(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best sports nutrition whey protein powders

Nah not really. Even at the max-recommended 2-pounds-per-week (average) weight loss, you're only eating at a reduced calorie intake, not a huge starvation diet. Do a google image search for "loose skin" if you want to see what happens when you lose weight too fast. My old roommate lost 150 pounds in 6 months, which was an average of 6.25 fat loss per week, and had like six inches of loose skin, which took his body years to properly reabsorb to look normal. So in your case:

1. 315 - 166 = 149 pounds. So your project is to lose 149 pounds. That's a solid number that you can plan for, instead of a question mark! Same deal with your macros - they are solid numbers that you can plan for, no guesswork, no question marks.
   
2. At 2 pounds a week (on average...it's a bit more like a bell curve, because you'll lose ten pounds right off the bat in water weight), that's 74.5 weeks, or about 19 months (founding up), or roughly a year and a half. That may seem like a long, loooooong time time, but let's say you're 30 now & are planning to live to say, 100 years old...that's 70 years of being in shape, feeling good, having energy, knowing how to feed your body right, having your GI tract work properly, and avoiding all of the problems that you are put at risk at from overweight (insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, diabetes type II, heart disease, IBS, hypertension, etc.).
   
3. Macros are great because once you get the hang of counting your macro intake, you own that skill for life - diets imply a short-term project, where you eventually go back to your old lifestyle, which is why most people gain the weight back after doing their crash diet. With macros, you can still eat what you're eating now, just in a smarter way that yields results, so it's not like it's a huge lifestyle change...you're simply incorporating macro numbers tracking into it. If you read through my tutorial on macros, then you'll see that eating twinkies, donuts, and ice cream can still help you lose weight & get abs. It's crazy, but it's true! Science!
   
4. Your task is now simple: eat 144g protein, 201g carb, and 104g fat every day. Thus your job is really meal-prep, so that you can 100% hit your targets for your protein, carbs, and fat intake every day.
   
5. You don't have to change what you eat; you can still eat the foods you love, you just need to play some food tetris to figure out how to get the right macro mix into your body every 24 hours.
   
   OK, so let's talk a little bit about Soylent & other foods now:
   
   
6. Soylent helps because all you have to do is drink it. The macros on bottled vanilla soylent are 20g protein, 33g carbs, 21g fat. So your current macros are 144p/201c/104f (weight loss daily requirements) minus 20p/33c/21f (bottled vanilla soylent) = you now have 124p/168c/83f left. Make sense?
   
7. Just to build off that idea - you can get a motorized blender bottle to level-up your Soylent with mix-ins. So you could pour soylent into the bottle, then add a scoop of protein powder to boost the protein level & a quarter cup of heavy cream to boost the fat level, blend it up, and drink it! Soylent simply makes eating more convenient...it doesn't have to be a full diet replacement, but like, if you usually run out the door in the morning without eating breakfast, that's a good time to use a meal replacement because you can chug it & be done!
   
8. Continuing the idea of food tetris, you might use Soylent for breakfast & lunch, and then use the remaining macros for a monster dinner of foods you love. So your daily macros are 144p/201c/104f minus a breakfast soylent (macro numbers = 20p/33c/21f) and a lunch soylent (20p/33c/21f), which leaves you with 104p/135c/62f for the rest of the day.
   
9. However, that's a lot of protein intake for one day remaining, so if you add in one scoop of protein powder (I like this kind, vanilla ice cream flavor - if you mix it with chocolate soylent, it tastes kind of like Nesquik chocolate milk!), you can reduce that number. That protein powder is 24p/3c/1f per scoop. So now a protein-enhanced soylent is 44p/36c/22f. So if you drink a protein-soylent for breakfast & a protein soylent for lunch, you now have 56p/129c/60f remaining. That could be tacos, a soda, and cookies, or a steak & potatoes, or a Whopper & fries, or whatever you want! Soylent simply helps fill up your macros with zero cooking required, that's all!
   
   Regarding implementation:
   
   
10. Your gut does have to adjust to major food changes in your diet. Ever eat bean chili when you haven't had it in awhile & then get, uh, gastrointestinal distress? lol. If you're going to incorporate Soylent, start off with like, one bottle a day, in addition to all of the regular stuff you eat. Try out all of the flavors, try out the bottled kind & the powdered kind, see what you like, and then increase your intake. There are also a lot of competitors to Soylent (I personally like Sated a lot). There's also a soylent version of instant ramen called Vite-Ramen that you can simply microwave for 5 minutes & get 27p/65c/12f (note, it tastes "healthy" on its own, so I usually mix in some kind of sauce & whatnot).
    
11. Actually counting macros pretty much boils down to using an app to track your intake for the day & then using a kitchen scale if you plan on cooking at home, to weight & measure the food out. MyFitnessPal is pretty good, and a lot of people use MyMacros+, which works on both iPhone & Android: https://getmymacros.com/
    
12. This is why I like meal-prep...if you prepare all of your food ahead of time & calculate all of your macros ahead of time, then you're not subject to being hungry in the moment & having to make an emergency decision about what to eat & having to write down your numbers all day. Basically with meal-prep, all you have to do is EAT! It technically doesn't matter when you eat or what you eat, as long as you hit your macros for the day. I'm a hungry dude, so I eat like every 3 hours, which helps keep me full, plus if I eat a huge plate of food, I get kinda sleepy lol, which stinks if you pig out for lunch & then have to work or pay attention in class for the afternoon & you're in ZZzzz mode hahaha.
    
