Straight to the point about Protein Powders and with all Transparency:
All the information I share with you is from over a decade of research, education, trial and error. Purchasing products with my links supports my channel. I only recommend what I take and believe in. Your support helps me keep my career as an Online Fitness Trainer alive. Thank you in advance for your support.
My current Protein Powder of choice – I take 1 scoop a day with my coffee and 50 grams of honey twice a day.
Pro Jym Protein Powder – Egg White, Milk, Whey protein isolates & Micellar Casein | JYM Supplement Science | Tahitian Vanilla Bean Flavor, 4 Lb
What is the purpose of drinking protein shakes?
People search for supplements based on sex. In reality, results has nothing to do with sex. Results come from creating the right nutrition and training program based on your goals. See the links to my Perfect Shape Formula below.
Let me tell you how simple it is. Burn less calories then you consume, and you will gain fat. Man or woman, athlete or non athlete, young or old, makes no difference.
Protein can provide weight loss and bodybuilding benefits. Protein is highly thermogenic but also repairs muscle for growth. Program is key.
Jog and do yoga everyday for the rest of your life without any weight training and you will be extremely slim, will have zero definition, you will not be very strong (matter of fact you’ll be weak), and again, it doesn’t matter whether you’re man or woman, young or old, makes no difference!
The difference between a very slim person, an athletically built person, a muscular person, and a massive bodybuilder, is not the type of protein they take, protein is protein, it’s the amount they consume, the type of weight training (light vs heavy), the amount of calories consumed, and other variables that enhance muscle growth vs none.
90% of the attendees to my high intensity Gym from Home Youtube Live workout programs are female. They are losing significant amounts of bodyfat and are stronger than they ever been before. Obviously they don’t lift as heavy as I do, but for their sex, they are stronger then the average woman.
For me, as an athlete, bodybuilder, and coach, protein shakes are more of a convenience then anything. They are especially useful when you have trouble in-taking the adequate amount of protein that is required based on your fitness level. Man or woman, complete proteins are critical to muscle repair, muscle recovery, and overall health.
For competitive athletes, the protein macro recommendation is about 1 gram per pound of bodyweight. This assumption is based on about 1 hard session of training per day that may last from anywhere between 90 to 120 minutes. If you are a professional athlete and train 2 to 3 times per day, you’d then modify that number to about 25% of your caloric intake.
What should your macros be? Read this article: calculate your macronutrients
Don’t know what macros are? Read this article: what are macronutrients
Are all protein powder brands and companies created equal?
My thoughts on protein powders is the same as that of fat burners. It is my opinion that the results you can potentially get will be the same regardless of what protein brand you take. Many will sell you on the idea that you need extremely lean zero fat powders, but the truth is you don’t need that. As long as you get 1 gram per pound over the course of the day you are okay.
The only two things you need to verify to ensure you have a great protein product:
First, 3rd party research. There’s a saying for entrepreneurs that says, do what you do best, delegate the rest. The science of putting together the best quality protein should be done by scientists. People who know how to read research studies. I’m good at creating nutrition and training plans. I’m not going to come up with a protein shake formula. dotFIT delegates the research aspect of their products to someone else. This is what is called 3rd party.
Second, 3rd party quality control. Labs that mass produce products for Companies can and have taken shortcuts. Whenever you read about tainted supplements, this is due to poor quality control. How should it be done right? If I was a protein powder company, I’d hire a lab to put together my product, and I’d hire a 3rd company to make sure that the lab is producing the product that I’m paying to get produced. It’s an extra charge to me and my customers, but you are guaranteed to get top quality products.
As I said, all things being equal, any protein brand will provide you with the protein you need. It comes down to who’s ensuring you are getting what you pay for. 3rd party research and 3rd party quality control. dotFIT is Certified for Sport and you can be sure you get what you pay for.
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Let me give you my own protein intake strategy from personal experience:
I weigh about 175lbs and I train about 2 hours a day hard lifting. Some days I lift very heavy weights, some days I do Olympic lifting, some days I do circuit training Crossfit Style. On average, I burn about 3000 calories per day including the personal training sessions I perform which believe it or not is like doing an extra training session.
I consume on average about 175 grams of protein per day. Rarely do I go under. Getting 175 grams of protein for me is not that easy because a lot of the food I consume are cooked with coconut oil, grass fed butter, or olive oil. The oils bring my caloric intake up because fat carries more then twice the amount of calories that carbs and protein do. The rest of my calories come from carbs. I keep my fats high because they are more satiating and prevent me from overeating.
I have a scoop of protein power in the morning with my breakfast and a scoop post workout. For breakfast however, I have a 2 scoops of First String that has high quality carbs, protein, and a little bit of fat but I know exactly what’s going into my body. Post workout I have a scoop and a half of dotFit whey smooth as its 80-90% protein.
