Flip Flop Rider

if yes, what brands and why? or recipes

Have bought Lean Shake from GNC (about $2 a bottle), and Boost from the grocery store (about 1.70 a bottle and smaller), and they seem to give me a good energy bump

if no, why not?

thanks

Hermes

I have a recovery drink after exercise that includes protein. I like Muscle Milk.

gregf83 

I sometimes have chocolate milk. Otherwise I just eat something. Whatever I eat usually has protein and carbs in it.

zjrog

I'm on a high protein low carb regiment due to weight loss surgery. I start every day with a 30g protein shake from Premier Protein, I get from Sam's Club, 12 packs. About $1.40 each depending on the price that week. Several flavors available, including for a limited time, Pumpkin Spice (?!)... For only 160 calories, I get half my daily protein needs. The rest I get from regular foods. I do keep a few Premier Protein bars, as well as Quest branded bars as well. Another 20 or so grams protein when I don't have time for a full meal, or post ride recovery...

pdlamb

A friend recommended some protein drinks from Costco, so I got a box.

They tasted awful to me.

Chocolate milk FTW!

Carbonfiberboy 

I use whey protein isolate (grass fed) dissolved in plain water for the most part. I buy it by the 5 lb. container at a cost of 27g/$1 for the pure protein. Tastes pretty good - I like the chocolate flavor.

Oh - the brand is Muscle Feast.

wolfchild

I use Kaizen Naturals unflavoured/unsweetened whey protein. I avoid any protein powders with artificial sweeteners or flavours...I use one scoop of whey blended with one cup of sweetened kefir or yogurt as my pre-workout drink, this gives me about 35-40 grams of sugar and 40 grams of protein, I don't use it as a post-workout drink anymore. After my workout I just eat a big meal high in protein and carbs. I also use it as part of my smoothie which I take to work with me.
Taking whey protein once or twice a day is more than enough, majority of your daily protein intake should come from real food. I am not against using protein powders, they can be useful in situations where eating food is impractical, but protein powders should never be a substitute for real food.

berner

I've used Hammer Nutrition recovery drink after long rides, 60 miles for me. Orange/Vanilla which tasted good. The formula has been updated which I,ve not tried. I don't eat much meat so supplement with a protein shake for dessert, about 190 calories.

medic75

I typically don't. I tried a bang keto coffee once. It wasn't too bad. The ingredient list seems pretty clean as compared to other energy drinks. It has 20 mg of whey protein and 300 mg of caffeine. If I was going to drink something one of these drinks, I think this would be on the list of possibilities.

Seattle Forrest

The shakes themselves aren't cheap, as you mention. Protein powder is though. I have a tub of it gathering dust, haven't opened it for years. I was thinking when I finished it I'd reuse the plastic container as a bear canister, but for rodents. I need to get on that.

I don't really find this stuff enjoyable. Protein shakes and powders aren't yummy, and they don't make me feel wonderful - blunt my appetite for an hour or two, but in a moderately unpleasant way. Then my appetite comes back, and I've used 200-300 calories on a $2 drink I didn't enjoy.

The alternative is eating a balanced diet with enough protein and carbohydrates, and that tends to be more enjoyable in terms of how it tastes, how it makes me feel, and how it affects my performance.

canklecat

Yup, pretty much every day for more than a year. I started last year after a swollen thyroid (cancer, removed with surgery) compressed and distorted my esophagus, making it difficult to swallow solid food and pills. I wasn't eating properly, lost a lot of weight, had no energy. I seemed to feel better so I kept making protein drinks.

Ready made drinks are too expensive, although during a long bike ride I'll stop at a convenience store for a Monster java drink which has protein and supplements. Tasty and good for an energy boost to finish a metric or standard century.

Usually I buy whatever protein powder is on sale. Muscle Milk and a couple other whey powders taste best but I tend to try a different brand every month. Lately it's been OWYN (Only What You Need) and Amazing Grass, the first legume/vegan protein powders I've tried that taste okay and have a fairly good texture. Most legume/vegan powders I've tried have the flavor and texture of dirt. OWYN may be the best buy because it includes all the amino acid supplements I take anyway.

Often I'll mix the protein powder in cold coffee from the day before. Tastes better to me, especially with all the bitter tasting supplements I add. Seems to offset the flavor.

I still have some difficulty swallowing, partly due to very minor nerve damage from the thyroid surgery and exacerbated by annual checkups that include esophageal endoscopies (including last week). I can swallow small pills but capsules get stuck in my throat, which can be panic inducing. So I open the gel caps and dissolve the solid capsules in the protein drinks.

On workout days I also add various other supplements -- DHEA, pregnenolone, magnesium lactate, l-arginine, ajuga turkest extract (supposedly a good source of ecdysterone), and kratom for chronic pain from the auto-immune disorder that killed my thyroid. That stuff all tastes kinda bitter and the protein powder covers it up. Seems to help. I'm stronger and faster than I was even the couple of years before the thyroid cancer. Of course that could also be due to persistence in physical therapy. I still tire more easily than I used to, but I'm older so there's that.

And my doctors say I have osteopenia and low Vitamin D, so I'm adding calcium and vitamin D to make them happy. But it doesn't seem to make any difference. Studies indicate we don't get much good from extra dietary calcium and vitamin D. Supposedly more sun exposure might help and I went this entire summer riding in short sleeves and shorts without sunscreen. No sunburns but no improvement in my bone density and vitamin D either. Dunno, might be related to the endocrine disorder.

If I have time and energy to cook at home I use protein supplements less often. Just depends on my schedule and energy.