    So how do you setup a meal-prep system? I have some ideas in the links below, if you're up for some reading:
    
    

• Basic meal-prep system
  
• More info
  
• Some additional discussion
  
• Learn about macros
  
  part 1/2

For what it's worth, I lift 6 days a week and have been vegan for a year. I'm 82kg (180lbs) and used to eat 1g protein per pound of bodyweight. So 180g per day. I have since cut that in half (and get around 100g/day) and have gained more strength, size, and dropped fat since going vegan. Right now you're eating over 1g per pound of bodyweight (you're ~140lbs). I would argue that isn't necessary, and encourage you to try dropping the protein and increasing the carbs/fat to compensate. Science shows the upper limit of 0.8g/lb of bodyweight is the max you need for absolute optimal mass, but like I said, I and a lot of others go way below that and do just as well as far as I can tell. Unless you're a professional athlete or something, I think trying to get a ton of protein in isn't as big of a deal as we think it is.

At 2000 calories a day, it's going to be really hard to get 150g protein via a whole foods vegan diet. Even if you ate nothing but beans all day, 2000 calories from black/pinto beans only has about 120g protein. If you ate soybeans, that would be better, but you're still only 190g protein. And you aren't going to eat nothing but beans all day.

If you absolutely must get 150g protein per day, you're going to need to eat processed foods. Tofu, seitan, protein powder, TVP, etc. "Vital Wheat Gluten" is the protein from wheat that seitan is made from, and you can buy that and use it like a protein powder. I'm not sure about Australia, but in the US, this is my favorite protein - https://truenutrition.com/p-1169-vegan-protein-optimizer-formula-1lb.aspx. It's about $10/lb, which seems to be a good deal on plant proteins. This is a similar deal - https://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-Plant-Protein-Complex/dp/B00NIJ01FO. But protein powder is expensive compared to real food. If you don't buy a blend, they're cheaper. Like just soy, rice, or pea or something, like this one.

But I would recommend dropping your protein down to like 100g or so, and take it easy on the beans. Can you buy hemp seeds? They're great and high protein. Also flax seeds, chia seeds, peanuts, and peanut butter. Grains like quinoa, buckwheat, and oats have a fair amount of protein, too.

Essentials

• A great multivitamin-probably more tailored for the athletic - I take and recommend something like GNC Mega Men's Sport
  
• Fish oil capsules - I currently use Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega
  
• Whey Protein - Gotta love ON! The only thing I find better than their gold standard is Platinum Hydro Whey though it's pricey!
  
• BCAAs, for pre/during/and post workout (mix with your protein shake!) - Again I'd go with either ON's brand or Xtend
  
  Optionals
  
  
• Pre-Workout Stimulant - I don't currently use one but if I did it'd be Jack3d which has some Creatine Monohydrate with caffeine. Emphasis on the stimulant
  
• Creatine - Only 2 types you should look for, and it's probably better to get the powdered versions over capsules. Recommend Prolab's Monohydrate, which is the most common/most studied one, and/or Creatine Ethyl Ester (or CEE)Which is my choice. CEE Is monohydrate with an extra ester molecule attached to help absorption. (That's why there's so many friggin' kinds of creatine out there-to help absorption-since monohydrate's rate is in the single digits at best) Recommend nothing but Primaforce's CEE. (Again, I'd go for powder over capsules)
  
• Casein Protein - Take it before bed. I just trust ON's brand when it comes to protein for their good reputation but if you're happy with another brand, have at it

Been struggling with this for years. Here is how I finally beat it.

First start small! The number 1 reason people fail at a diet or exercise plan is because they are trying to change things up too fast and they can't adjust accordingly. Think of it as going cold turkey as a smoker.

The easiest thing to work on is increasing the amount of exercise you are doing. Start working out everyday for 21 days straight so you wire your brain to do it on autopilot. Don't worry about time, reps, etc. Just work out. There are plenty of websites that can provide you with simple work out routines you can do at home that can get your body used to the change.

The next thing you will want to do is start curbing your eating habits. Note I said curbing, not stopping flat out. Start reducing the portions of junk food, breads,pastas, and sugars that you care currently consuming. Increase portions of meats, vegetables, and fruits so that your body can adjust to a proper diet. If you aren't going hard core you can leave the bread in but above all else lose the sugar. That means cakes, pies, soda, and flavored juices. Those must be replaced by water! Water does so much for weight loss it's incredible.

Doing this for about a month with mentally and physically wean you off of your current eating habits. After a while you'll start to lose interest in all the junk food and focus more on keeping your body in a good place. Also invest in a good Whey powder to cut down on downtime. If you've done the whole exercise thing before then I know you've worked out one day and I have been so sore you can't do it again. Getting a high quality protein powder helps muscle recovery and cuts down on soreness by a large margin. I got optimum nutrition gold standard powder off amazon last week.

It's been great so far. I picked up 2lbs just to test it out and see if it was worth it, but they do have smaller and larger sizes available. I got the vanilla ice cream flavor and it's great. I recommend mixing it with cold milk. Fantastic stuff. Also if you don't have any laying around the house pick up some 10 to 20 pound dumbbells or a resistance band. Hope this helps you, don't give up!

I'm not single or unemployed, but I'm frugal. My solution: drink lots of whole milk, cook eggs and frozen chicken breast, lots of beans, make my own jerky and supplement all of that with whey protein in bulk. I buy 5 lbs of Chocolate EAS Whey Protein at a time from Amazon. It's the best tasting protein powder I've ever had (I mix it with water, too!) and more importantly it's reasonably priced - about $.02/gram of protein.

I'm sure there are cheaper ways than the whey protein, but in all honestly I'm a little guy and can't eat as much as I need.

MET-Rx Vanilla has to be the best powder I've had in ages, in terms of price, taste, and kcal/grams of protein. Most protein powders I see for the same price gets you between ~11-20 servings per container, and they're usually like 130-160kcal for about 20-25g protein. This stuff, though? ~32 SERVINGS for $17.63. 100kcal for 22g protein? YES PLEASE.

And it tastes like marshmallows to me, so it's quite palatable. But also vanilla-flavored, so you can add whatever flavoring you like.

