how many protein shakes is too many?

**JD5096** · 08-12-2006, 05:12 PM

I am putting together a bulking diet for this coming up off season and I was wondering how many protein shakes is too many?

**audis4** · 08-12-2006, 07:47 PM

Try what works best for you...then add or delete depending on your needs.

**soccer#3** · 08-12-2006, 09:27 PM

i think it all depends.. i use 3 a day + 1 weight gainer serving.. i'd say anything above 5 is too much u want ur protein source to be from real food

**Superballer** · 08-13-2006, 01:16 AM

Just a thought, IMO, there seems to be some debate on this board over whether or not whey shakes are a good idea.

Bino and IBD (two very respected vets) seem too very much prefer whole foods and cut shakes almost completely out of their diets.

However, Johan and Swolecat (two hall of famers) have implemented shakes in their diet with much success.

For my lean bulk, the shakes left me feeling hungry between meals.

So I decided that I'd rather play it safe and eat whole food as much as possible. After doing this for 4 months, I've found that it almost faster/easier to do whole/real protein than whey (at least for me).

I can grab a can of chicken or two cans of tuna if I don't have pre-cooked chicken around just as fast as I can get some whey ready.

And it is very fast to eat some chicken right out of the can, same with tuna. Just take a bite or two then drink some water to get it down. Not great tasting, but at least I know I'm not shortchanging myself.

Just a few thoughts.

In response to your question: Swolecat said that he has up to 3 shakes per day in addition to 3-4 solid meals a day.

In this thread: http://forums.steroid.com/showthread...highlight=whey

So that would be my response. Up to half your meals via shakes, if you must use them.

**statuZ** · 08-13-2006, 11:02 PM

swolecat is da man for the diet/training advice my man. i will alawys listen to his advice over others.

**Animal505** · 08-14-2006, 12:39 AM

Id say eat as much real food meals as you can, then turn to rest of your meals for the shakes. You might consider trying a good MRP insted of whey shakes just for the added cals, expecialy if your bulking.

**kyjelly** · 08-14-2006, 12:43 AM

13 is too many....maybe even 12

hell, 11 is too many....but 10..

10...now thats where its at my man

**Jakt** · 08-21-2006, 09:11 AM

there is no such thing as too many.. and results also vary greatly, once again if your taking test(as) or whatever and you don't do well w/ the shakes u scuk!!!!!!!!!!!! lol.... j/k shakes work great for me... but there are way too many factors to actually have a good answer for this question... just use it in moderation.

**Kärnfysikern** · 08-21-2006, 03:57 PM

I draw the line somewhere betwen 1 and 37 give or take 5 or so.

to be serious. Im usualy satisfied if 50% of my protein comes from solid food and the rest from shakes

**novastepp** · 08-21-2006, 04:22 PM

i use them when im too lazy to cook, or when im in a jam and need 50grams quick. oats or peanut butter with my whey and you got your carb or fat meal covered.

**IBdmfkr** · 08-21-2006, 04:48 PM

I'll use a shake only in emergency after this contest prep. At that I'll only use casein/egg/milk proteins when needed. Otherwise it's wholefoods for sure, I don't like to waste a meal on shakes when I can get good clean wholefoods, for various reasons I don't feel like going over at the moment.. to each is own, find what works and then follow it. Ofcourse these ppl who take shakes will vouche for them as they are still seeing results, but the question remains have they actually gone without shakes for a long amount of time and eaten the proper amount/timed whole food meals to compare the difference? I'd be interested to know, because I have.

**Kärnfysikern** · 08-21-2006, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by IBdmfkr

I'll use a shake only in emergency after this contest prep. At that I'll only use casein/egg/milk proteins when needed. Otherwise it's wholefoods for sure, I don't like to waste a meal on shakes when I can get good clean wholefoods, for various reasons I don't feel like going over at the moment.. to each is own, find what works and then follow it. Ofcourse these ppl who take shakes will vouche for them as they are still seeing results, but the question remains have they actually gone without shakes for a long amount of time and eaten the proper amount/timed whole food meals to compare the difference? I'd be interested to know, because I have.

yupp as a matter of fact I have. I have tried both extremes aswell(no protein from shakes and all protein from shakes).

When I did doggcrapp training the first time I did no whey shakes. I instead got the extra protein from tuna shakes. So I got nearly 400g protein/day from solid foods except offcourse the post workout shake. I made awsome gains and boy did I spend alot of time shitting

But other times when powerlifting I have gotten more than 50% of my daily protein from whey shakes and made some of the best strenght gains in my life. For a 5 week period 100% of my protein came from whey shakes and it did not hamper my strenght gains at all. This was because I had plenty of whey and no money so I had to do a all whey shake diet(with various cheap things mixed with the whey offcourse, avacado, oils, oatmeal ect).

So to me it doesnt seem to make any difference whatsoever if I get protein from whey or from food. It realy doesnt seem to matter to me either if I eat 200g protein/day or 400g protein/day.

Protein to me is a complete non-issue. Aslong as I get a resonable amount of it(1g/ib bodyweight) and follow a good routine I will gain awsome. Regardless of the source of the protein. It can be whey, soy, tuna, sausage, beef, eggs. Doesnt matter at all.

