Does anyone here NOT use protein powder?

[Playitsafe]

I always hear about how protein is what muscles are made of and that we should go big on it, but I've talked to people who are way bigger than me (one being a doctor) and don't use powder.

I have experimented with it but didn't notice any gains in my lifting performance during that time. But the times when I have seen the biggest improvement was when I changed a way that I worked out, or trying new exercises. I weigh 150, and measure 5' 6" but my protein intake from food comes out to around 80 grams per day. I've heard we're supposed to go for twice the number we weigh in pounds, so that means 300 grams of protein for me. I don't get nearly that, yet I see gains in performance when I change my routine. Granted, I don't look like the incredible hulk by any means, but I still am seeing improvements.

I also read some online articles that seemed to indicate that most people already get enough protein from normal food to gain muscle, and that going big on protein can be bad for the kidneys.

So I thought I'd post this and and people here if they don't use protein powder and how well they're doing without it. Anyone?

[DuracellBunny]

No protein powders, no creatine, no vitamin supplements etc

[Playitsafe]

No protein powders, no creatine, no vitamin supplements etc

Interesting! So how much do you bench press, for example?

[pazzadean]

Hardly ever. I Don't find it that difficult eat the food

[doughnutgut]

Not used anything other than creatine when I started.


Only just started using whey. Just to see what an increase does for me. But tbh. I get all my nutrients from plated food.

[doughnutgut]

Interesting! So how much do you bench press, for example?

Sorry. But LOL

[pazzadean]

I always hear about how protein is what muscles are made of and that we should go big on it, but I've talked to people who are way bigger than me (one being a doctor) and don't use powder.

I have experimented with it but didn't notice any gains in my lifting performance during that time. But the times when I have seen the biggest improvement was when I changed a way that I worked out, or trying new exercises. I weigh 150, and measure 5' 6" but my protein intake from food comes out to around 80 grams per day. I've heard we're supposed to go for twice the number we weigh in pounds, so that means 300 grams of protein for me. I don't get nearly that, yet I see gains in performance when I change my routine. Granted, I don't look like the incredible hulk by any means, but I still am seeing improvements.

I also read some online articles that seemed to indicate that most people already get enough protein from normal food to gain muscle, and that going big on protein can be bad for the kidneys.

So I thought I'd post this and and people here if they don't use protein powder and how well they're doing without it. Anyone?

Mate you don't need 300g of protein. I'm about 235lbs and I eat about 200g a day sometimes less. It's something like 0.79g per lbs of body weight

[Playitsafe]

Mate you don't need 300g of protein. I'm about 235lbs and I eat about 200g a day sometimes less. It's something like 0.79g per lbs of body weight

Does taking in more protein than that help to build muscle faster, or would higher intakes not be absorbed by the muscles as efficiently?

[DuracellBunny]

No protein powders, no creatine, no vitamin supplements etc

Interesting! So how much do you bench press, for example?

Sorry. But LOL

Yes he really did just ask "how much u bench bro?".

In answer: a lot.

[induced_drag]

Protein power is just food. It is not magic. It makes it a lot easier to hit higher protein levels without having a large impact upon other macros. This makes calorie restricted diets a lot easier. (other than just constantly eating chicken breast).

That said, I get about 1/3 of my daily intake from whey. Since I take so much, I have switched to just consuming pure isolate (without all the flavorings, artificial sweeteners and fillers). I could of course eat or drink lots of egg whites, but whey is the option I prefer.

If you are not concerned about bodyfat levels eating higher levels of protein is very easy. (Hell....I can eat a bucket of fried chicken without a thought!). It all depends on what your overall goals on.

Big and strong....not really needed.

Big strong (and not fat), it sure makes it a lot easier.

[mr.average]

It has to be said............
About tree fiddy

I only have whey & creatine nothing else, but only because I don't like red meat, if I did I wouldn't have either.

[DuracellBunny]

Protein power is just food. It is not magic. It makes it a lot easier to hit higher protein levels without having a large impact upon other macros. This makes calorie restricted diets a lot easier. (other than just constantly eating chicken breast).

That said, I get about 1/3 of my daily intake from whey. Since I take so much, I have switched to just consuming pure isolate (without all the flavorings, artificial sweeteners and fillers). I could of course eat or drink lots of egg whites, but whey is the option I prefer.

