Whey protein

[kopite]

Hey guys,

I have decided that Its time I make a concerted effort to get fitter and healthier. I have been going the gym for a few years but it was sporadic and usually pretty light work outs.

Last month i joined a new gym(its a lot cheaper than my previous one and also open 24/7) On the induction the bloke said does anyone need a personal trainer so on the spur of the moment I said yes and made an appointment. I told him what I wanted and he has given me a Circuit training routine involving free weights and sits ups etc as well as a fartlek type routine on the running machine, bike and cross trainer.

A lot of mates go the gym and are using whey supplements and i`m wondering if I need to use this myself. My mates reckon Its great but I want some more opinions on the matter.

My goals are to be able to take part and complete the kilomathon in october and after that stay in a really healthy shape.

I`m hitting the gym 3-4 times a week and each session is about 40 minutes, the personal trainer said I shouldnt be doing more than that atm

So whey protein would it be beneficial to me?

Cheers

[chrestomanci]

Seeing as you have employed a personal trainer to help you train, you relay ought to be asking him if you should be taking protean supplements (after you have discussed your training goals).

Protean supplement have two main purposes, Firstly they help build muscle mass if you are training for strength. (eg weightlifting), secondly when taken with carbohydrate they aid recovery after endurance training.

You are training for an endurance running event, so one approach is to go on long training runs, and consume carbs while you are out running. When you get back you can mix protean with carbs in a 1:4 ratio and consume that as a recovery drink. (Alternatively, you can just each a big bowl of pasta or rice with some diced ham or chicken).

In any case, you should be discussing this with your personal trainer, as that is what you are paying him for.

[kopite]

Seeing as you have employed a personal trainer to help you train, you relay ought to be asking him if you should be taking protean supplements (after you have discussed your training goals).

Protean supplement have two main purposes, Firstly they help build muscle mass if you are training for strength. (eg weightlifting), secondly when taken with carbohydrate they aid recovery after endurance training.

You are training for an endurance running event, so one approach is to go on long training runs, and consume carbs while you are out running. When you get back you can mix protean with carbs in a 1:4 ratio and consume that as a recovery drink. (Alternatively, you can just each a big bowl of pasta or rice with some diced ham or chicken).

In any case, you should be discussing this with your personal trainer, as that is what you are paying him for.

The Personal trainer was a one off session to get work out routines sorted.

Should I be getting carb suplements as well then?

[roachcoach]

I've honestly never bothered, nor seen the point, I just ate (and ate and ate). Listening to the body is the trick, I started to crave what I needed. I definitely preferred real food to supplements.

I guess since so many people use them there must be something there but not using them certainly never held me back and I was pretty goddamned fit this time last year. Personally I'd only go that route if you feel something is lacking.


Disclaimer: My metabolism is properly fubar, even the docs can't account for the amount I had to pack away when I was training properly.

[fuddam]

real food is the best, if one can get it quickly after the training session.

I use powders etc during endurance races, when the absorption is better than regular food (90+% vs 60+%), requires less trips to the toilet and is digested much faster. My longest race so far has been 48hrs on the trot, so 'normal' meals weren't as convenient as powders (Peronin)

if you were following The Epic Tri these last few days, you'll see they were using Peronin too

www.theepictri.com

[kalniel]

Hey guys,

I have decided that Its time I make a concerted effort to get fitter and healthier. I have been going the gym for a few years but it was sporadic and usually pretty light work outs.

Last month i joined a new gym(its a lot cheaper than my previous one and also open 24/7) On the induction the bloke said does anyone need a personal trainer so on the spur of the moment I said yes and made an appointment. I told him what I wanted and he has given me a Circuit training routine involving free weights and sits ups etc as well as a fartlek type routine on the running machine, bike and cross trainer.

A lot of mates go the gym and are using whey supplements and i`m wondering if I need to use this myself. My mates reckon Its great but I want some more opinions on the matter.

My goals are to be able to take part and complete the kilomathon in october and after that stay in a really healthy shape.

I`m hitting the gym 3-4 times a week and each session is about 40 minutes, the personal trainer said I shouldnt be doing more than that atm

So whey protein would it be beneficial to me?

Cheers

I'd say no:

Demand for nutrition supplements and similar products may be up, yet experts are sceptical about their actual benefits.

"People who do regular exercise have a small increased need for protein," according to Dr Helen Crawley, reader in nutrition policy at City University London.

"But it is unlikely they need supplements of protein in any form as most western diets are already high in protein and people who are active eat more food and therefore these needs are generally covered.

"Most of the specialist foods available just have added skimmed milk powder to make them higher in protein, so whether a bar or drink or powder, they are just an expensive way of taking in extra calories."

Carbohydrate is the best fuel for exercise, whereas recovery from exercise is aided by taking low protein, carbohydrate-rich drinks and foods, such as banana and squash, she explains.

But beyond being useless, the supplements could even cause harm, Dr Crawley says.

