If I am looking to lose weight, should I be taking Protien Shakes?

S

shoemocker

0
If I am looking to lose weight, should I be taking Protien Shakes?

After I do my workout I have been taking Protien Shakes to help with my muscles and etc. I heard that this is going to make me gain weight though? If my goal is to lose massive amounts of weight, should I not be taking these things after my workout?

I weigh 350 right now and would like to get to 200. So we are talking massive weight loss here.
 
shoemocker said:
If I am looking to lose weight, should I be taking Protien Shakes?

After I do my workout I have been taking Protien Shakes to help with my muscles and etc. I heard that this is going to make me gain weight though? If my goal is to lose massive amounts of weight, should I not be taking these things after my workout?

I weigh 350 right now and would like to get to 200. So we are talking massive weight loss here.
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Protein drinks will NOT (in itself) cause weight gain. Protein (drinks) precede and follow workouts, because of varying nutritional need properties that arguable exist. If these protein drinks are within your set calorie limitations, and the other contents of your diet (during the day) are additionally within these confined limits, there shouldn't be a problem in the numerical (calorie) sense leading to fat loss. In the calorie sense you are fine.

My usual answer is that this can depend. I say this because when calorie deficient, and "drinking" calories can heighten/enhance hunger problems that are going to surface in varying degrees as one continues dieting.

This is not withstanding the other contents of the diet, since most protein shakes are somewhere between 110 to 200 calories per scoop (not counting the calories from milk (etc), if not using water to mix it).

You could certainly limit your Protein shakes around pre and post workouts, and get your other Protein sources (and other macro nutrients) during the course of the day. Its also a good time to add a bit of Carbohydrates (are you diabetic?)

With you being 350 pounds, your calorie intake (dependent on age, and other particulars) are going to be high even with a deficit, so having a few protein shakes as "drinking" calories may not be that big of an issue. However, attempting to get your protein during a calorie deficit IS important.

My point is, of course there is nothing wrong with protein shakes. You certainly can have them when trying to lose tissue, but (IMO, certainly around pre and post workout (other times as tolerable)--in a calorie deficiency), I would opt for harder longer digesting protein foods as the "primary focus" because this will assist in hunger cravings that will....come.

Also, the truth is, you do not need protein drinks, (there may be some exceptions within some lifestyles, such as not having enough time to eat a good solid meal and whatnot, where a quick protein drink may be more convenient and feasible, etc), but its certainly no requirement--but having Protein is. :) LOL.

Have you calculated your approximate calorie and macro nutrient requirements?



Best wishes,


Chillen
 
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Protein shakes are FOOD. Calories. If you take in too many calories, you gain weight...maybe fat, maybe muscle, maybe some of both.

The blanket statement 'protein makes you gain weight' is false because it doesn't take into account the rest of your food/calorie intake, or your physical activity.

I will make a general statement though: taking protein shakes post resistance workout is generally a good idea regardless of your fitness goals. The body was damaged by weight training and the thing it wants most is amino acids to start repairing damaged tissue. Protein is comprised of amino acids.
 
To sum up the previous posts: As long as you take the protein shake pre or post workout and it is accounted for in your daily caloric intake (with deficit for weightloss) then it will be no problem and can be helpful in maintaining muscle mass while on the quest for a large total weight drop.
 
After any form of exercise it's good to take on some Protein and Carbohydrate immediately after you finish.

No matter what you're doing, be it Weights, Running, Cardio etc. your body will break down muscle and fat into fuel for your muscles and the mix of Protein and Carbs is perfect to start the recovery and repair process. Additionally your metabolism will be a lot higher post workout and the Carbohydrate will help restore your muscles natural source of Glycogen which is used up when you exercise. Whey Protein shakes and a High GI Cereal Bars are perfect for this since they are digested and absorbed very quickly. It's the only time you would really want to eat high GI food on a diet.

Don't worry about putting on weight through it either. When you eat comes a distant second to what you eat.

Good luck with the weight loss bud!
 
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