Are protein shakes that important

billyhead

I understand the thinking behind knocking back one for its immediate absorption post workout but in that magical timeframe to knock back real solid food of protein after a workout how long do you really have. What I am asking is if I got a steak or chicken breast within 45 minutes of a weights workout will this suffice for recovery rather then gulping down a shake within a half an hour

Remmy

For me its for handiness more than anything else.If I had the chance to pop home after a session and have a steak or three I know which one I'd pick.;)

Magic Eight Ball

Protein shakes are convenient, not important.
I like real food personally.

top madra

real food is always gonna be better but the convenience of just adding water to shake any time of the day cant be understated..

corkcomp

Magic Eight Ball wrote: »

Protein shakes are convenient, not important.
I like real food personally.

what he said +1

depends on your workout and goals too obviously. A few guys at my gym neck shakes in the changing rooms after 20 - 30 minutes light cardio which isnt necessary IMO

chadmustang

It's a lot handier to knock out a shake in the morning when you're just awake then getting up and cooking up a storm. It usually takes me an hour or so before I'm in the mood for eggs and bacon or a hefty bowl of porridge!

marathonic

corkcomp wrote: »

what he said +1

depends on your workout and goals too obviously. A few guys at my gym neck shakes in the changing rooms after 20 - 30 minutes light cardio which isnt necessary IMO

I'm guilty of this. I take a protein shake (1.5 scoops) after every workout - whether it's cardio or weights. In fairness, my cardio is a half hour on the treadmill at 10kph followed by the bike (recently switched to 10 minutes HIIT).

Should I only be taking one on weights days? I take one every day because I'm thinking that muscles are still repairing after the previous days weights session and would also have broken down a little during the cardio session. Am I way off the mark here?

billyhead

marathonic wrote: »

I'm guilty of this. I take a protein shake (1.5 scoops) after every workout - whether it's cardio or weights. In fairness, my cardio is a half hour on the treadmill at 10kph followed by the bike (recently switched to 10 minutes HIIT).

Should I only be taking one on weights days? I take one every day because I'm thinking that muscles are still repairing after the previous days weights session and would also have broken down a little during the cardio session. Am I way off the mark here?

You should ideally get your protein requirements per day via real food steak, chicken (lean meats), fish etc. Also factor in the calories from the shake into your overall calorific needs. Take into account obviously if you mix them with water or milk.

deadlybuzzman

if you need them or not depends on how much protein you need to ingest for your goals and your personal circumstances. at the moment Im bulking and Im pretty busy at work so although a small bit preworkout and a decent amount post workout would be optimal, I have a 2 scoop shake in the morning, another 2 hrs after lunch plus 2-3L of milk during the day so excluding meals Im getting 170-205g of protein a day
once ive that down me I dont have to keep track of my intake at meals because ive the main part done and meat at lunch, dinner and before bed snack sees me over the line.
I see alot of people taking them that seem to be wanting to just stay in shape, id wonder if theres any benefit in it for them?

The Guvnor

So far today I've had two shakes and a bowl of porridge.

75g of whey first shake at 7am
45g of whey second shake at 9.30am
Large bowl of porridge and fruit at 11am.

Probably one more 75g shake for me today and maybe a small 45g one before bed and in between two other meals.

Now I do not take this amount of whey shakes every day but I would try and get in at least 120g of whey.

I currently weigh anywhere from 18st3 to 18st10 and would like as a minimum to get 300g of protein per day.

On meat alone this is 1.2kg of meat (roughly) so the shakes help.

In an ideal world I will get half my protein from shakes and half from food.

billyhead

The Guvnor wrote: »

So far today I've had two shakes and a bowl of porridge.

75g of whey first shake at 7am
45g of whey second shake at 9.30am
Large bowl of porridge and fruit at 11am.

Probably one more 75g shake for me today and maybe a small 45g one before bed and in between two other meals.

Now I do not take this amount of whey shakes every day but I would try and get in at least 120g of whey.

I currently weigh anywhere from 18st3 to 18st10 and would like as a minimum to get 300g of protein per day.

On meat alone this is 1.2kg of meat (roughly) so the shakes help.

In an ideal world I will get half my protein from shakes and half from food.