"High protein intakes can in fact be dangerous and can damage kidneys and therefore protein supplements are not recommended," she says.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12277808

[santa claus]

As getting fitter and healthier are your stated aims, I can't see how pouring (expensive) unnecessary whey protein supplements into your body will help, except to put your digestive system and kidneys under constant strain. Most of it will go straight through you with no retained value whatsoever.

It will make you fart a lot (an undesirable detail your mates probably didn't mention) and tired, as your body tries to keep up. You could feed a small family for a week on what this stuff costs based on the amounts you're 'recommended' to consume.

Genetics determine our physical make up and protein supplements can't deliver that which nature has withheld. If you're a mesomorph with a propensity toward vascular muscularity, congratulations, if you're not, you can't buy it in big tubs of powder.

[Theo]

If you are training for hypertrophy, then yes - your body is more insulin sensitive following resistance training and will benefit from protein and carbohydrates.

The main purpose of a powdered supplement is convenience. Add water, drink, done.

If you're not bothered about growing, just eat like a regular person.

-edit

Santa, do you have any links to studies proving kidney damage being caused by what is essentially a dairy product?

[santa claus]

Santa, do you have any links to studies proving kidney damage being caused by what is essentially a dairy product?

I was careful not to make reference to kidney 'damage'. Despite the wholesome-soundingness of dairy products, I would maintain that too much of anything, even water, is pointless and potentially not without risk.

Whey protein can have health benefits, what I would say is that consumption does not need to be in the huge dosages the manufacturers recommend for a 'growing, healthy' body.

I invite anyone to load on this stuff as they recommend for six months and report their results. I predict an empty wallet and mediocre, if any, visual physical improvement which is the goal of every narcissistic gym rat.

You pays yer money and you takes yer choice I suppose.

[usxhe190]

Don't have too much whey protein as it damages your kidneys (i.e if it can't be processed, they can cause kidney stones).

But having some whey protein I think is beneficial, especially just after a gym exercise when your body is recovering from the stress you had done.

[roachcoach]

I would maintain that too much of anything, even water, is pointless and potentially not without risk.

Water will kill you

Not that uncommon/particularly difficult if you really try, though hard enough that accidental ones like the link are rare.

[Theo]

I was careful not to make reference to kidney 'damage'. Despite the wholesome-soundingness of dairy products, I would maintain that too much of anything, even water, is pointless and potentially not without risk.

Whey protein can have health benefits, what I would say is that consumption does not need to be in the huge dosages the manufacturers recommend for a 'growing, healthy' body.

I invite anyone to load on this stuff as they recommend for six months and report their results. I predict an empty wallet and mediocre, if any, visual physical improvement which is the goal of every narcissistic gym rat.

You pays yer money and you takes yer choice I suppose.

Apologies for misunderstanding your words, however placing strain on an organ for an extended period will often result in damage.. which is why I assumed this is what you meant. Your original comment is borderline Daily Mail though. Again, sorry.

I'm not sure where you get your information from, but whey protein works out to be a very cost effective method of convenient supplementation.

Whey protein also won't directly cause kidney stones, that's poppycock.

[usxhe190]

Whey protein also won't directly cause kidney stones, that's poppycock.

Some people are prone to getting kidney stones. Increasing your protein intake a lot (i.e. whey protein, milk, dairy products) can increase the risk. It happens. But as a supplement, I think it is a fine.

[Millenwagon]

The only advantage of a good quality whey protien such as maximuscle or USN is that it kinda saves you from having to eat extra meals. A pro (natural) body builder for instance will be having 6 medium size meals a day, consisting of carbs and protien, and stricly no junk. Eggs, milk, chicken, steak, ham, cheese, peanuts, rice, pasta etc are all essential foods, and they'll be eating this kinda thing 5 - 6 times a day. However taking a couple of protien shakes a day will theoretically mean you can take away a small meal or 2 and have a shake instead (some shakes really blaot you and give u bad farts so be warned, i reccomend the more expensive stuff, doesnt bloat, tastes great and mixes easily, plus doesn't fill you up). It's an expensive hobby, i've been at it for years, and the main ingredient before your new diet is genetics. Some people are naturally born to have a great physique and get goals quickly and easily, some people are the complete opposite and end up gaining nothing at all. Don't over train whatever you do, as this will start to use your catabolism, which will start to eat away at muscle tissue and can actually decrease muscle size. Very counter productive.

Anyway to sum it up, just get a whey protien if you want to add some size to your muscles. If you just wanna tone up and get slim then don't bother with it. Just eat healty and exercise, cut down on fatty food and carbs and up your protien intake a touch eating tuna or chicken etc. Hope this helps

[HyperHamster]

I use whey personally, I always take it after a workout as its very fast digesting. I'd recommend taking a protein supplement if you can't get enough protein in your food, especially if your trying to get bigger as you need to take in alot of protein to build much muscle and it starts getting rather difficult to consistently eat lots of protein everyday

[kalniel]

especially if your trying to get bigger as you need to take in alot of protein to build much muscle and it starts getting rather difficult to consistently eat lots of protein everyday

Did you read the article linked above? You don't need to take in a lot of protein to build muscle.