Protein intake w/ caloric intake reduction (newbie question)

[TheFly]

Question:

Any recommendations on protein shakes and powders? I purchased some egg protein from the vitamin shop and to be quite honest I almost hurled when I tried it. So basic taste tolerance is a requirement (I don't enjoy throwing up). I do not have a weak stomach, I can eat almost anything and so was rather surprised by the powder...believe me I tried a few times to get it down.

Also what should I mix with it? Should I just add water? Chill it? I currently enjoy soy milk on a daily basis (I've read the articles on the forum in regards to soy milk).

Thank you in advance, this is one thing I have very limited knowledge of if any at all.


Other Info:

Cutting calories significantly for the next 30 or so days and trying to maintain a weightlifting and cardio regime.

Trying to loose excess fat basically but I do not want to suffer muscle loss that is usually a side effect of fast weight loss, I intend to gain strength while loosing weight (at least thats the plan).

Want to try and maintain around .8 grams of protein per lb, honestly I'm fairly sure my intake has never been that high before. (New to supplements)

[JoeBAR]

If you're a beginer, you don't really need to spend that much on protein supplements. After all, no need to waste money on puke. You only need to shift your diet.

Calorie reduction: lower carbs, very very low (no starchy vegetable, no sugar, no oatmeal (I can see disagreements coming))
maintain muscle : high protein diet with healthy fat
nutriment timing: protein + fat for breakfat like fried eggs and grilled chicken sausages
meals : meat and veg, loadsa greens, as fillers. 1/2 a letuce will make you feel you've eaten
eat often, 6~7 times a day, a little at a time, just enough to tide you over to the next one.

Workout: hard, very hard. Big lifts, few reps, as heavy as you can manage. like 5RM for 3 reps, 8 sets!!! 3 times a week, preferably full body workout (be selective, I dont mean squat dead row press every day).

Determination ... lots of it.

[pliny_2001]

JoeBAR's right. If you're out there trying to lose weight, not much need to be adding calories in the form of shakes - it's a basic thing, but everyone seems to forget it in the haze of looking at supplements.

Also - fast weight loss isn't the way to go. The body tends to think that it's starving if you lose more than 2lbs a week, so it'll burn muscle, hoard fat, and refuse to put on lean body mass. So I'd recommend you not do a radical calorie reduction/fast weight loss.

If you're willing to take some time at it, you will be able to gain lean body mass while losing bodyfat - all while eating shakes . But if you want to do it fast, you may make a number, but you won't be satisified with your body composition.

[darthtexan]

I am using EAS Whey Protein. I havent tried many other brands of protein powder, but my protein powder tastes much better when mixed with skim milk rather than water.

I agree with most of what Joe Bar said, although I think oatmeal is authorized as long as it isnt the instant oatmeal that you just stick in the microwave.

My favorite whole food carb is ALLBRAN with extra fiber cereal. This stuff is great. It has a very low glycemic level, so it will keep your blood sugar as stable as possible, and it is loaded with fiber, which helps you burn fat and keeps you regular in the face of all that extra protein.

Dont eat any less than 8 times your bodyweight each day. Dont eat any more than 10 times your bodyweight. You might supplement with creatine and HMB to help maintain your muscle. For each meal, keep the carb portion about half the size of the protein portion. I would completely cut out carbs for the last meal of the day. But for the post weightraining workout nutrition shake, you might consider having more carbs than usual, because this is a time in which they wont be converted to fat.

[TheFly]

Going to add a few healthy choices to the diet, oatmeal, eggs, some whey protein, as opposed to starvation mode. Body composition is much more important to me, so I'll see how that goes, not like I'm in a rush ^^.

Thank you for the input.

[Mr. Mang]

Originally Posted by pliny_2001

JoeBAR's right. If you're out there trying to lose weight, not much need to be adding calories in the form of shakes - it's a basic thing, but everyone seems to forget it in the haze of looking at supplements.

Also - fast weight loss isn't the way to go. The body tends to think that it's starving if you lose more than 2lbs a week, so it'll burn muscle, hoard fat, and refuse to put on lean body mass. So I'd recommend you not do a radical calorie reduction/fast weight loss.

If you're willing to take some time at it, you will be able to gain lean body mass while losing bodyfat - all while eating shakes . But if you want to do it fast, you may make a number, but you won't be satisified with your body composition.

Im going to dissent The level of commitment and attention required to loose fat mass at a rapid rate is substantially higher but completely doable (not for the oatmeal eater though =]).

Oatmeal definlty is not a good food to eat when trying to loose fat. There are way better foods out there that dont give as many carbs at such a high glycemic index.

As for suppliments I use On nutrition natural whey and Iron Tek essential natural whey/cassanate. I do a 2 scoop of the On product and a tablespoon of the essential. The On natrutal is nasty tasting and the essential is super sweet. Both are free of artifical sweetners, which no one seems to think about, but critical in my opinion. Its decent tasting in the end and free of the bad stuff.

[varbo]

First to answer the protien question, I use ON Whey gold standard (Vanilla) and mix it with half pineapple juice and half water and it actually tastes pretty good.

I understand the oatmeal thing. There a lot of people who have an intolerance to oatmeal and don't even know it. If you are one of them, the oatmeal will cause you to gain fat because of how your body reacts to it. If you aren't one of them, then oatmeals a good slow digesting carb. I read somewhere and not sure if its true, but up to 50% of caucasians have this intolerence.

Eat lots of vegetables is the only tip I have.

[Mr. Mang]

Originally Posted by varbo

First to answer the protien question, I use ON Whey gold standard (Vanilla) and mix it with half pineapple juice and half water and it actually tastes pretty good.

I understand the oatmeal thing. There a lot of people who have an intolerance to oatmeal and don't even know it. If you are one of them, the oatmeal will cause you to gain fat because of how your body reacts to it. If you aren't one of them, then oatmeals a good slow digesting carb. I read somewhere and not sure if its true, but up to 50% of caucasians have this intolerence.

Eat lots of vegetables is the only tip I have.

Yeah slows digestion, true. Its soluble fiber, good stuff. Im not knocking oatmeal in general, but only saying for fat loss, choose another carb.

The glycemic load and index of the food will potentially cause your insulin levels to spike and when you have elevated insulin levels your body cannot secrete the hormones required to release stored fat from cells.

So I read that is.

[gunshowbabe]

I mainly drink isopure, it has no fat, 40grams of whey protein and the alpine punch tastes pretty good.. It's refreshing too, not a milky drink. It also doesn't have carbs so it may work well with you trying to loose weight. (Man I should be a spokes person of this stuff.. ) They also have powders too. (Here is a google link, read up on it... isopure zero carb - Google Search I also sometimes drink muscle milk or GNC properformance whey chocolate flavored... the taste is not too bad, my fiance adds penut butter and ice then blends it to cover up the taste, he loves it. I personally like mine warm.. so that depends on your preference.