This sequence ensures that I reach my goal of 175 grams of pure quality protein per day. If I still had a hard time hitting this number, I’d replace the first string for dotFit Whey or I’d have another scoop later on of dotFit Whey Smooth and decrease another source or protein that may be higher in fat per ounce such as steak.
Vegans need to be especially cautious as to get enough protein on a daily basis since it is a little more complicated. With high quality protein shakes available today, it definitely simplifies this issue. dotFit has a high quality vegan protein that I highly recommend.
In conclusion, protein shakes don’t have to be completely void of any carbs or fats. I believe they should have carbs and fats and be used strategically as I mentioned above with my own strategy. In the end, tracking your macros and calories using an App like Myfitnesspal is very helpful because you know if you’re on target or not.
Here is my protein powder recommendation based on quick assumptions:
- If you are a competitive athlete: 1.5 – 2.5 servings per day of First String. 1.5 – 2.5 of dotFit Whey Smooth per day. First string for breakfast, Whey Smooth post workout
- Average person that does 45-60 minutes of light to moderate intensity workouts (such as working out with me Live on Youtube): 1-2 scoops of First String and dotFit whey smooth daily. First String for breakfast, whey smooth post workout.
- Vegan: Same as 1 and 2 but with dotFit Best Plant Protein.
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I don’t make additional recommendations because I sincerely believe you need to be exercising 45-60 minutes per day. Even if you train for 30 is acceptable. If you just do light training, say yoga for example, take 1 serving of any of the 3 powders I mentioned above.
Unflavored Protein Powders – dotFit Natural Whey Smooth
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ about protein powders)
What is the best protein powder?
The truth of the matter is that you shouldn’t be shopping for a brand based on hype. The best protein powder is one that generally has the two following processes in their manufacturing practices: One, they 3rd party research the creation of their product. They don’t copy their competitors recipe and claim it as their own. Second, they hire a 3rd party company to do quality control. This ensures that you as the consumer get what you pay for. Other things you may want to look for are NSF Certifications. Too many company’s cut corners to save money and make a bigger profit. Some company’s have gone as far as allowing the addition of performance enhancement supplements that are illegal in their products. What you get a lot of times are athlete’s unknowingly getting in trouble for tainted supplements.
What do protein powders do for you?
For me personally protein powders make it easy for you to get your total recommended intake. It’s also low in fat so you can better tailor your diet to add foods you enjoy. I like to add my own healthy fats into my nutrition plan as well as my favorite carbs. However, protein powder is the only supplement that I add to my diet. I don’t drink my calories. Eating your calories is more satiating and is a more natural way for your body to absorb nutrients. Additionally, eating protein also forces your body to burn more calories through it’s thermogenic effect. My recommendation is that you have 1-2 scoops getting in about 30-50 grams of protein once a day usually with a post workout meal.
Is protein powder really good for you?
Protein is necessary. It helps muscles repair and recover. Protein like carbs and fats have their duties when it comes to a healthy functioning body. As long as you don’t eat excess amounts of protein and you consume high quality proteins it is more of a requirement than an option. Protein is a low fat way to get them into your daily requirement without the excess calories from fat. With that said, fat is a critical component of any nutrition plan. If you are eating lean protein you should add healthy fats from other sources.
Why should you take protein powder?
You don’t have to take protein powder. As long as you get the daily require amount per day you will be fine. The problem is that no everyone has the ability to consume their body weight in protein. Honestly, with 70% of the population being obese it seems to me they have the ability but are eating the wrong foods. Protein powders have nutrition labels and you know how much protein your are consuming. It is easier to quantify and stick to the proper nutrition plan. In conclusion, protein powders are convenient.
What are the benefits of protein powder?
Protein powders are convenient. You know exactly how many grams of protein you get per serving assuming you are getting what you pay for. Beware of protein spiking. Protein powders are also low in fat and make it easier to balance and follow the proper nutrition plan.
What are the types of protein powder?
Non-vegan protein powders include but are not limited to whey, casein, beef, full egg and egg whites. Some companies sell mixtures which some believe to be the best case scenario. Most foods usually have protein not all are complete. This is why you shouldn’t listen to memes that say broccoli is a much better source then beef protein. Broccoli and most legumes are an incomplete source of protein. Vegan sources of proteins have to come from a variety of foods that create a complete amino acid profile.
What should you look for in a protein powder?
I believe whey is more than enough but if you want to get technical you can also go with a mixture of proteins such as whey, egg, and casein all in one. More importantly you should look for 3rd party testing and 3rd quality control. You want a science based and tested formula that is then 3rd party tested by another company to ensure that ingredients list is followed and respected to maintain the integrity of the formula.