OPTIMUM NUTRITION Instantized BCAA 5000 Powder, Unflavored
or
OPTIMUM NUTRITION Instantized Bcaa Powder, Fruit Punch

BCAAs help muscle recovery and add very few calories, it tends to give you an energy boost as well. My wife prefers the unflavoured one mixed with fresh lemon juice. I'll take a scoop or two of the second one in my first liter of water of the day. They're also good for while you work out.

When working out I also like Optimum Nutrition Natural Amino Energy Naturally Flavoured as it also has caffeine.

I'm no good at it, and haven't ever successfully got into the habit, but from reading about it, paying attention to your macro nutrients is also very important. Personally for me, to break any current plateaus it's my next step.

Check your history, good on ya for what you've already accomplished!

[Update]

Just lost a pants size which is awesome. I'll list what workout plan I do as well as what supplements, etc... I'm doing. Hope this helps! :D

[Workout]

https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-eason-livefit-trainer.html

[Supplements]

• New Chapter Women's Vitamins (https://www.amazon.com/New-Chapter-Multivitamin-Probiotics-Ingredients/dp/B003DGZREM/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495242430&sr=8-6&keywords=new%2Bchapter&th=1): one in the morning and one before a work out
  
  
• New Chapter Fish Oil (https://www.amazon.com/New-Chapter-Wholemega-Supplement-Astaxanthin/dp/B002FU6I9K/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495242430&sr=8-2&keywords=new%2Bchapter&th=1): one in the morning and one before a work out
  
  
• Nature's Bounty Calcium 1200mg Plus 1000IU Vitamin D3 100 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009MHV3VW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1): one in the morning and one before a work out
  
  
  
• Doctor's Best High Potency Serrapeptase (): take this before you workout at the gym and also ensure it's been 1-2 hours since your last meal. This Supplement is all natural pain reliever and an anti-inflammatory so you don't have to rely on pain relievers like Aleve, Tylenol, Motrin...etc.
  
  
  
• Puritan's Pride Glucosamine Sulfate 1000 mg-240 Capsules (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004R64Q12/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1): This is for joint health and you take one in the morning and one before a work out
  
  [Protein Powder]
  
  
• Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder, Naturally Flavored Vanilla (https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Naturally-Flavored/dp/B00QQA0H3S/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495243114&sr=8-4&keywords=optimum+nutrition+natural): Take after workout
  
  
• Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder, Naturally Flavored Chocolate (https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Naturally-Chocolate/dp/B00QQA0GSY/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495243114&sr=8-3&keywords=optimum+nutrition+natural): Take after workout
  

>Which would be most effective for someone who typically has trouble gaining mass.

Food. To gain mass you need a surplus of calories, not necessarily any specific supplement. If you've had trouble gaining in the past its because you werent eating enough.

>Whey Protein

I suggest [ON Gold Standard.] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DYJ0FM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) Search /r/fitness or other subs, its probably the most recommended whey and best tasting imo. Keep in mind whey is a protein supplement: used to supplement your existing diet and make up for a lack of protein, not used to replace food. [Whey Protein] (http://examine.com/supplements/Whey+Protein/). Shoot for .7-1g per lb of body weight daily.

>Creatine

Wont hurt and is highly recommended. Take 5g per day, everyday at anytime. No need to load. [Creatine] (http://examine.com/supplements/Creatine/)

>BCAAs

Not really needed, unless your are working out first thing in the AM on an empty stomach. A good whey like I suggested with have enough BCAAs in it.

>Glutamine

Again, not really needed.

All that being said, get on a solid program like Starting Srength or Strong Lifts 5X5

If you can do whey given your lactose intolerance, I recommend Muscle Feast, it has great clinical testing scores on labdoor and tastes great: https://www.amazon.com/Grass-Fed-Whey-Protein-Isolate/dp/B01M24HMVF?th=1. If you want a plant-based product, I think Orgain tastes great. It has a little more fillers than I want for my personal diet right now (i.e., it's 150 calories a serving with plenty of carbs, etc.) --but if you're bulking and want a plant based option maybe that's a good choice for you. I'm not sure if they have labdoor scores.

I have tried every popular protein powder and I couldn't stomach any because of the taste and/or texture. I ended up getting BlueBonnet original flavor, it's unsweetened and unflavored but tastes/smells like milk powder and it's GREAT. I usually add in a scoop with a cup of 2% milk and half a banana. This gets me 35 grams of protein. It tastes like mild banana milk.

So, I'm kinda doing this right now too. I'm trying to maintain lean muscle mass while cutting body fat via lifting (I'm doing push/pull/legs 6x week) and HIIT (3x week). According to the US Navy Calculator here I have 83 lbs of lean muscle mass versus 29 lbs of fat mass. You just need a tape measure to figure out your numbers and it's really easy to use.

As far as food goes, I find the shakes really helpful to not going over my kcal limit. I use Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein once to twice a day depending on my food. Best flavors in my opinion are Cookies and Cream, Rocky Road, and White Chocolate. I like to mix in a 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and unsweetened vanilla almond milk to make it creamier.

I will do a Quest Nutrition protein bar occasionally, maybe once a week, but the cookie dough is the only flavor I've tried. I'm having half of one today to meet my protein since I'm meeting friends for drinks later and need the space for the extra alcohol-based kcals.

Concerning hunger, HIIT will do that. Try adding more bulk to your food. I eat two decently sized salads per day because the greens keep me feeling filled up. I also only do lean proteins like chicken because I get more ounces for the kcals. I hope this helps!

I've tried 2 kinds. My first was Optimum Nutrition. Decent value, decent mixability, but it was like drinking liquid sugar. The lemon lime flavor wasn't quite so bad but fruit punch was almost undrinkable. Better have a sweet tooth with this brand. edit: and now I can't find the lemon lime flavor anywhere. :(

My second brand was Vintage Build off Amazon. It is a LOT more expensive, but it's the absolute best in mixability and drinkability. But that price point...yikes.

At 235lbs, 16% bf, your lean mass is 197lbs. 197 * 0.68g = 134g protein. Or are you using a different calculation?

