Ideas for BCAA intake?

**tidalwave** · February 24th, 2009, 12:26 PM

I'm going to start trying to lean out and have purchased Optimum BCAA 5000 powder. It's unflavored, so I'm looking for suggestions on a medium with which to mix it. The constraints are that I'm on the road all the time right now, so it would be something I'd be able to keep in a cooler, e.g. bottle of water and some kind of powder mix, etc.

Any ideas? Thanks!

**lizzyb** · February 24th, 2009, 12:41 PM

I'd take them just like you your glutamine if taking any of that....either mix in your protein powder, or consume with water or juice......b4 bed, after workouts and extra if you are missing meals here and there.

**tooncesthecat** · February 24th, 2009, 01:19 PM

I have the exact same product. I just mix it in my post workout shake with protein and glutamine. Also another scoop before bed the same way.

**pliny_2001** · February 24th, 2009, 02:22 PM

I've found BCAA's to be great when taken before and during the workout, in giant doses (40g or so total). They don't mix in water at all, so I just do "mouth-mixing" -- put water in mouth, pour in 10g BCAA, swallow). The taste is nasty but survivable, but the after-taste is worst for me.

I drink water (not sports drink) during my workout, so I'll just mix in some gatorade powder or tang (something with sugar, not HFCS or the fake sugars like in Crystal Light, etc) with the BCAA powder. A friend came up with that method (so the credit goes to him), and it's the best I've found.

**johnny_on_the_spot** · February 24th, 2009, 02:37 PM

i take MRM BCAA+G. it's lemonade flavor. i got with pliny, just scoop it into my mouth and then take a swig of water. it actually tastes pretty good.

**Italianangel** · February 24th, 2009, 03:11 PM

I take pvl , 4 pre training and 4 post but mine are caps.
Linda

**tooncesthecat** · February 24th, 2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pliny_2001

I've found BCAA's to be great when taken before and during the workout, in giant doses (40g or so total). They don't mix in water at all, so I just do "mouth-mixing" -- put water in mouth, pour in 10g BCAA, swallow). The taste is nasty but survivable, but the after-taste is worst for me.

I drink water (not sports drink) during my workout, so I'll just mix in some gatorade powder or tang (something with sugar, not HFCS or the fake sugars like in Crystal Light, etc) with the BCAA powder. A friend came up with that method (so the credit goes to him), and it's the best I've found.

Actually, the ON powder BCAAs mix nicely in water.

**tidalwave** · February 24th, 2009, 08:53 PM

You had me at

Quote:

Originally Posted by pliny_2001

..tang..

As much as I like it, I'm guessing the sugar content would offset my desired goal, considering I'd be consuming this between workouts, probably while on the road.

I'll probably get some protein mix that goes well with water. I typically mix in skim milk for my post-workout shake, but bringing milk every day might be difficult.

Thanks for the suggestions, all!

**pliny_2001** · February 25th, 2009, 10:48 AM

If you're just doing this between workouts, I'd skip straight to the protein powder -- studies are all over the place, but my experience is that BCAA's are great for preserving muscle while losing weight, but you only really get the effect when they're taken at the workout, not as a 'snack' or anything.

If you just need weight-loss food for the road, I'd recommend the (tragically) expensive biotest low-carb protein powder; it's the easiest mixing powder I'm aware, and tastes excellent. A lot of people like Optimum Nutrition's stuff, but I'm not 100% on board with them.

johnny-on-the-spot's MRM BCAA is great tasting (I think that Adonis originally recommended it), but I've since switched to Supplement Directs (available at bb.com) unflavored bulk BCAA - a group tested it and it does contain what is says, at a pretty low cost. And don't worry about the Tang - to flavor all 40g of BCAA, I'm not even filling up a 3g scoop with the tang powder, so the sugar's got to be pretty minimal.