Is there any kind of drink I can use that will assist in my training? I am not suggestioning anything illegal or anything toxic, maybe some kind of protein drink that would help with the recovery of my muscles and overall building and training?
Maybe something from GNC?
http://www.e-caps.com/za/ECP?PAGE=GETTING_STARTED
This is probably a good place to start.
I’m totally serious.
whey protein with 2% milk taken within 45 minutes after every workout. there have been studies by the Harvard School of Medicine that say that it will increase smooth muscle growth by upto 15% compared to no treatment. plus it will increase your calorie consumption which will keep you better fueled.
when does it become necessary to supplement with protein powders, bars, etc. rather than simply eating high protein foods such as meat and nuts and cottage cheese? it seems to me that a lot of it is just hype and marketing. I’m also too lazy to do all the research on nutrition.
I would try when you can to get your protein from whole foods. It’s really hard to do that way unless you REALLLY like chicken. Getting enough protein is the biggest thing I struggle with.
That being said, I supplement with protein powder drinks because it is more convenient and easier than eating chicken all the time. My favorite protein powder supplement is from Champion Nutrition (Pure Whey Stack). It mixes great and tastes great and is pretty affordable.
I supplement with protein powder drinks because it is more convenient and easier than eating chicken all the time
Yep - really the only reason.
FWIW there was a similar discussion a while back, and Ric Stern posted some studies which said that glycogen replenishment was more important than extra protein for recovery.
Go to www.vitaminconnection.com and check out Muscle Optimeal made by Jarrow. I swear by this stuff—it’s got complex carbs for right after hard workouts and really high quality protein (whey, rice and egg proteins) , tons of BCAA’s and 8 grams of L-Glutamine per serving. Glutamine is an amino acid that helps keep your immune system healthy when you’re training hard and it speeds recovery. This product is pretty cheap compared to others and is very high quality. I use the chocolate and mix it with skim milk after hard workouts…
Spindogg
Endurox! That stuff is magic!
Vote #2 for Endurox (for recovery specifically), although it does taste like crap especially if it’s room temp. You have to be sure it’s super cold.
Vote #3 for Endurox. And I too agree that it needs to be cold for me to stomach it, at least for the Tangy Orange flavor (only one I have used).
I drink 1% milk. If I am to tired to cook dinner and eat i will mix up the Balance drink powder I get from trader joes. Usually two servings, which is around 650 calories. Better than falling asleep cooking or while eating (which happens to often).
Newbie, there is definitely hype out there regarding protein/muscle supplements so it would be wise not to go into GNC without a gameplan (they will sell you anything or the most expensive thing). There is a nutritionist on staff at the club where I work out and he stresses that very few of us actually need these things; if you eat correctly, you usually get the nutrients you need. I had asked him about them because I had trouble keeping weight on during marathon training. I’ve found that a protein drink mixed with milk helps keep the weight on although I wouldn’t say it helped me build mass or aid in recovery. Only strength training and rest did that for me.
I use something called Spiru-Tein made by Nature’s Plus and it’s found in any health food store. Chocolate tastes pretty good, especially if the milk’s nice and cold. It’s a soy protein powder, so along with the milk (which is the animal source of protein vs. plant), it worked well. Plus it has just about any vitamin and amino acid known to man. A 2 pound can is about $30.