I just eat beans, nuts, seeds, fruits, and grains like oats/wheat/buckwheat throughout the day. Beans, nuts, seeds, and a lot of grains have a good amount of protein. I also add a scoop of protein powder a couple of times a day. I really like vegan protein optimizer. It's the cheapest I've found ($9/lb) and a good blend of just hemp, rice, and pea. You can save 5% with code "GOVEGAN" too. Orgain is pretty cheap and I hear it tastes good. NOW plant protein complex is fairly cheap, too.

Just my 2 cents, feel free to disregard:

I would ditch the chocolate milk and fruit juice. They're both super full of sugar and you can get the good stuff they offer from something more wholesome, like regular milk + a piece of dark chocolate, or water + a piece of fruit.

Edit: I've tried a few flavored protein powders and didn't like them very much. I discovered that I really like Blue Bonnet unflavored whey for protein. If you have it with milk or a smoothie you will not taste it, promise! It gives you about 30 extra grams of protein per scoop. Protein not only keeps you full longer, it helps with muscle development.

Hey. I started lifting weights about a year ago. Feeling like I've plateaued lately and am thinking of adding supplements. Right now all I take is Whey Protein after each workout. Was looking into other supplements and was thinking of adding Creatine and possibly BCAA for preworkout. And Casein Protein for before bed. Would this be a good regimen for gaining muscle? Are there anythings I should worry about when it comes to these supplements? The research I have done makes it seem that these are all pretty safe. Any and all advice is welcomed. Thanks.

I love this one by Optimum Nutrition. 3c 1.5f 24p Tastes great with water and cashew milk, and I like to put it in my coffee sometimes, too. :)

http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Mocha-Cappuccino/dp/B002DYJ0FM

HERE check it

This brand is awesome and cheap from Amazon. I like the strawberry personally. I have only mixed with water and it tasted good. Pretty low calorie as well.

I haven't tried a lot of protein powders but I have a tub of this kind and it's working great for me. The only thing that bothers me is how sweet it is. The sugar content is actually very low but it's too sweet for me. I confirmed with my nutritionist that whey won't bother me. It's the yogurt I have to worry about, thank god for lactase pills!

I use Isopure Unflavored Whey in my oatmeal; when I'm soaking it overnight and then heating it up in the morning, I just add it to the rest of the dry ingredients (~1/2 scoop with 1/3c. oats plus other nuts/seeds and 2/3c. almond milk). When I'm making hot oatmeal, I mix it with a little almond milk then stir it in at the end.

For shakes, I drink EAS Chocolate Whey, which I think is super good! I've also had lots of terrible protein shake experiences and for whatever reason I really like this one. I'll usually do a scoop in 8oz. almond milk; my husband likes using dairy milk, which is also good.

As someone who just started last week, I showed up with a water bottle and some shoes recommended for CrossFit. You don't want to wear regular running shoes because the heel will push you onto your toes when lifting.

You'll want to get some good protein powder as well. After reading a bit on this sub and online, I just purchased this brand. They have a lot of flavors, too.


I assume other CrossFit gyms are the same, but mine has me spend about a month learning proper techniques, form, and lifts before participating in the main classes. Since my gym is relatively small, this means I basically get one-on-one time with the gym owner for about an hour, which is super helpful.

Rice and chicken are cheap and calorie dense. A meal I like is 1 cup of rice, 100g (cooked) chicken, and 2tbsp butter is like 800 calories.

Protein powder is just food that is high in protein, you don't need to take it. That said, I like it because it's high in protein and quick to eat/drink. I really like this, it's what I have right now. I just mix it with some water and drink it.

For all the hate r/fitness gets on this sub, it's wiki does have really good information, I would definitely recommend it.

There's a brand on Amazon I really like. It has a whey aftertaste & maybe some cocoa, but it's pretty damn good. I also heard freezing a banana for a little less than an hour can make a great ice cream (which can be blended for a milkshake). Here's the link to that protein powder.

Bought this: http://www.amazon.com/Body-Fortress-Advanced-Protein-Cookies/dp/B002HHREU8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1406050488&sr=8-3&keywords=protein+powder

Took one sip (mix with water: i'm on a cut), almost threw up. Threw the entire jug out.

I use: http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406050518&sr=8-1&keywords=protein+powder

I take two scoops daily with water and love it. Super tasty and great protein. Slightly more expensive than the first brand but clearly worth it.

Ancient Nutrition has a good bone broth protein. Their flavors taste awesome, but it's on the expensive side:

https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Nutrition-Protein-Vanilla-Servings/dp/B01DOD6T8Q/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1510672829&sr=8-3&keywords=bone+broth+protein&dpID=51OesM7Zz2L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

A more affordable option is Muscle Feast Hormone Free Grass-fed whey Isolate. More cost effective that my other suggestion:

https://www.amazon.com/Hormone-Grass-Chocolate-Protein-Isolate/dp/B01M2X4KM2/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1510672981&sr=8-3&keywords=muscle+feast+grass+fed+whey+isolate&dpID=51oyBcpRE6L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

I'll probably purchase Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard, Strawberry, for my next purchase.

I've only tasted a few brands so far. I wish the better brands came in smaller sizes to make it easier to do my own taste test. So far, I like GNC Pro Performance 100% Whey Protein, Strawberry, available at GNC stores. I just bought it off the shelf one day before I started trying to do a careful comparison.

Some relevant Reddit threads:

Best tasting and inexpensive whey protein?. Optimum Nutrition shows up high in the thread.

Big Reddit Protein Powder Measurement Results about the actual protein content of various brands and said, "Brandwise, Optimum Nutrition looks very reliable to me."

Reddit thread about the protein powder comparison chart.

Also, here's an interesting comparison of the different protein types.

• 1 Cup Coffee
  
• 1.5 tbsp of Kerrygold Unsalted Butter
  
• 2 tbsp MCT Oil
  
• 1 scoop Pure Protein Whey Powder (Chocolate)
  
• 2 tbsp [Collagen Hydrolysate]
  (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005KG7EDU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
  Top with some ground cinnamon. Delicious!
  
