How many weeks out do you stop protein shakes?

[DDD619]

Hey guys, jus wondering from personal experience or from what you've when would you stop taking protein shakes? How many weeks out from a contest?

[jumpa14]

1 week out is enough for me.....

[j_neatherlin]

I also stop them about 1-2 weeks out

[Grow_74]

I have never competed but am curious as to why you would stop the shakes??

[DDD619]

1-2 weeks out? really? couple of guys i've talked to said they cut it out 4 weeks out...

[someday]

1-2 weeks out? really? couple of guys i've talked to said they cut it out 4 weeks out...

i cut them out four weeks out because of the high sodium content.

[j_neatherlin]

sodium content is the only concern for me as well...except, I don't manipulate sodium levels until the last 10 days before the contest...the first several days being sodium loading and then sodium depletion the final days prior to the show.

[DDD619]

sodium content is the only concern for me as well...except, I don't manipulate sodium levels until the last 10 days before the contest...the first several days being sodium loading and then sodium depletion the final days prior to the show.

When you talk about sodium depletion for the last ten days before the contest...what days exactly do you load and then deplete? And what kind of foods you eat for loading?

[Ski]

There is no need to cut shakes out at all IMO.

And you should cut sodium out at 3 days out,anything sooner will trigger the hormone aldosterone which will actually make you retain fluid.

If you cut sodium laden foods,the minimal amout found in most protewinm powders should be of no significance except for when you cut cut water.

You still need some sodium before a show!!

[EME]

I don't cut them out at all until the last week.

I switch from 100% Whey with Skim Milk to 100% Whey with water when I start my contest prep at 12-15 weeks out.

I drink 100% Whey with water right up to three days out, when I start cutting sodium.

I don't eat anything processed or pre made at all during the last three days because I can't be sure of the nutrient values.

- EME

[Moreps]

There is no need to cut shakes out at all IMO.

And you should cut sodium out at 3 days out,anything sooner will trigger the hormone aldosterone which will actually make you retain fluid.

If you cut sodium laden foods,the minimal amout found in most protewinm powders should be of no significance except for when you cut cut water.

You still need some sodium before a show!!

Agree with everything posted here. I'll cut sodium only on the day prior and cut water abruptly between 7-9 PM friday evening.

[someday]

There is no need to cut shakes out at all IMO.

And you should cut sodium out at 3 days out,anything sooner will trigger the hormone aldosterone which will actually make you retain fluid.

If you cut sodium laden foods,the minimal amout found in most protewinm powders should be of no significance except for when you cut cut water.

You still need some sodium before a show!!

i disagree. through out my my entire 16 week diet the only sodium i had was naturally occuring in food or in shakes. so, when it came down to the end i not only cut shakes, but also cut eggs because of there sodium content and had chicken 6 meals a day and lean beef once every 3 days. i did cut with just water, i didn't play around with sodium at that point. i was extremely dry, didn't hold a bit of water.

[str8flexed]

i cut them out four weeks out because of the high sodium content.

most have a lower sodium content than most protein sources.

I never understood stopping them myself

[someday]

most have a lower sodium content than most protein sources.

I never understood stopping them myself

i use isopure and it has 320 mg for the two scoops i use, chicken has 60 mg for the 6 oz serving i eat.

[str8flexed]

i use isopure and it has 320 mg for the two scoops i use, chicken has 60 mg for the 6 oz serving i eat.

I know quite few protein shakes that have 0mg of sodium in them

[mr_b]

The reason ppl cut out protein shakes is that whey and casein and egg are the sources of protein powders and are all derived from dairy products, and dairy products make your body release estrogen so you should eliminate them 3 weeks prior which is the rule with all dairy products to prevent that little excess water! the difference may not be earth shattering but it could be the difference between winnin and losing!

I have a few friends who are pro's and they all agree on this advice

[str8flexed]

The reason ppl cut out protein shakes is that whey and casein and egg are the sources of protein powders and are all derived from dairy products, and dairy products make your body release estrogen so you should eliminate them 3 weeks prior which is the rule with all dairy products to prevent that little excess water! the difference may not be earth shattering but it could be the difference between winnin and losing!

