Do you need protein shakes to build quality strength power and muscle?

[MikeSanders12]

Ive used supplements before but never on a daily basis, i just got ON Creatine and thought if i should get a whey protein.
I got my bench up 60 pounds in 2 months in football, without anything, NO protein shakes, NO creatine NOTHING, just good ol mommas cookin.
But i feel whey protein is a joke, and will not help me, if i already eat like i do, about 3,500 calories a day, 140 g of protein. Is that enough? Or should i take a whey protein with the creatine im gunna start using

[OneLastChance]

You are a tank if those are your freshmen stats with that size. I'd say you are fine if what you are doing is working for you right now. The only thing I could reccommend is increasing your protein. You weigh 286 but are getting 140g of protein only half of your bodyweight. Considering you are young and going through growth it's hardly a problem, but you could likely get even bigger by upping that to 200-220g a day. That is where the protein shake might come in handy. Also "momma's cooking" is great(everyone who moves out knows this), but make sure she is fixing lean meats and baked chicken and not fried and salty stuff. Keep up the good work!

[jmmainvi]

There's no reason to use supplements if you're getting full nutrition from real food - in fact, the way you're doing it is actually preferable, especially for an athlete (maybe not for a bodybuilder - but you aren't one.) It might be a way to keep your protein high if you decide to cut some weight ever, but that doesn't seem to be your plan, and that can be done in other ways anyway.

Even creatine is found in red meat (1lb of steak has ~1g of creatine in it). Supplement companies want you to think there's some big secret behind the stuff they're selling.... but really, you've found the secret which is sticking to the basics and working hard.

[LiftNPlay]

Protein only helps you get in more protein every day and some other things (glutamine, BCAAs, etc). Not necessary but a nice tool if you have the money. If you want the benefits of creatine, then you will have to buy the supplement. You can't get the full 5 grams everyday from food (unless you eat a ridiculous amount of meat).

[KGD54]

I would not call whey protein a "joke". It is a legit product that has proven benefits but is not required for muscle growth. Most kids your age think they can just add a protein shake in their diet and they will become the hulk in a few weeks.
Also as suggested you need to eat more protein, especially if you are consuming 3,500 calories a day. You are currently consuming 560 calories from protein so that means 2,940 calories are coming from carbs and fats! Spend a little time in the nutrition forum, it may be the most valuable forum on this site and i spend lots of time learning something new everyday.

Good luck with your football career, playing in college is an experience that not many get, i hope you can have that experience!!

[RohanFLB]

There's no reason to use supplements if you're getting full nutrition from real food

Agreed.

Yet supplement companies have an interest in people believing otherwise

[HamandCheese994]

I read somewhere that whey protein is actually a "waste" after you make something. Some guy had the bright idea of turning around the whey they were all throwing out and selling it.

I don't know what that "something" is but yes I do not
Take whey protein eitheir.

[LiftNPlay]

I read somewhere that whey protein is actually a "waste" after you make something. Some guy had the bright idea of turning around the whey they were all throwing out and selling it.

I don't know what that "something" is but yes I do not
Take whey protein eitheir.

The first cars ever made were actually very dangerous to drive so I never drive.

[Melegaunt]

A topic that has been floating around as of late is protein shakes. I have choked down a ridiculous amount of protein shakes since I first began training, and in all honesty the volume of intake has decreased as time has went on.

I'm now to the point where I will drink a shake in a pinch, or if I've gone too long without a meal, and those aren't the best reasons to do so, those are excuses for my neglect of my dietary intake. I don't think I've had a shake in a week!

Oh, and I have CONTINUED to develop and progress without shoving powder mixed in a shaker cup down my throat.

My point here is, I do not believe protein shakes are necessary for muscle building. In fact, the emphasis of using a protein supplement often becomes a replacement for REAL FOOD, and is a detriment to your overall health and performance.

I see the same people who talk about eating clean also ingest multiple protein shakes a day without thinking twice about it. I would absolutely not consider protein powder to be a clean food. It is a processed food, and hardly a food at that.

I see many people also say that they "can't" intake enough protein or calories without the use of shakes. This is bull, no way around it. I eat in upwards of five thousand calories a day and do not need shakes to do this. Chances are is that you only need a fraction of this, and by saying you CAN'T ingest enough protein from whole food sources is just stating that you are unwilling to do so, or are too lazy.

Also, this mandatory window of time post workout in which "YOU MUST" intake fast acting proteins in order to properly recover or you will waste away and lose all your gains is bull. I used to subscribe to this, I would religiously bring my protein powder and shaker cup with me wherever I went, and force shakes down my throat in the locker room immediately after my workouts. Now, i seldom even use one post workout. I feel much better letting my body relax, let my stomach settle, and then eat whole foods when I am ready.
Have my gains suffered from this? Quite the contrary. I'm making the best progress of my life thus far.

Am I telling you not to drink protein shakes? No, do as you will. But do not place them as a staple in your diet, and do not be fooled by the ever powerful marketing machine into believing that you need some processed powder to build a strong, healthy physique.

The take-away?
Protein powder is to protein what enriched bleached flour is to carbs.




Anyways, just a little something I wrote on my ******** page that I thought applicable to this topic!

[RussianGerman]

Do you need to post such stupid shiit?