  573 calories, 48g of fat, 4g net carbs, 34g protein. I tried to get the carbs down, it's mainly from the protein powder, but the chocolate taste is really delicious and it's only 4g carbs so I don't mind!

A bit of both. I never read their diet guide or bought their recovery formula: I had 2 pounds of protein powder my French teacher from high school gave me years before that I decided to use, and eventually buy as it's cheap and super good (as you can clearly see from the results) Link

I didn't have much choice as to what to eat here at college, so I chose to daily eat whatever the healthiest thing Sodexo had to offer was (which was usually salad, veggie burgers, or turkey burgers). I cut out extra meals slowly "Do I really need that bowl of soup between choirs? No.", I started eating bigger breakfasts, and semi-calorie count (I try and do about 600 Calories a meal with 200 left over for excess or healthy snacks.

I also try to snack regularly so my body doesn't go into a hunger because that's just as bad as being stuffed.

No though, I never followed their diet. Definitely never drank soda or coffee. I stopped eating as much breads and sweets. It worked out.

I'm definitely interested in where this goes. While I can't make you a meal plan, I can suggest foods that I've found that work for me:

Tofu, instant oatmeal+ON cinnamon graham cracker whey (absolutely delicious), hard boiled eggs (a mix of egg whites and whole eggs), giant carrots (very cheap), protein powder, Korean melons, sweet potatoes, and chicken breasts.

If you speak Korean (or have someone who does help you), you can order chicken breasts from rankingdak.com for absolutely the cheapest price you can find in Korea, about 6,800 won/kg.

I use [this] (http://www.amazon.com/MET-Rx-Protein-Plus-Metamyosyn-Blend/dp/B000GX9LZQ/ref=pd_bia_nav_t_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0NVM7M1PJSCV4G459R2C) Its 23g of protein for 100 cals. I use a cup of lactaid (milk and me don't get along) and a bit of honey or half a banana. Tastes great, mixes pretty well in a magic bullet.

The chocolate casein is fantastic for making "pudding" at night before bed. Just lightly mix with water, stir well, and put into freezer for 5 minutes. Top with some sugar free cool whip and a little PB... holy shit.

https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Protein-Chocolate-Supreme/dp/B002DYJ0OI

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard natural vanilla whey. Doesn't use any artificial flavors/sweeteners/colors and tastes pretty good, especially as part of a smoothie.

Thoughts on Labdoor and Muscle Feast?

So I'm almost to the bottom of my ON %100 Whey


(this one) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009TU0MY6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

and a friend of mine told me about labdoor and how "muscle feast" is ranked #1. I see that the price is similar to what I'm using now, but when seeing on labdoor.com that muscle feast also has the #1 spot for creatine I became suspicious. Is this site really "legit"? Is Muscle Feast really the "safest" or "best" general whey protein? I know this question is very general, but I just couldn't find much information about Muscle Feast (there is some, but not what I would consider enough to decide on switching from something I use twice a day for years) and was hoping to get some help here.


Here is the product they are offering: https://www.amazon.com/Hormone-Grass-Chocolate-Protein-Isolate/dp/B01M2X4KM2/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1523984769&sr=8-3&keywords=muscle+feast+grass+fed+whey+isolate

This is actually the only Vega I've tried so far! I haven't tried the Vega One yet. I just went off the reviews on Amazon. I recently ordered this sample pack from Amazon to try more of the Vega stuff before I spend all my money on it lol

Do you like the Vega One?

Protein shake smoothie: milk, frozen fruit, chocolate chips, protein shake, and if you want to make it extra dense: melt some coconut oil and add that right before blending. Eat it over 1/2 hour or so.

Incidentally, coconut oil is a fat that generally helps for acid reflux, and doesn't give you as much of the lethargic feeling. You can mix coconut oil in anything sweet, and it makes chicken/pork taste amazing. Any time you could use butter, mayo, vegetable oil, or melted cream cheese, you can replace with coconut oil.

Seconded. I recently got into ON's mocha cappuccino flavor and it tastes awesome with milk. I always end up chugging it because it's really that good.

This is the one I drank. One scoop was good in ~22 oz bottle of water. If you're into weight training, then there are other benefits to it as well.

26/m/5'9/140 lbs. Last few years I have been developing high cholesterol (runs in the family, and I was only eating semi-healthy some of the time, and really shitty the rest of the time). I have also been extremely skinny all my life.

Started working out again about 6 weeks ago after a 9 month-ish hiatus. Trying to balance everything out, typically 4-5 days a week. Starting out every workout with cardio, usually walk half a mile and run half a mile; trying to work my way up from that but god damnit I hate running. Usually work on abs after cardio. Then follow up with arms/chest, shoulders/back, or legs, alternating from day to day.

Also been trying to eat much better since I started working out. Smoothie for breakfast, usually some mixture of banana / apple / orange / lemon / dates / beets / kale / water or coconut water. Grilled or baked chicken in some form pretty much every day for at least 1 meal. Steamed sweet potato, broccoli, carrots are my go to. Or some kale salad with onions / tomatoes / balsamic dressing. I haven't had quinoa in like a week but it's also a staple. Throw in a greek yogurt or kefir with some mixed nuts (peanuts, almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds) between meals as a snack. This is usually 5-6 days out of the week, with 1-2 days worth of meals eating out (but nothing super terrible like McDonalds).

I started using myfitnesspal and it looks like I'm getting an average of like 2200-2300 calories a day. I can't imagine getting much more than this unless I eat a really substantial breakfast, but I have a hard time waking up early and an even harder time eating when I wake up, hence just the smoothie until lunch time.

