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Protein supplements and whatnot
Shazkar Shadowstorm
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So I'm trying to gain a bit of strength and muscle mass, and I've been taking yucky tasting GNC protein stuff after my workouts... I'd like to try something tastier. I hear Muscle Milk is good, but is not intended for post workout... when do you drink it? Any other suggestions?
poo
Shazkar Shadowstorm on
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if you want something delicious, throw all the protein, bananas, yogurt, and chocolate in the blender. mmmm
Okay, so, here's my life so far w/regards to work outs.
Never really lifted before now... Never was in any shape before now.
Monday: Brazilian Jiu-jitsu 9-11PM
Tuesday: Go to the gym and lift from 8 - 9 AM (should I be there longer? Because I have time... I barely know what I am doing. I just do upper body, like arms and shoulders and whatnot on Tuesdays and legs and back on Thursday.. but I barely know what I am doing.)
Wednesday: Same as Monday
Thursday: Same as Tuesday
Friday: Nothing?
Saturday: Sometimes BJJ from 4-6PM
Sunday: Nothing?
Okay, given this workout routine: A) should I add anything/lift for longer/do anything on my off days?
It's all quite confusing.
And whey + some other stuff? What's this business with fish oil?
Also... should I not have this thread and should it be in the fitness thread? I thought it was different since it's mostly about supplements though. I forgot about that other thread. =/
A) No, I wouldn't add anything. That's a pretty solid build up. You basically have three days of cardio and two of lifting, which is just fine. However, you said you don't really know what you're doing with lifting so I'll try and give you advice. Basically, there are two themes of lifting: Building Muscle Mass and Toning. Building Muscle Mass is doing less repetitions at a higher weight (so your arms feel very fatigued afterwards). Toning will just add shape and definition to what you have and you do many repetitions at lower weight. So do whatever it is you want you achieve. When you lift, try and rotate the muscles used. Do an arm, a leg, then an abdominal exercise and repeat. Finally, I don't suggest adding anything to your current schedule, I like to separate my lifting and running days so the emphasis is on one.
My schedule is basically I run 5 miles on M, W, and Fr. Then I lift for 2 hours on Tuesday and Thursday, rotating arms - legs - abdomen. My goal is just to pretty much slim down. I'm not interested in being really muscular, just having a little more definition and getting rid of my abdomen. From what I know about Brazillian fighting it's got a pretty solid core work out - so you don't have to lift on those days. Similarly, I don't really have to work out my abdomen or legs when running, they will take care of themselves.
If you want to gain mass, follow this routine.
http://www.wannabebig.com/article.php?articleid=25
Question about the rotation idea... do you mean work out like, do one type of arm exercise, 1 type of leg, 1 type of ab, and then a different type of arm, leg, ab, and so on? and do several sets at once?
American Whey is a good whey protein and I used to mix that into shakes in the morning as well as oatmeal for breakfast. Lately though I've switched over to Gold Standard 100% Whey mostly because the day I went to the supplement store they were out of AW.
My morning shake consists of :
1 cup milk / juice
handful of rolled oats
1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 banana
1 scoop whey
handful frozen fruit
As far as your workout goes it seems like a well balanced schedule. Aerobic days mixed with weight training. As long as you're doing what you enjoy I'd just stick with it. Maybe a little more or less depending how you're feeling.
Similar dilemma, but reversed, on BJJ days is that I finish BJJ and go to be an hr and a half later.. should I have some whey right after and some muscle milk before I sleep, or just one of the two? And still have a morning shake that day?
Have a morning shake and muscle milk at night every day (off days too?)
As far as shake / muscle milk on off days, it's really just whatever you want to eat. Personally I'd rather make scambled eggs with ham and cheese and some toast, but I don't have time in the mornings to so I make a shake instead. Before bed muscle milk is just easy. They're only supplements so you shouldn't rely on them all the time. You'd be better off getting your protein from lean meats, but that's not always an option so then you turn to something else.
Also, exhaling on your left foot step will help prevent them as well.
But that's really just if you're running too, but you mentioned drinking a shake before working out.
Also, There's a sticky at the top of the page for fitness stuff. I'm just saying, i dunno if this questions would be answered there or not.
As for protein, its all good in my opinion. Just find one that tastes great. Be careful with muscle milk though, take a look at the fat content, its something like 18g/serving versus a normal shake's 2.5! 1 or 2 of those every day adds up and if you're looking to get leaner stay away. If you don't have a blender just find a cup with a twist on top, thats what I use and its a lot easier to clean and faster.
Don't worry about fish oil, if you're eating a balanced diet it is not worthing buying pills every month.
I am currently using a push/pull schedule for my workouts and I like it. Pushing motions on one day (chest, tris, and shoulders), pulling motions the next (back, biceps), then one day of legs.
Vanilla flavoured protein based foods taste like arse.
Chocolate flavoured protein based foods have palatable tastes.
Satans..... hints.....
Optimum 100% Whey Protein
It's pretty much the standard stuff that everyone uses, also the number 1 seller on the site. I'm going through a 5lb tub of Cookies and Cream.
The Muscle Milk recommendations above is also a pretty good one, some people don't like to use it as much because it has extra calories in there, but it does taste good.
In other news I just got my bench press up to 240 yesterday. I feel happy.
I KISS YOU!
"With extra hydro whey!"
Is this it's version of creatine or something? What makes it better then the regular Whey protein I ve been using?>
No, it's just a fancy name on there, but the protein powder is some of the best. Compared to a lot of the other stuff out there this one packs the biggest bunch and is the healthiest one for you. No extra crap, not loaded with fat or other things you don't want, and keeps winning for best protein powder out there.
If the work out maniacs at bodybuilding.com like it then I will just jump on the bandwagon with them.
I KISS YOU!
First off, generic brands from GNC or Vitamin Shoppe taste awful. I found Optimum Nutrition's to taste great and mix very well with water. Plus it has Aminogen which will help your body absorb the protein better. Muscle Milk is great as well and is best to take a serving before bed as it's slow digesting.
When to take the protein is important. You'll want to have a fair amount of protein powder in the morning and following a work out since it's digest quickly. Some say to take protein before a work out but that can upset your stomach. And as I said in my last paragraph. Take a serving before bed too.