If you are not concerned about bodyfat levels eating higher levels of protein is very easy. (Hell....I can eat a bucket of fried chicken without a thought!). It all depends on what your overall goals on.

Big and strong....not really needed.

Big strong (and not fat), it sure makes it a lot easier.

But, but, but, if people don't drink shakes, how will they get to look like the guys in the shake adverts!

[Playitsafe]

Yes he really did just ask "how much u bench bro?".

In answer: a lot.

My own bench press isn't all that impressive. I guess that's just not one of my strong points. I've been able to single rep 150lbs (same as my bodyweight), but I rarely even go that heavy. Usually only up to about 125 for reps.

[Playitsafe]

Protein power is just food. It is not magic. It makes it a lot easier to hit higher protein levels without having a large impact upon other macros. This makes calorie restricted diets a lot easier. (other than just constantly eating chicken breast).

That said, I get about 1/3 of my daily intake from whey. Since I take so much, I have switched to just consuming pure isolate (without all the flavorings, artificial sweeteners and fillers). I could of course eat or drink lots of egg whites, but whey is the option I prefer.

If you are not concerned about bodyfat levels eating higher levels of protein is very easy. (Hell....I can eat a bucket of fried chicken without a thought!). It all depends on what your overall goals on.

Big and strong....not really needed.

Big strong (and not fat), it sure makes it a lot easier.

People always told me when I asked about trying to increase muscle, "You have to eat big to GET big!", so I tried eating more. I've noticed I have some bellyfat that probably should be dealt with, but that would mean eating smaller. Now that I'm doing that while at the same time making changes to my routine and seeing gains in performance, I'm starting to think eating big isn't the answer. From what I'm hearing from posters on this thread now, I'm starting to think upping my protein through whey protein supplements isn't the answer either.

[pazzadean]

Have you been on the nutritional forum and read the stickys?

[mr.average]

Think of your body like an engine, a bit more fuel is good, too much it will bog down.
Celltech is forced induction, push it too hard & something is going to go.

[Playitsafe]

Have you been on the nutritional forum and read the stickys?

I just went there now and looked at the sticky thread titles. Is there a particular one that addresses the issue of protein powders?

[induced_drag]

People always told me when I asked about trying to increase muscle, "You have to eat big to GET big!", so I tried eating more. I've noticed I have some bellyfat that probably should be dealt with, but that would mean eating smaller. Now that I'm doing that while at the same time making changes to my routine and seeing gains in performance, I'm starting to think eating big isn't the answer. From what I'm hearing from posters on this thread now, I'm starting to think upping my protein through whey protein supplements isn't the answer either.

You have to meet your nutritional requirements to recover. How your body adapts to the stimulus you are providing (grow muscle or get stronger or a combination of both)will be first dictated by your genes. Since you dont have any control over that, we will skip to the 2nd and 3rd. Lifestyle (stress levels, sleep...etc) and Diet. (people will argue which is 2nd and which is 3rd...but it does not matter....you need BOTH to succeed).

I will only focus on diet. As a noob or coming back from a long layoff, you can grow both muscle and lose fat at the same time at pretty incredible rates. The further you progress, the more that overall cals come into play for progressing. (assuming you are meeting your basic needs). There will come a point where you will have to pic EITHER losing fat or gaining muscle. While there are some that will argue you can do both indefinitely....the rates at which you can accomplish this as you progress will slow to a crawl. It is my opinion that eating either a surplus or deficit at any given time is the best way to progress.

In short....diet is where most people fail. The key is to eat just enough to keep a good surplus going , but not too much that you spill over a lot of extra body fat. Not may guys seem to have the dedication to do what it takes to track this close so they dont believe how well it actually works. Talk to guys that know and understand tracking and planning nutrition and they will tell you how effective it is to eat for a goal.

Not going to spoon feed you, but look at Iron wills sticky for beginners. Nutrition is the biggest failure point of 95% of the people I see.

[Playitsafe]

You have to meet your nutritional requirements to recover. How your body adapts to the stimulus you are providing (grow muscle or get stronger or a combination of both)will be first dictated by your genes. Since you dont have any control over that, we will skip to the 2nd and 3rd. Lifestyle (stress levels, sleep...etc) and Diet. (people will argue which is 2nd and which is 3rd...but it does not matter....you need BOTH to succeed).

