Clyde1820

Depends if you have larger, tougher items that need smoothing before drinking.

Seeds, nuts and kale/chard requires the blender, for example.

When I'm opting for a piece of fruit and half sandwich, say, but want a boost of protein, I might simply shake up a scoop of whey powder with nut "milk" and a squeezed lime. But, generally, the blender works for it all.

KraneXL

Actually, that precisely what it is, and exactly what it does -- although I won't argue the "magical" part. As for any other confusion, some things aren't expressly explained because I assume they are generally understood. Still, if you don't find it ridiculously obvious, you can always ask for clarification. Now that's just plain wrong. Protein is a necessary nutrient, and vitally more valuable than just plain water. As to carbs, they are not essential to build muscle. Not sure what you were thinking when you made that comment.

Seattle Forrest

Building muscle takes a lot of energy. It requires stress on your muscles to trigger the process, but the actual building of muscle is an energy intense process. That energy cost is mostly paid for with carbohydrates. Your body isn't going to create new muscle tissue without glycogen.

Protein is like tools. You can't build a house without hammers and saws, but having more tools around won't make a house without carpenters, and won't prevent deterioration over time without work either.

To build muscle you need progressive overload, protein and carbohydrate, and hormones.

That's not what this thread is about, but since you're confused it's good to clear this up. 🙂

Carbonfiberboy 

For the whey protein I mentioned in post 6, I use a shaker flask.

Flip Flop Rider

bought some Muscle Milk to try and it's good, might be too sweet

wolfchild

https://labdoor.com/rankings/protein

Climb14er

I'll start by saying that everyone's taste and metabolism are different and what works for one might not work for another.

Been making smoothies about fifty years, since the end of high school and beginning of college. Started out with milk, fresh fruit, plain yogurt... to... using soy milk as my base... to almond milk then as my base... to about twenty years ago... ORGANIC Unflitered APPLE JUICE... is my base.

In my Vitamix, one quart of apple juice, three or four table spoons of plain yogurt, whole milk or Greek non fat, Gold Standard Whey French Vanilla Ice Cream Flavor... that's my base... to this I add two frozen bananas, EITHER... fresh fruit in season or frozen Organic fruit like mango or mixed fruit from Costco, large handful... or... instead of fruit... three heaping tablespoons of organic peanut butter with two frozen bananas. Sometimes I add in a handful of almonds, sunflower seeds, flax... depends on mood.

I fire up the Vitamix, make 64oz of smoothie, drink one large glass before ride or workout, put the balance in Nalgenes in the fridge.

That's it! Leave your blender OUT ON THE COUNTER and you will use it regularly Experiment! Take it from me, you can have nutritious meal and workout replacements and additions to your diet.

ENJOY!

KraneXL

Well Muscle Milk is one of the worst protein powders out there. So I'd avoid that one at all cost. You mean that some people might have food allergies such as lactose intolerance? Well I don't like chunks of anything in my smoothies. I prefer them smooth.

Climb14er

With my Vitamix, there are NO CHUNKS what-so-ever! Completely... SMOOTH... that's why mine are called... SMOOTHIES!

Flip Flop Rider

Chunkies just doesn't have the same ring to it

burnthesheep

I eat food and drink water. Maybe electrolyte if it was really hot outside.

I'm not a trackie and don't do a ton of sprint workouts. I'm of the opinion that if you're doing what you should do with your diet and not going for the hour record or not a trackie..........the use of this stuff for amateur racers probably isn't the biggest deal.

If I'm going to be finishing up a group hammer fest once a week with a food truck and beer....I don't think I'm on a regimen to be buying/using protein solutions.

79pmooney

I've had a few protein shakes. Because they were there. (Post ride, Cycle Oregon.) I drank them mostly for the God's nectar of the fresh fruit. In my racing days, had they existed I would have steered clear. Reason: Muscle recovery. Yes I know that sounds backwards. But proteins and muscle fiber that has been stressed and needs repair require the same thing. Oxygen. A limited resource. And protein always wins. So consuming more than the needed protein is putting muscle recover on hold.