I have a few friends who are pro's and they all agree on this advice

it is the lactose in dairy that makes you retain water and the lactose is so minute in those shakes that you'd be hard pressed to retain water from them. I'll bet you didn't know that some veggies contain lactose as well... you probably get more lactose from veggies in the final few weeks than you do from protein shakes

[someday]

I know quite few protein shakes that have 0mg of sodium in them

what brands? i'd love to know! believe me being able to have a shake would have been heaven, eating chicken for breakfast sucked!!!

[str8flexed]

what brands? i'd love to know! believe me being able to have a shake would have been heaven, eating chicken for breakfast sucked!!!

they are a bit more expensive, but the one I really like is Substance WPI by Primaforce. It's $25 for 2.2 lbs of whey protein isolate and it has 22g protein with 0g carbs, 0g fat, no lactose, and no aspartame. They have grape and watermelon... watermelon is my fav but my girlfriend likes grape

[Segansational]

If one were to cut out protein shakes prior to a show, should you replace them with a serving of BCAA's?

[MUbodbuilder]

hey great thread you guys got going here. im under 3 weeks out and im not planning on cutting sodium or any crazy manipulation. i think for the natural athlete changing things is stupid and can hinder the "pump" at pre contest time. at least i have came to that conclusion after following the typical last week things. what do you think about that?

[gettNjakked]

i stop 5 days out... whole foods ONLY for me at that point until show day.

[Segansational]

i stop 5 days out... whole foods ONLY for me at that point until show day.

Not even BCAA's?

[gettNjakked]

i keep 5g of BCAAs until show to help stave off catabolism

[tviceman]

my girlfriend likes grape

You mean fiance!

[Cytrainer913]

I keep protein in through my whole peak as it helps to keep my sodiuim levels up where they need to be during peak week, my sodium levels usually stay around 2-3 g's the whole week. I like to alternate my whole foods with Protein w/ fruit and oatmeal, so the digestion speeds are different each meal.

[serratus]

I keep protein in through my whole peak as it helps to keep my sodiuim levels up where they need to be during peak week, my sodium levels usually stay around 2-3 g's the whole week. I like to alternate my whole foods with Protein w/ fruit and oatmeal, so the digestion speeds are different each meal.

So the digestion speeds are different each meal? Why would that be beneficial?

thanks

[Cytrainer913]

certain times the benefits of quicker absorption are good and as you diet the body might need to get that protein assimilated faster and it can help out more than the slower digesting whole food proteins. I dont think the protein powders need to be cut out at all, but I would switch to a straight why protein isolate along with a good CFM brand protein, like AST's VP2!

Here's something to add from Dr. about the 2 proteins:
"Two reasons - digestion of a liquid meal can be as fast as 30 minutes, whole food can take 3+ hours. If you're trying to time out calories/protein and you're getting back-to-back-to-back-to-back liquid meals, you're going to be very hungry and likely run low on nitrogen (that reminds me, I have to put weed and feed on my lawn before I leave....) The value of the whey/casein is higher than whole food - I recommend it - but you need whole food for fiber, slowing down amino uptake, etc. You can do the same with super high-molecular weight powders (casein, egg, concentrates etc) especially with adding some carbs to it, but still, eating whole food protein is a stabilizing event. All of that plus digestion - too much powder can be tough on those with any lactose intolerance, etc. "

[Segansational]

I keep protein in through my whole peak as it helps to keep my sodiuim levels up where they need to be during peak week, my sodium levels usually stay around 2-3 g's the whole week. I like to alternate my whole foods with Protein w/ fruit and oatmeal, so the digestion speeds are different each meal.

So you don't try to limit your sodium intake during the last week or so? I've read a little bit about the water retention issue and I know that at least Layne doesn't prescribe to it, but I don't remember if he mentioned decreasing sodium while still taking in as much water as you want, or keeping sodium levels normal.

[Cytrainer913]

So you don't try to limit your sodium intake during the last week or so? I've read a little bit about the water retention issue and I know that at least Layne doesn't prescribe to it, but I don't remember if he mentioned decreasing sodium while still taking in as much water as you want, or keeping sodium levels normal.

This is pretty much the way Layne would do his last weeks prep, trust me.
Of course each set of numbers will be a bit different and no dramatic changes in water, carbs, or sodium, small drops yes, but nothing crazy.

I mean I may be near 3 g's in the beginnign of the week and head more close to 2 g's by fri.