Started taking whey protein too, but I'm not sure how much protein I should be getting. Some sources I see say ~100g, some say upwards of 200-250g. The recommendation on this protein container says up to 5 scoops a day (each scoop is 30g of protein so that would be 150g from whey alone)...I started taking 2 scoops/day last month, and this past week I've been doing 2 scoops 2x/day, usually one right after workout before dinner, and one maybe 3 hours later. 120g from 4 scoops of whey alone seems like a lot unless I'm trying to do some serious body building, am I wrong here? Should I tone it down? Including my other protein sources I think I'm between 170-200g of protein with all that whey.

So far I have not seen any results when I look in the mirror, which is really frustrating considering how much effort I feel like I've been putting in, but I get that it takes time and different people's bodies vary.

[This] (http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Cookies-Cream/dp/B000GIPJZ2) mixed with Fage tastes (to me) like cheesecake. Would highly recommend this whey as well!

Amazon Sample Boxes! $8 and you get an $8 credit to use towards an eligible purchase. There's usually at least one fitness one, currently they have a Glambia box with a lot of Optimum Nutrition products to redeem it for. I got a Mr. Olympia one and redeemed for a bunch of Vega samples.

ON Protien chocolate casein is pretty good. Mixes well and not too sweet.
https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Protein-Chocolate/dp/B002DYJ0OI?th=1

You are just starting, don't try to run faster. Try to run at a comfortable pace during a longer period of time (more than an hour). Also, instead of a protein bar it is better whey powder. It has less calories, and the proteins and carbs you need.

My favorite by far! I like it just as much as regular chocolate milk!

http://www.amazon.com/Six-Star-Nutrition-Protein-Chocolate/dp/B002UNEGBE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411032849&sr=8-1&keywords=six+star+protein

The 3 main testing agencies NSF, Informed Choice, and Informed Sport all have a search feature. I'll post links when I get to work. I work with collegiate and pro athletes and the brands we usually recommend are EAS and Cytosport (Muscle Milk) as most of theirs are tested.

edit: you can search by brand or type of supplement. note that each flavor has to get tested so a lot of companies not all flavors of their protein powder are tested
Search NSF
Search Informed Choice
Search Informed Sport

I usually go with EAS 100% Whey for protein, you can get 5-15% off with subscribe and save and I frequently see a 20% off clip on coupon with it so is usually cheaper than MyProtein unless you catch a sale there. For BCAAs I usually go with EAS again (all EAS products are NSF) though I got some from MyProtein last time since it was cheaper at the time (only the iBCAA version is tested).

I really have been leaning on Naked juice recently. Specifically the high protein ones. If you have no appetite, it's really important to keep up your protein intake so that you don't start losing muscle mass.

Also, I use Gold Standard Whey when I need a quick meal on the go. Calorie-dense and a lot of protein in a small serving that my stomach can handle. Hope these help.

BCAA is branched chain aminos, yes. I'd say try both, if getting it through natural foods doesn't bother you while lifting then eat it, but you said you have trouble eating solid food. Make sure dairy doesn't trouble you similarly.

ON's instantized powder isn't terrible.

What is the recommended dosage for BCAAs for fasted training? I see 10g is what leangains recommends which is like 6 scoops of this. That seems expensive, any advice?

This is what I usually buy. Right now it seems more than usual though. I usually pay about $39 US. I think if you ask anyone it's pretty good stuff.

Thin Mints were once my downfall too! When I was in the market for some protein powder, someone recommended to me that the Chocolate Mint flavor from Optimum Nutrition tastes just like Thin Mints.

I've used it ever since -- it's like getting to drink a Thin Mint after a hard workout :D

Yes, 3FUEL is expensive. Grass fed whey protein hydrolysate (cost driver), MCT's from coconut milk. A good balance of macro nutrients, with minimal sugar - at a premium price. "Balance" being based on Zone 40/30/30 Diet. (9g carb, 7g protein, 1.5g fat = 1 block)

Price per serving:

[Xendurance] (https://www.xendurance.com/protein-chocolate)- 4g carb 20g protein 2g fat - $2.13

[Progenex Recovery] (https://www.progenexusa.com/products/recovery?variant=1705200484361) - 9g carbs 23g protein 1g fat - $2.17

[3FUEL] (https://3fu3l.com/collections/cyber-monday-2017/products/3fu3l-vanilla) - 20g carbs 20g protein 5g fat - $2.32

[Optimum Protein Powder] (https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Protein-Chocolate/dp/B000GIPJY8) - 3g carbs 24g protein 1.5g fat - $0.74

[Soylent] (https://www.soylent.com/product/powder/) - 41g carbs 20g protein 20g fat -$1.83

[Naked Whey] (https://www.amazon.com/NAKED-Undenatured-Grass-Protein-Powder/dp/B00NBDMN8U) - 3g carbs 25g protein 2g fat - $1.12

[Vega Protein] (https://www.amazon.com/Vega-Protein-Greens-Vanilla-Servings/dp/B00MYRXIIS) - 5g carbs 20g protein 1.5g fat - $1.20

[Stronger Faster Healthier] (https://www.amazon.com/Protein-Chocolate-SFH-Artificials-servings/dp/B072KL928F) - 4g carbs 23g protein 2g fat - $1.79

Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!

Here are your smile-ified links:

protein powder

---

^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly bot

Flavor is great, IMO. I mix with coffee and almond or cashew milk.

https://smile.amazon.com/OPTIMUM-NUTRITION-STANDARD-Protein-Chocolate/dp/B000GIPJY8/

Exactly. I just bought 2 pounds of ON Vanilla for $22 total (amazon link) and it's very tolerable. I buy frozen fruit from the grocery store and pack the blender with it, a rounded scoop of the protein, and 6oz of water. It's pretty easy to slam it down.

I drink EAS it is super affordable and tasty

This one and This one are amazing.

