for a while, I’ve just completed Stage 1 (first time really lifting, before I just “did the machines” without really challenging myself at all) and am looking for Protein Powder recommendations.
I’ve read through the related postings in the FAQ, but didn’t really see any recommendations for PP that mixes well with foods (yogurt, oatmeal, PP pancakes and other PP-based recipes) without changing the food’s flavor drastically. I’m mostly vegetarian (eggs and dairy are fine, occasionally I eat chicken) and am having trouble reaching the 40/30/30 goal, I’m hoping by adding more PP to my snacks and breakfast I can reach the goal.
I’m also looking for a decent PWO shake. Currently I’m using Muscle Milk Chocolate for my PWO shake (my boyfriend got it from Costco and didn’t like, I can tolerate it mixed with fatfree milk and with some extra baking cocoa), but want to move on to something better 9i read the bad comments about Muscle Milk in the other threads). The custom mixes from True Protein sound interesting, but I have no idea what to put in the mix, so I may just order their sampler.
I have been using Optimum Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein. It's one of the best protein supplements out there. Instead of buying an entire container, you can order a sample pack. They sell it at bodybuilding.com for a reasonable price. Now, if you don't like Muscle Milk, you may have a bit of trouble as guys I know have mentioned it is one of the better tasting protein supplements. But I stand by Optimum because it's less crap and they have a variety of flavors. Now I personally do not like their cookies and cream so I don't recommend it. Here is a link to bodybuilding.com page where they recommend protein powders. As you can see, Optimum is one of the best sellers: http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/proteinpage.htm.
Hope this helps and CONGRATS on finishing Staging 1
I bought one of the 25-lb recession whey recently. I know, I'm insane. I got some flavour packs to mix in, but on the plus side the powder is unflavoured and unsweetened. I've actually used some of it in baking, and it worked quite well. And no, you don't have to buy 25-lbs
There's quite a long discussion here, in another area, about the types/flavours and some of the people posting there might be able to answer more questions.
I use Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Protein powder too. I really like the flavors, I don't think I've tried one yet that wasn't yummy even with just water.
I also use Optimum Nutrition Whey in Vanilla Ice Cream. They have it at my grocery store, also in the small size. I don't have room for those big tubs, so that's nice. I haven't tried any of the other flavors because I like this one so much!
I buy different brands depending on where I'm shopping, and haven't really come across any I don't like, but I can eat just about anything.
For mixing with foods, I always blend the powder with just a little water to make a "sludge", then mix it in. I haven't figured out how to do this with yogurt yet, but this works well for oatmeal and in recipes for pancakes and muffins.
I also mix chocolate pp with iced coffee (I don't use milk or sugar) makes the most wonderful mocha drink. I haven't tried it frozen yet, but I bet it would be delicious!
I love the Lean ProMatrix brand; I usually get the Vanilla Ice Cream flavor, it mixes with everything really well, but they have about 10 flavors at least. I buy it at Nutrition Zone; I haven't found it anywhere else but online, and it was pricier online.
I sprinkle a scoop on my oatmeal in the morning, then pour on 1/2 cup milk and it stirs right in.
It mixes with yogurt well, too, I just use a big bowl to have room to stir, and dump the powder on top and stir vigorously. It turns out really creamy with no lumps and makes it a nice french vanilla flavor that I love with fresh fruit. I tried chocolate in yogurt today, and it was ok, but not as good as vanilla.
I have mixed vanilla with cold coffee, and it's good. I also just tried chocolate mixed with cold coffee for the mocha; that was good too, but I had to add a little milk to get it as "creamy" as I like it.
It's great with just water; I put the water in a shaker bottle first, then add the powder and shake it and I have had no lump problems.
The vanilla goes in frozen fruit smoothies, just make sure to add it to the blender, not stir it in after the fruit is blended.
Has anybody tried powder in hot coffee? I tried the Optimal Nutrition once in my hot oatmeal and it was nasty. They texture turned awful. I love it in yogurt, though.
I just bought some 1-scoop packs of NNW to try it out. I had Vanilla Caramel Swirl with some Fage tonight and it was yummy! I also got their chocolate milk flavor. I'm going to give that a shot in my coffee tomorrow morning! Hopefully it doesn't congeal like the other did in oatmeal.
I'll be working on it for quite a while, as I also get another brand pretty close to free from a friend (her son works for a manufacturer). I've got the storage space (and containers) so at the time I thought it was a good deal.
If you're looking for good deals on high quality protein and don't mind buying in bulk search ebay for all the whey.
25 lbs for 140
50 lbs for 234
This is isolate
Use bing.com for 8% cashback
This is isolate - from their website...
*25 g protein *28.4 g serving size *zero ion exchange *zero fat *less than 1g lactose *superior amino acid profile and BCAA’s *highest PER (protein efficiency ratio) *highest NPU (net protein utilization) *easily digested *more protein by gram than any other *supports muscle repair and recovery *16 servings per pound *no trans fats *gluten free *safe for lactose intolerance
Has anybody tried powder in hot coffee? I tried the Optimal Nutrition once in my hot oatmeal and it was nasty. They texture turned awful. I love it in yogurt, though.
I've found that most pp turns nasty in HOT food/liquid. But I love mine in my morning coffee, so I give the coffee a few minutes to cool down, and the texture turns out fine when I add the protein powder. It doesn't have to be lukewarm or anything, just not PIPING hot.
Agreed. I've added it to baked goods, but that's starting with cold ingredients. I had this bright idea to add it to my meat sauce (instead of going and buying some ground turkey to cut the fat). Definitely did not work well, although I think there would be a way to work it in better. It ended up like having little bits of hard cheese in the sauce.