To me what determines my gains the most is not my diet, it is my routines.
I dont exclude the possibility though that my body is wierd. God knows I do alot of things with my diets that arent considered kosher

**spound** · 08-21-2006, 05:25 PM

I nevere have a shake just to have a shake..unless it is PWO. If I am pressed for time, or am leaving the hosue for a while/driving, I will have a shake, but if I have the choice of whole food...I go with that always. I will say though that it is important to get a good protein powder with a good protein profile with casein in it, otherwise its almost pointless as whey will be out of your system almost too fast to hold you over much at all. On days that I do not work, I have 1 shake TOPS with some oats and ANPB. On days that I work I have 2 shake, unless its a training day, in which case Ill have three. I work at a bar at night therefore I cant really eat most of the time, so I bring two shakes to work with me then come home and have a soild meal with FF cottage cheese and almonds b4 bed.

**C_Bino** · 08-21-2006, 05:33 PM

I am with BD on this as someone already pointed out. And I like what Spound said as well. I would never tell myself hmmm Im gonna have a shake next meal. F*ck that, if i am in dire need and stuck in a car crash or something crazy sure Ill take a shake, thats about it. I mean you get what you pay for, whey protien is cheap as shit, egg, cassien, soy etc are more expensive. Take a guess why? Like most other things in this world, the more you spend the better quality you are getting, this is why whole food is most expensive of all.

***perfectbeast2001*** · 08-21-2006, 05:38 PM

I use shakes as a supplement not as a replacement. I will use whey to add flavour to porridge or cottage cheese and as a bonus it increases protein and cals for my meal. I consume a pwo shake and thats it.

**Kärnfysikern** · 08-21-2006, 05:47 PM

there are health benifits from whey that you cant get from food like the below quote.
Offcourse there are benifits from foods you cant get with whey aswell.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_docsum

Whey, a protein complex derived from milk, is being touted as a functional food with a number of health benefits. The biological components of whey, including lactoferrin, beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, glycomacropeptide, and immunoglobulins, demonstrate a range of immune-enhancing properties. In addition, whey has the ability to act as an antioxidant, antihypertensive, antitumor, hypolipidemic, antiviral, antibacterial, and chelating agent. The primary mechanism by which whey is thought to exert its effects is by intracellular conversion of the amino acid cysteine to glutathione, a potent intracellular antioxidant. A number of clinical trials have successfully been performed using whey in the treatment of cancer, HIV, hepatitis B, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and as an antimicrobial agent. Whey protein has also exhibited benefit in the arena of exercise performance and enhancement.

It also protects against ulcers and is very rich in minerals and it contains more essential amino acids than whole foods. You also avoid issues with mercury that can occur from overeating tuna(tuna is acctual cheaper as protein source than whey around here in sweden).

To be honest I have never understood the idea of food beeing superior to whey. The only issue with whey that I can imagine is that it is to quickly absorbed. But that problem is easily solved by sipping on the shake for a while instead of just downing it in a instant.

Not bashing the experience you guys have at all, not my intention at all since I know my oppinion as whey just about equal to food is a minority oppinon.
Im just trying to understad what reasoning you guys have for claiming whole food as a superior protein source over whey?

**IBdmfkr** · 08-21-2006, 09:11 PM

Everyone is entitled to there opinion Johan, and yours is highly respected by me. BUT I'll stick with my wholefoods for the next year and a half and post up pictures of my progress

Again like you said, training is a major factor and consistancy ofcourse, each of us has different goals experiences and reacts differently to different things.. that's the mystery, finding what works for you and running with it. Goodluck my friend.

BD

**l2elapse** · 08-21-2006, 11:33 PM

with that being said Johan. What if i added 1 scoop of whey to every meal. Be beneficial or what

**IBdmfkr** · 08-22-2006, 12:40 AM

I used to do that on my bulk with success. I feel whey is better to be taken with a meal IMO as it is mearly a protein "supplement"..

Now I will just add a couple extra oz of meat/meal instead. Either works fine IMO.

**l2elapse** · 08-22-2006, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by IBdmfkr

I used to do that on my bulk with success. I feel whey is better to be taken with a meal IMO as it is mearly a protein "supplement"..

Now I will just add a couple extra oz of meat/meal instead. Either works fine IMO.

sweet

**Kärnfysikern** · 08-22-2006, 01:56 AM

Originally Posted by IBdmfkr

Everyone is entitled to there opinion Johan, and yours is highly respected by me. BUT I'll stick with my wholefoods for the next year and a half and post up pictures of my progress

Again like you said, training is a major factor and consistancy ofcourse, each of us has different goals experiences and reacts differently to different things.. that's the mystery, finding what works for you and running with it. Goodluck my friend.

BD

Yes dont get me wrong I defenetly respect your oppinions. Both you and Bino is far bigger than I am that is for sure

**Kärnfysikern** · 08-22-2006, 01:58 AM

Originally Posted by justinandrews7

with that being said Johan. What if i added 1 scoop of whey to every meal. Be beneficial or what

there are some things suggesting that a high peak in amino acid levels can be extra benifical to protein synthesis so I think a shake before a meal might be a good idea.

But I dont know if it would make any real world difference. Cant hurt if you have trouble getting enough protein atleast

Like IBD say perfect for bulking.

**Superballer** · 08-22-2006, 03:30 AM

Great discussion.

Glad someone bumped this.

**suckysucky** · 08-22-2006, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by statuZ

swolecat is da man for the diet/training advice my man. i will alawys listen to his advice over others.

word, the diet forum isnt half as good as it use to be with out that beast around. There are still some great guys here though. SC knew his shit for sure