I would have thought that what you state is too muc protein and your going to excrete most of it. Its a waste taking in more prtein then you need. Just my tuppence;)

iii Stevo iii

top madra wrote: »

real food is always gonna be better but the convenience of just adding water to shake any time of the day cant be understated..

billyhead wrote: »

You should ideally get your protein requirements per day via real food steak, chicken (lean meats), fish etc. Also factor in the calories from the shake into your overall calorific needs. Take into account obviously if you mix them with water or milk.

I've always just accepted that real food is more beneficial protein wise. But why is it?
Surely a protein shake with water straight after a workout is more beneficial that eating a chicken breast 30 mins after the workout, atleast it will be absorbed quicker.

If we only look at it from a protein point of view why is whole food better than a whey shake?

What are the advantages of eating 30g worth of protein in a chicken breast as compared to a 30g whey shake?
Has there studies done to show who whole foods are better in this regard?

iii Stevo iii

billyhead wrote: »

I would have thought that what you state is too muc protein and your going to excrete most of it. Its a waste taking in more prtein then you need. Just my tuppence;)

Hes over 18stone. Perfectly justifiable to be taking in 300g protein a day

The Guvnor

billyhead wrote: »

I would have thought that what you state is too muc protein and your going to excrete most of it. Its a waste taking in more prtein then you need. Just my tuppence;)

I actually think it's not enough!:D
Seriously in an ideal world I'd look to get 400g per day.

Some days I question whether I'd even hit the 1g per lb.

My view is always aim for more as most of us will fall short.

Cole

I don't think they are necessary at all. Of course if you are a professional athlete/bodybuilder, then I can understand why such supplements would be necessary, but I don't think that's the case for most people on this forum?

I used to take a shake after the gym but started to question whether it was necessary or whether I was just buying into the clever marketing of the various supplement companies. I concluded the latter and haven't touched the stuff for a couple of years. I train just as hard and notice no difference.

You do need some nutrition soon after a workout, mines a homemade milkshake...delicious...and a good general diet, which I think I have. When I see these (generally the younger) guys almost running to their lockers to consume their shake at exactly 6 mins 13 secs post workout;), I can't help thinking the companies have done a fantastic job at marketing their product.

This is just my opinion, it's what works for me. I'm not telling anyone to stop using shakes, so there's no need to throw a load of scientific papers or the like at me advocating protein shakes.:)

dartstothesea

I've practically stopped taking any whey since I cut out all carbs (my whey isn't isolate) and I've actually found it even easier to get the grams of protein in each day somehow. A lot of that may be down to my actual food choices compared to before, but still.

If you're aiming for calorie surplus I'd say have a meal instead of a shake. Not that you can't have a shake too. But definitely choose a meal over shake for the calories if nothing else.

Renn

Stopped taking shakes about a year ago. Still have a couple of near full tubs at home but have no real desire to go back to taking them. Usually have some food right after a session, and then dinner soon after that of meat + veg (including sweet potato).

Mellor

Cole wrote: »

I used to take a shake after the gym but started to question whether it was necessary or whether I was just buying into the clever marketing of the various supplement companies. I concluded the latter and haven't touched the stuff for a couple of years. I train just as hard and notice no difference.

You do need some nutrition soon after a workout, mines a homemade milkshake...delicious...and a good general diet, which I think I have. When I see these (generally the younger) guys almost running to their lockers to consume their shake at exactly 6 mins 13 secs post workout;), I can't help thinking the companies have done a fantastic job at marketing their product.

The irony here is pretty damn funny.


You are aware that food is necessary (which i agree with) yet question protein shakes???
That's all are they are, a food source, nothing more, nothing less.

They are no better or worse than having something to eat. I don't think any sensible person, thinks they are any better than having something to eat. I go to the gym after work, I bring lunch to work, i bring a shake for after the gym, as its handy for me to do so rather than ensuring that I've got a weeks supply of post gym snacks to bring to work.
I could also just buy something, but thats (a)expensive, and (b) probably the worse choice of them all bar a few things

Cole

Mellor wrote: »

The irony here is pretty damn funny.
You are aware that food is necessary (which i agree with) yet question protein shakes???
That's all are they are, a food source, nothing more, nothing less. .

I can't see the irony. Maybe it wasn't clear but the point I was making was that protein shakes, specifically, are now seen by many as absolutely essential after a workout...vastly superior to anything else...from what I see and hear anyway.

Mellor wrote: »

They are no better or worse than having something to eat. I don't think any sensible person, thinks they are any better than having something to eat..

I agree but I think if I was to suggest consuming something else other than a shake after the gym, quite a lot of people would look at me if I was mad or clueless.