Are protein powders harmful?
Protein in excess amounts can present problems. If you stick to the recommended amount of .75 to 1 gram per pound of body weight for lightly active or sedentary people or 1.5-2 grams per pound of body weight for very active athletes you should not have a problem. Make sure you eat plenty of healthy fats and fiber to avoid digestive distress.
Do I need protein powder?
You do not need protein powder but they do make life easier. I take two scoops per day of my Brand because it allows me to hit my daily requirement quite easily. It also tastes great and it’s easy for me to take in.
How much protein do you need in a day?
For sedentary or lightly active people about .75 to 1 gram per pound of body weight is more than enough. For advanced athletes and moderate to very active people I’d stick to 1.5 – 2 grams per pound of body weight. This is based on people who train once a day. If you train twice a day you’d then have to customize that amount to meet the demand of that specific situation.
What happens if you eat too much protein?
Some of the more known side effects are constipation and dehydration. Constipation is more likely the cause of a lack of fiber and dehydration. Dehydration can also impair the function of the kidneys. People who take in whey and casein protein powder may be lactose intolerant causing digestive issues.
How much protein do I need a day for bodybuilding?
Bodybuilders do a lot of damage to muscle tissues depending how many hours a day they train. My recommendation is to consume about 1.5-2 grams per pound of body weight. More important is how many calories you eat per day. If building muscle you need to eat a lot more then when you’re cutting. However, you do not want to be in a big surplus which will lead you to becoming overweight and even obese.
Is a banana high in protein?
Banana’s do not have any complete protein. They are mostly a carb as are other fruits such as apples, pears, pineapples, and watermelons.
If you looking for the protein that helps muscle recover and repair then you need to create a complete amino acid profile for your proteins. Foods such as meats and protein powders come with a complete amino acid profile. Carbs such as rice, beans, breads, and pasta’s are incomplete but may be made complete in combination of other sources of food.
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Come train with me live on Youtube:
All you need are dumbbells and kettlbells:
- Sundays: Kettlebell workouts for arms
- Mondays: Chest workouts for definition
- Fridays: Leg workouts to tone
- Saturdays: Workouts for back fat
The ultimate and most complete Health and Fitness Resources:
Fitness for Life 5 day articles:
- Best Online Fitness Program for Weight loss, Muscle Building, Strength
- Day 1 – How many calories do I need a day?
- Day 2 – How to accurately calculate macros
- Day 3- What are the components of an effective weight training program?
- Day 4 – What bodybuilding supplements should I take?
- Day 5 – Creating the Perfect Fitness Game Plan
Need a coach? If you thinking of competing, see my contest prep articles that includes information about how to go about a bodybuilding contest prep diet, amount of cardio, programming, and more.
Do you want to become a personal trainer? Check out my how to become a personal trainer where I give you advice, tips, and resources to get you started.
Build your body step by step with the Perfect Body Shape Formula. First figure out, how much should I weigh for my height? and use these other sub steps included in the process:
Related steps:
Step 2, find your body fat by using this how to calculate body fat percentage article (this will be used to calculate current body fat mass and current lean mass).
Learn to control your calories, hunger, and making nutrition a lifestyle by learning about 96 hour fast, low carb diets such as ketogenic, what is keto for beginners, and mix that up with carbs using the Fat Cycling Method, Fat Cycling Diet? Keto ish Weight loss system.
Once your nutrition is programmed, then learn to workout. How should you be working out to get your ideal body type? How heavy? How many reps? How much rest? If you want to workout from home check out Gymming at Home – Essential Equipment to get my recommendations for tools, equipment, and workout schedule for my YouTube workouts. Make sure you check out my treadmill workouts for overweight beginners if you are interested in starting off your journey by walking or jogging the weight off. I give you tips and guidelines to get the best results.
Make sure you compliment your nutrition plan with a full supplementation guide:
- Fat Burning pills – Thermaccel
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- Pre workout drinks
- Are multivitamins worth it?
- Glucose metabolic support
- Immune System vitamins
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Order your overall health, performance, fat burners, and protein powder from here: dotFit Customized Supplementation Program
One of the most important tools to help you on your journey are tools that will help you track your daily goals, best fitness tracker with heart rate monitor, whether it’s the Fitbit Charge 4, Whoop Strap 3.0, or calorie intake app. After your workout, make sure you clean up. Want to make it easy? Check out the Microfiber Duster Mop Slippers Review.
Check out these other topics and books that I highly recommend: (My article and purchase)
- Bodybuilding contest prep
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- Frank Zane workout
- Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding
- Better than steroids book