I go with optimum nutrition. It tastes awful, but I believe all unflavored ones do. I trust the brand though.

edit:

http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Instantized-5000mg-Unflavored/dp/B002DYIZIU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1381280186&sr=8-3&keywords=optimum+nutrition+bcaa

My mom actually can't drink anything with artificial sweeteners because they give her BAD migraines. It cost a little more than the regular ON but we buy this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QQA0GSY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

We buy the chocolate flavor and we both love it. It's absolutely awful in water though, you have to mix it in milk every time. Also, if you BLEND it with milk (I sometimes add a tablespoon of plain sugar too) it froths the milk up and tastes exactly like a chocolate milkshake.

I've tried unflavored whey and couldn't drink it without gagging. I don't recommend it.

I personally use this. It's pretty cheap and it's lasted me a long while.

This is my go to protein powder at the moment and I'm very pleased with it.

Approximately, 2 heaping teaspoons. I like ON.

Honestly, my protein shake is just lactose free chocolate protein powder and blueberry almond milk. If you're bulking add oats and peanut butter (in Monash app approved amounts), but I'm cutting, so.

Thanks for the detailed reply, this is exactly what I was looking for.

So, how's this:

• This protein powder: http://www.amazon.in/Optimum-Nutrition-100-Whey-Standard/dp/B002DYJ0FM
  
  
• From seller Primarc Pecan Retail - 98% rating, listed on ON's site as an official distributor: https://www.optimumnutrition.com/en_US/international_distributors

Are you talking about this one?: http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Naturally-Chocolate/dp/B00QQA0GSY

This one is sweetened with stevia, which is better for you than sucralose

Buy this:

Hormone Free Grass Fed Chocolate Whey Protein Isolate 5lb https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M2X4KM2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VQr7Ab7AJ4BRC

Grass-fed, organic, un-denatured whey isolate. Only ingredients are whey protein and cocoa powder.

Your body absorbs whey isolate better. A lot of big companies will sell concentrate and cover it with a brand name. Always check ingredient labels. Often times companies will use ‘proprietary blends’ and not disclose the %ages so you’re most likely spending $$ on 90% concentrate 10% isolate blends.

Also I don’t work for them, just like to make educated and healthy choices

They're not worth it for the most part especially the rewards you get in relation to the cost. But when I am in a serious weightlifting routine, I usually wait until a month in so I know I'm not gonna stop going tomorrow, then I use Nos, which I feel has helped me push my limits a little further than without at times and helped hit new highs, plus I like how pumped your muscles get with it, but you take it daily when you do (I think to maintain the pump?) but then it's gonna be way more expensive taking 8 pills a day total, you'll crush through a bottle in no time. And even then it's not a game changer. You don't need it. Protein with creatine is literally all you need. Eat some carbs before your workout, or a protein shake before you do (I need a large amount of protein so they're supplemental for me as well) and have a protein shake after your workout. I also workout around the 10 pm to as late as 12 am window when I have the place to myself.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002UNEGBE/ref=sxr_rr_xsim_1_a_it?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3008523062&pd_rd_wg=uerht&pf_rd_r=8SXX6YDGVEV2PVGMSCCH&pf_rd_s=desktop-rhs-carousels&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B002UNEGBE&pd_rd_w=AOwDs&pf_rd_i=protein+with+creatine&pd_rd_r=89fa7848-43b8-4af7-80ca-4b1b2cf74ef4&ie=UTF8&qid=1518459237&sr=1

That's the amazon link to the protein I use, and almost every one of my friends who lift use.

There are brands that make unflavored BCAA's.

https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Instantized-Essential-Unflavored/dp/B002DYIZIU?th=1

You could always buy the unflavored and then whatever flavor you do like and do a half and half?

Artificial sweeteners are fine in moderation.

ON Gold Standard is available in a "Natural" form, however, for people like you that may want to avoid them:

https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Naturally-Chocolate/dp/B00QQA0GSY

I have been using ON Pro Complex but I plan on switching back to ON Whey for the during of this challenge.

I haven't been taking vitamins or supplements for a few months, but plan on getting on a MultiVit and fish oil. If needed I will take BCAAs because I still a bunch left over from when I was being more intense about this a few months back.

I've never used Creatine, I might look into it for this. :)

Search Amazon for "plant protein", you will find a number of products that combine brown rice, pea, hemp, quinoa and sometimes chia seeds. In a quick search only this one seems to list the amino acid breakdown on the label.

What do you dislike about using 2 scoops? Is it the additional calories, or value for money? Because I just compared it with 4 other random protein powders on Amazon (on the first page of results), and at current prices, you get considerably more protein per dollar than the others.

protein per serving * servings per container / price

EAS: 49.8
BSN: 26.4
MusclePharm: 32.5
MyProtein: 22.7
ON: 30.6

Edit: For the record, the place I've been buying EAS from sells it for $40/5lb bag, so I've been getting about 37.7g/$

MuscleTech Six Star Line stuff

Creatine Pills

Whey Protein

I paid less then what Amazon (the links) show.

Still available on amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Protein-Cappuccino/dp/B002DYJ0FM/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1486961391&sr=8-1&keywords=2lb+of+optimum+nutrition+mocha+cappuccino

Also here is the Amazon link

i got the unflavored optimum nutrition, and mix it with a glass of water before i leave for the gym. it tastes like chalk, but at this point 1) idgaf, 2) i can't even taste it anymore. http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Instantized-5000mg-Unflavored/sim/B002DYIZIU/2


i got 2 containers, since i didn't know how much i would need. have been using it since june, and there is still a ton left of the first container.

http://www.amazon.com/EAS-100%25-Protein-Chocolate-Pounds/dp/B000P0ZSHA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408222622&sr=8-1&keywords=eas+whey+protein is cheaper, $9.20/pound compared to $10/pound. Anybody try both and have a preference?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009WSK6QO/ref=gb1h_tit_c-2_7042_979292d0?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1781AQP6YS7Q2Q30HPT9&pf_rd_i=5550342011&pf_rd_p=1990147042

they arent. they are repackaging them into 4.5 lb portions, though the new packaging says 5 lbs.

http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Naturally-Chocolate/dp/B00QQA0GSY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1420661099&sr=8-7&keywords=optimum+nutrition+gold+natural+whey