I've noticed that my appetite is better during and after a ride if I start the day with the protein concoction I described. For years I'd work or exercise in the heat and it killed my appetite. But now I have a good appetite although my weight is only about 5 lbs over my optimal low body fat weight. I usually go with little or no food during rides from 20-100 miles, maybe just a Clif or Larabar and a couplafew gels. But I'm ravenous afterward and occasionally eat an entire large supreme pizza after a 40 mile or longer ride. That's a big change over years ago when I tended to have no appetite after hard work or exercise.

KraneXL

Whey protein isolate is the best form of protein if cost is no object. It goes through an additional process to remove additional carbs so its virtually all (90+%) protein. Of course that's only important if carbs are an issue for you. Otherwise, the standard whey protein (80%) should be sufficient. I drink at least 2 shakes/day.

If you don't like any sugar/sweeteners or artificial flavors the unsweetened whey is great. The problem of course is that it smells like dead animal and taste ghastly.You're not doing it right. I blend mine with with fruit (bananas, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, apples, etc.) and are indistinguishable in taste from your standard milk shake.It sounds so simple when you put it that way. The problem with that is seldom do we take the time to prepare those meals, and/or sit down and have all the balanced diet to meet our daily nutritional needs. That's why supplements exist -- to fill in for those missed/incomplete meal preparation opportunities.

That resolve may apply when you're in your 80s. In the mean time, there are a variety of solutions proven to reverse the signs of aging.I can't speak to the studies, but it worked wonders for me. Improved my cognitive abilities noticeably, and relieved a modicum my lethargy. Although I did notice you said, extra. 😱

Flip Flop Rider

good comments

for home mixers, shaker cup or blender?

zjrog

For those of us that have had weight loss surgery, a full diet isn't always possible, especially in the first year to three. I'm almost a year out, and down over 110 pounds since surgery. I struggle to get half my required nutrition in each day if I don't use supplements. Now adding more exrcise, and riding more, I'm struggling to find a good mix adding carbs since I have to avoid them otehrwise. Not an easy thing to do. Surgery was just a tool to get me where I CAN do the rest for myself. Another 40 pounds would be nice...

I use both, including a small emersion blender. Depends on the size of shake I'm doing and what I mix in. Add fruit or ice, use the blender... On the go, shaker bottle...

Jewishcowboy

I use the GNC Pure Isolate protein. About $65 for 70 servings. 25 grams per serving and it mixes really well with a shaker bottle

Seattle Forrest

You don't have time to cook dinner but you have time to blend protein smoothies? I make smoothies sometimes, because I love raspberries, and smoothies satisfy iced cream cravings but are much healthier. It takes longer to clean my blender than it takes to cook dinner.

Seattle Forrest

Congratulations on your 110 pound weight loss!

I'm not saying you aren't allowed to drink protein shakes. The OP asked about them, and asked why people would not drink them. Nobody else answered that part of the question, so I did.

Flip Flop Rider

yes, why do you use them or why not?

I've drank them sporadically. Not sure if they help so asking opinions!

for me they give an energy boost during or after a ride, but it may just be the sugar

Clyde1820

Homemade (by me). One scoop of a decent whey protein powder, avocado, sunflower seeds or almonds, whole-milk yogurt, a couple handfuls of blueberries, a couple strawberries, 1-2 fresh-squeezed limes, plus spinach/kale/chard (whichever I have on hand). Makes enough for ~350-450 calories or so. Enough fat, protein and carbs to energize, to start the rebuilding and repair process. Half makes a decent snack. A whole serving makes a small meal replacement.

KraneXL

1) For building muscle.
2) For preserving muscle.

Its really something you only need during regular anaerobic training -- or when you're trying to get stronger. During period when I'm not going to the gym regularly, I won't supplement protein.

If you're a pure straight and level cyclist, you could very well get all the protein you need just from whole food. Still, its a quick and easy way to replenish your stores especially when you're out or on the go.

Protein drinks are also as healthy as you can get when you want to satisfy your sweet tooth (in a meal); and are recommended when you're dealing with a muscle wasting condition such as after surgery for example.

I use mine when I'm under the weather from a virus and I can't hold down solid food, or just don't have any appetite (people tend to lose muscle when they're sick -- especially the flu).

You are right about the sugar for the boost though. But you really want to avoid using protein as an energy food if you can help it. Sure it will work, but its inefficient, and a very expensive way to fuel a workout. Its like using your home furniture as wood for your fireplace.

canklecat

For my all-powder protein and supplements, I just use a stainless steel bottle with tight fitting sealed threaded cap. No mixer/blender doodads inside the bottle. I shake it for about a minute. Works fine.

For mixes with fresh or frozen fruit, etc., I use a Shark blender.

wolfchild

Protein powder is not some magical substance which can build and preserve muscle. The only way to build and preserve muscle is through resistance training. If you don't use it you loose it, no matter how many protein shakes you drink per day... In order to preserve muscles, those nuscles need to be put under stress regularly.
Protein powder can help you meet your daily protein needs and help you build muscle only if it's used in conjunction with resistance training and if your daily diet is dialed in perfectly. Protein powder used alone is useless and no different than drinking plain water.....Also don't forget about carbs, they are absolutely essential if your goal is to build any significant amount of muscle.

CyclingBK

Good old gnc gold standard. Think it’s like 24g protein and 120 calories. Mixes really well in a shake cup in water and tastes good. Like 65 bucks for over 70 servings.

terrymorse 

At the end of a long ride away from home, I usually purchase one Odwalla Chocolate Protein.

It's available in most stores, so it's a decent choice for a recovery drink when ending my ride away from home. Better than waiting to drive home.

53g carbs, 32g protein, 8g fat, 450mg sodium.

Seattle Forrest

Every word of this.