I have found as a regular road rider that my diet of whole grains, veggies, fruit, legumes and limited fish provided plenty of protein. Absolutely no reason to shell out the bucks to get more, especially in a not so great tasting form with no fiber, trace minerals and vitamins.

I do use a blender regularly. About every 10 days I make the next batches of hummus and pesto. And yes, cleaning that sucker is the pits. (My GP finally got me to go off dairy. Hummus and pesto make up for no sharp cheddar cheese, the food I love. Going no dairy has been the last big jump in a series of health upgrades. I haven't this good since I raced 40+ years ago.)

Ben

KraneXL

This is old-fashioned thinking. Especially when few people have the times and resource to map out a wholesome, well-balanced diet every day. A protein shake or two, would take car of all you protein needs in one fell swoop. If anything, there is a greater requirement for supplement as we age.

OBoile

Wait? What?

What you're saying sounds backwards because it is. Protein is used to repair stressed muscle fibre. They aren't competing with each other.

Seattle Forrest

You don't have to eat a perfectly balanced diet every single day. As long as it's rounded, averages over the course of several days, you'll be fine. 🙂

KraneXL

You don't need to get 8 hours sleep to function either. But your productivity, focus and efficiency will diminish with every hour that you subtract. This isn't about barely getting by.

My suggestions are about MAXIMIZING heath and fitness, and reversing the signs of ageing. That's not going to happen by ignoring modern nutritional reasoning, and ignoring supplements.

Seattle Forrest

You don't need supplements to be healthy. If you want to 'maximize' health you're much better off eating well than taking supplements.

KraneXL

No you do not. However, my suggestion was meant for active people, who are looking to maximize their fitness. And who use their muscles and are regularly engaged in vigorous aerobic and anaerobic exercise.

It was not meant for those folks whose most demanding activity is to get off the sofa to go get another bag of pork rinds.

wolfchild

Sleep is overrated and 8 hours of sleep per night is a fantasy...I don't remember ever getting full uninterrupted 8 hours of sleep. I can be pretty damn productive with only 5-6 hours of sleep

There is absolutely no proof or evidence that supplements reverse ageing, extend lifespan, prevent age related diseases, improve health/fitness. Supplements should only be used to correct deficiencies and not as a replacement for real food...Protein powder is overrated. Protein deficiency doesn't exist, at least not in the first world countries

Seattle Forrest

I never get any exercise. I don't even get up for the pork rinds, I had as conveyor belt installed so the delivery guy shows up and they go right into my mouth.

🙂

Carbonfiberboy 

Folks who think sleep is unimportant, who think that no supplement does anything that ordinary diet doesn't do, who think the sarcopenia is an internet scam with no personal application to them . . . will probably never discover that none of those things are true. Well, except for that latter . . . Which is fine and not a problem for me. I just took my handful of pills with my whey protein and water, and off to bed for 9 hours sleep. We're taking the tandem out tomorrow for a fine 40 miles with the group, another Perfect Ride™.

wolfchild

I don't think anybody said that sarcopenia is a scam...What is being said is that drinking protein shakes isn't going to reverse or prevent sacropenia....Resistance training is the one and only way to reverse and prevent sacropenia. ( use it or loose it ).

Carbonfiberboy 

Low protein = muscle loss. Did you see the parents indicted for manslaughter for putting their baby on a vegan diet? I know a guy my age with cancer, getting chemotherapy, who drinks kale smoothies for breakfast. People are nuts. Resistance training w/o adequate protein isn't going to help. As we age, our protein requirements increase, not decrease like some seem to believe. Even with whey protein and resistance training, I just barely keep my legs from shrinking.

Seattle Forrest

Drinking protein shakes isn't the only way to get protein, just like eBikes aren't the only way to get up a hill.

CyclingBK

You may want to try sleeping more ; )

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326896.php

“Now, researchers at Boston University in Massachusetts have found that during sleep, the fluid present in the brain and spinal chord — called the cerebrospinal fluid — washes in and out, like waves, helping the brain get rid of accumulated metabolic "trash."”

And I wouldn’t say Protein powder is overrated....or underrated. It’s just protein.