When you say gas factory, do you mean milk? I occasionally will get Soylent but more frequently I do this stuff: https://www.amazon.com/Pure-Protein-Natural-Replacement-Chocolate/dp/B003OC5I80/ref=pd_nav_hcs_rp_3/138-2965342-8809318?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B003OC5I80&pd_rd_r=f853636e-5172-42a4-a800-c9c6a63cfab6&pd_rd_w=i9LNf&pd_rd_wg=jiZj9&pf_rd_p=5433858a-98bf-4283-b3cc-8a0535906aa9&pf_rd_r=F355H9BEQA3V07DE6FT3&psc=1&refRID=F355H9BEQA3V07DE6FT3 with half a cup of milk, half a cup of water, and whatever is left over in the coffee pot.

http://www.amazon.com/Bluebonnet-Whey-Protein-Isolate-Original/dp/B001FE2FMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335421562&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Macro-Life-Naturals-Miracle-Reds/dp/B000Y3JB4E/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1335421650&sr=1-1

Comes down to $23.51 USD. Which is only 3 dollars cheaper then what Amazon has it listed as -$26.08

Optimum Nutrition Instantized BCAA 5000mg Powder, Unflavored, 345g

yeah...Whey Protein: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Nutritional Drink, Cinnamon Graham Cracker, 3.33 Pound

Goes on sale in 55Min {10:30am CTS]... wait till it says Lightning Deal...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009WSK6QO/ref=gb1h_img_c-2_7042_979292d0?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=10KS39WDT5ZYSP1FTAC7&pf_rd_i=5550342011&pf_rd_p=1990147042

Price history

Long url incoming.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P0ZSHA/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687602&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00186PHZS&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=04WWK6R26PGDPTNEBQ06

No I think you misunderstood, I've used several different whey protein powders, and they've all mixed in with my oatmeal just fine.

That said, maybe it's because you're using a cheaper type of whey, like a concentrate or a blend, and that's why it's not mixing up well? The ones I use are always pure isolates. These are the ones I've used that are reliably good:

Jay Robb Whey

Legion Whey

Muscle Feast

Fat Tire 6 of them.

Edit: i need the protein powder.. I'm working out at home with my weight set, but i have to stuff my face with eggs to get enough protein. So fucking sick of eggs. If not that then what ever you feel like. I wouldnt have it on my wl if i didnt want it.

I doubt your whey in bulk costs less where you are than where I am. Chicken could be cheaper though. I can get boneless/skinless chicken breasts for $1.66 a pound. Less if I'm more aggressive about looking for sales and using coupons.

Compare my chicken to the cheapest stuff on Amazon.
Chicken provides 57 grams of protein per dollar. The BF provides 46 grams of protein per dollar. I get 25% more protein by going with chicken.

Do you have a link to cheaper bulk protein that I can compare?

BF is incredibly cheap and has much less protein than they claim.

Two eggs contain 12g protein. At $2 per dozen eggs, that's <144g protein for $2. Or 3,600g for $50. If OP needs to eat a dozen per day (~144g protein) assuming the other protein comes from something else, that costs $14 per week.

For $50 you can also buy four lbs of Casein protein powder. This amounts to only about 1,350g of protein. And he'd still need to buy milk...

So eggs are much cheaper (at $2/dozen).

I wouldn't eat 12 eggs per day, though. Sounds unhealthy.

_____
From another comment: 5 lbs of whey protein powder for $45. This amounts to around 4,250g of protein for $50. So that's cheaper than eggs.

I get Optimum Nutrition 5 lb Naturally Flavored Whey Powders. Short ingredient list and it doesn't break the bank too bad.
ON Naturally Flavored Chocolate

I have the pure, unflavored BCAA. The calories are negligible (but the down side is it tastes like a mix between sucking on a penny and chewing an advil tablet).

And i know there is no magical BCAA number, but I have been reading recently that some people claim it helps preserve muscle mass in a deficit. I was trying to hash it out with my buddy who is PhD candidate and chemistry and his understanding leans towards that too.

Basically the way I understand it is BCAA are the essential amino acids your body cannot synthesize on its own and so it gets them from what you eat. However, if say you need 180 grams of protein and day and you run a deficit but eat 180 grams of protein, your body is going to take some of that protein and convert it to energy to make up for the deficit. Therefore, your muscles are only getting say... 150 grams of protein. Your body needs BCAA to function so it breaks down your own muscle to make up the different. By ingesting pure BCAA you keep it in your body so that your body does not need to break down muscle to convert it into BCAA and thus you preserve more muscle mass.

I'm really scared to ask this because I feel it's such a stupid question, but here goes: so I recently bought some whey (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DYJ0FM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1), there is a big spoon that comes with it, is this supposed to be for one shake? (220 ml of water)

EDIT: I just found this – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq6ufL6hKZk – that clears it up for me.

BCAA's are just specific amino acid chains (specific proteins) for building muscle.

Honestly, if you aren't using weights yet you really don't need to worry about them, something to look at in a year or so.

When people talk about protein drinks for working out they are usually talking about one of two things. The first is Whey Protein Isolates (WPIs). This is concentrated protein from whey, which is from milk. WPIs digest quickly, and would not help very much in the way of a meal replacement.

The second is Casein which is also derived from milk, but a different part. This is much thicker and digests slower. I have used it as a sort of meal replacement to help with hunger.

Both of these though are just a way of easily getting more protein into your diet. As a guy trying to build or maintain muscle while resistance training, you want a fairly large amount, some say (.8)*(your lean body weight in lbs) = (# of grams of protein to eat). It can be hard to get that much protein from normal foods especially on a deficit, or you get tired of eating a lb of chicken a day, so drinking a protein shake or 2 and getting 25g of protein for only 120 calories is useful.

Also what I linked you are not any dangerous supplements or anything if anyone tries to fear monger them, they are literally just concentrated parts from milk.