Since my post, I've read that heat ruins the protein in the PP, so I didn't put it directly in the hot coffee. However, it did first add a 1/2 cup of cold milk to the coffee and then the chocolate milk PP and it was good. I prefer my coffee hot and I've gotten away from lattes, so I think I'll stick with my PP in yogurt. I'm a creature of habit in the morning!
Yeah, I've read the same thing. However, the idea is that it denatures it, making it less available to your body quickly. Protein doesn't become something else simply because you heat it. Otherwise all the meat, eggs, etc. would be useless as well. So I don't think it's a big deal unless you're using it for PWO shakes.
Right now, I only use PP after workouts, or at least most of the time that is the case, so the quick availability of the protein was my concern. If I really want to hit 1g of Protein per pound of body mass, I would probably have to increase that, though!
I use the Optimum Any Whey unflavored protein powder in my oatmeal (20g) each morning. Says you can bake with it. Haven;'t tried that yet. But it seems to work fine in the oatmeal, just give it a minute to get good and incorporated. I also use 13g of flaxseed meal, and 80g of frozen blueberries )(or fresh). My fav breakfast.
I've been using GNC's Pro Performance vanilla to add to plain greek yogurt. Don't do that as regularly...will have to try some of these other brands (and maybe chocolate flavor) one of these days. Problem is I'm not a big fan of sweet things, and most of the flavors (including vanilla) are almost too sweet for me.
To cut the sweetness try adding a vitamin C crystals. Of course, canning geek that I am realizes that not everyone keeps some handy.
I find pretty much all artificially sweetened items too sweet. The other way I overcome it is to use sour cherries and/or sour cherry concentrate in my shakes.
I'm the opposite--a total sweet tooth. I love the PP because it's sweet, and gives me that taste since I gave up eating cookies, candy, cake, etc. I use protein powder at least three times a day. Every breakfast in my oatmeal, usually for a snack in plain yogurt, and as a shake just with water.
On the other hand, I tried the brand WalMart carries, in strawberry, and it was too sweet even for me, and amazingly, even for my 8 year old, who will eat sugar by the spoonful! (If I would let him, which I don't. . .)
I bought some ON 100% in Vanilla Ice Cream. It mixes very quickly at tastes pretty good. Tastes good with cold milk, ok with room temp water, and I don't notice it all in fruit + milk + PP shakes, just what I was looking for!
But now i have another question: what is the best order to place ingredients in the blender? I if put PP in before frozen fruit and milk some of it clumps up and sticks to the blades. If i put it in later, some of it flys up and sticks to the lid and sides of the blender. Any expert shake/blender tips any one?
I bought some ON 100% in Vanilla Ice Cream. It mixes very quickly at tastes pretty good. Tastes good with cold milk, ok with room temp water, and I don't notice it all in fruit + milk + PP shakes, just what I was looking for!
But now i have another question: what is the best order to place ingredients in the blender? I if put PP in before frozen fruit and milk some of it clumps up and sticks to the blades. If i put it in later, some of it flys up and sticks to the lid and sides of the blender. Any expert shake/blender tips any one?
You can try shaking it with the milk in a bottle before adding it to the blender. Or, shake or stir it into a small amount of water to make a thick liquid before adding it.
Just ordered some ON myself yesterday, but I realized this morning, that I never checked on the BCAA's--anyone know what kind of amino acid profile it has? I can't tell from the website.
For protein that has no additional flavor, I'd recommend ordered a non-flavored Whey protein from trueprotein.com. The one I like the best is Whey Protein Isolate Ion-Exchange
I order it as unsweetened Vanilla with no extra sweetener. It digests well and I mix it in almost everything (yogurt, etc).
There are other options on trueproteins site too. You can also email the owners and they can help you out if you need other options.
For your vegetarian preference, Manitoba Harvest has a new 70% hemp protein on the market that mixes great in shakes and any fluid. Here's the details: http://www.manitobaharvest.com/
Best, Cassandra
Quote:
Originally Posted by vasha
Hi everyone,
I’ve been lurking around for a while, I’ve just completed Stage 1 (first time really lifting, before I just “did the machines” without really challenging myself at all) and am looking for Protein Powder recommendations.
I’ve read through the related postings in the FAQ, but didn’t really see any recommendations for PP that mixes well with foods (yogurt, oatmeal, PP pancakes and other PP-based recipes) without changing the food’s flavor drastically. I’m mostly vegetarian (eggs and dairy are fine, occasionally I eat chicken) and am having trouble reaching the 40/30/30 goal, I’m hoping by adding more PP to my snacks and breakfast I can reach the goal.
I’m also looking for a decent PWO shake. Currently I’m using Muscle Milk Chocolate for my PWO shake (my boyfriend got it from Costco and didn’t like, I can tolerate it mixed with fatfree milk and with some extra baking cocoa), but want to move on to something better 9i read the bad comments about Muscle Milk in the other threads). The custom mixes from True Protein sound interesting, but I have no idea what to put in the mix, so I may just order their sampler.
Thanks!
__________________
Fitness and Nutrition Scientist Blog:
Just ordered some ON myself yesterday, but I realized this morning, that I never checked on the BCAA's--anyone know what kind of amino acid profile it has? I can't tell from the website.
If you're talking about ON 100% Gold Standard Whey, the bottle says more than 5 grams of BCAAs per scoop.
__________________
Tom
No "happy hours" makes for a lot of miserable days. - Mahler
Protein Powder for mixing w/ food
Linear Mode