I will only focus on diet. As a noob or coming back from a long layoff, you can grow both muscle and lose fat at the same time at pretty incredible rates. The further you progress, the more that overall cals come into play for progressing. (assuming you are meeting your basic needs). There will come a point where you will have to pic EITHER losing fat or gaining muscle. While there are some that will argue you can do both indefinitely....the rates at which you can accomplish this as you progress will slow to a crawl. It is my opinion that eating either a surplus or deficit at any given time is the best way to progress.

In short....diet is where most people fail. The key is to eat just enough to keep a good surplus going , but not too much that you spill over a lot of extra body fat. Not may guys seem to have the dedication to do what it takes to track this close so they dont believe how well it actually works. Talk to guys that know and understand tracking and planning nutrition and they will tell you how effective it is to eat for a goal.

Not going to spoon feed you, but look at Iron wills sticky for beginners. Nutrition is the biggest failure point of 95% of the people I see.

I'll check out that sticky. Thank you for pointing it out! Also, I think I can admit that I have 2 failure points. One is probably nutrition, as don't think I get all that many calories, and now have been cutting back on them thinking that it would help to reduce my belly fat. I've always been told that I must be taking in too many and they're being stored up as fat, but at the same time I hear that calories are needed to maintain muscle as well. Sleep would be my other failing. Even though I stay in bed a full 8 hours or more, I can't sleep more than about 5 of them each night.

[iEatBeef]

You have to meet your nutritional requirements to recover.

In short....diet is where most people fail.

Not may guys seem to have the dedication to do what it takes to track this close so they don't believe how well it actually works.

Nutrition is the biggest failure point of 95% of the people I see.

^Great words of wisdom here. My experience has been exactly this progression of 1) figuring out what I actually needed to put in my body to fuel the workouts but keep the scale moving in the right direction based on goal, 2) sticking with that long enough to see perceptible differences in lifts and/or physique, and 3) making small tweaks in a semi-scientific manner (i.e., changing only one thing at a time to see its impact).

I do use protein powder mostly because it's convenient and I don't like the feeling of fullness that can sometimes result from stuffing down 12oz of chicken breast in one sitting.

[Keoking]

+1 to what ID said. It makes it easier to hit your protein macro on a cut, freeing up space for other things.

Plus if you buy highly rated powders on sale, it's a good deal and can taste really really good. Toss some in an IMO fiber bar or Greek yogurt, and it's high protein blast that tastes like a snack.

[tomnationwide]

I don't and bench press 405lb

[anonymous]

No op, that stuff is dangerous

[induced_drag]

I don't and bench press 405lb

Are you really bragging about a 405 bench at close to 300lb body weight?

[Bo_Flecks]

No op, that stuff is dangerous

^^^QFT

And by the way, no whey for me. I prefer to stay natural.

[PiperBill]

I use a 3 in 1 protein powder that's 50% whey, 25% casein and 25% egg white protein. It's more exspensive but so is meat over (lean beef can be up to $80/kg for the best cuts). So to get my 150 - 160 g per day in I supplement with 2 - 3 shakes a day.

Without highjacking this thread.. I have been told that as we age our ability to utilize protein for muscle building sinks. With that in mind I would tend to take in more protein but on the other hand the protein that doesn't get used would be stored as fat (in a caloric surplus) ... Seems like a catch 22 situation for for an older guy trying to get lean.

Maybe this should have been in a new thread....

[SkepticalOne]

No supps here. You can get everything you need from whole foods. I'm eating this right now…

[Korr]

I used to but not anymore.

Throw me in the no powder, creatine, or vitamin group.

[ntrllftr]

My own bench press isn't all that impressive. I guess that's just not one of my strong points. I've been able to single rep 150lbs (same as my bodyweight), but I rarely even go that heavy. Usually only up to about 125 for reps.

If you don't challenge your muscles.... No need to focus too much on how much protein you need. Just lift and keep a "healthy" diet going IMO.

[Keoking]

And by the way, no whey for me. I prefer to stay natural.

Truth. Once you get the first dose of whey and see your muscles swell up overnight, you're hooked for life. You can NEVER stop taking it at that point.

Just last night I made a bowl of oatmeal and raisins, and had to dump in a scoop of protein powder so that my gainz wouldn't disappear overnight. feelsbadman