Protein shakes

A question about : Protein shakes

Just wondering what opinion people have about protein shakes? Are they just a fad? Or are they worth using? I have just re-joined the gym last week as i have booked to run the 10k in September.

I also cycle to work once a week ( 12 miles total ) and plan to attend 2 x spin classes a week plus TRX (first session is Thursday).

Best answers:

• Hi there, my view is that you are far better simply eating the right food. Yes your weekly shop will increase quite a bit but then the shakes are expensive anyway. Plenty of Protein and veg and you will be right, substitute healthy stuff for fatty snacks and you are away. Nuts and wholemeal bread and brown rice are the way to go. I changed my diet about 2 months ago, cutting out all the crap I was eating for the above and I have lost nearly two stone. I'm packing the protein (chicken, turkey dinners and lunch and almonds and porridge for snacks) at the moment as have just finished a basic all round strengthening programme and have moved onto building muscle exercises. I don't want to look like Arnie, just started playing rugby again and looking to make sure I am in decent shape.
• Whether they're worth using really depends on a bunch of things:
  1) Do you get much protein in your diet anyway
  2) Do you want to gain more muscle mass through your workouts
  3) Are you struggling with recovery times?
  4) Are you really wrecking your muscles with your workouts?
  Personally, I take a protein shake after a long cycle (60+ miles) or after a long run (10+ miles), just to help my legs recover a little faster. Normally means I'm in better shape the next day and can train again a day sooner.
  When I was climbing/bouldering a lot, I used protein and creatine to help my arms gain strength and perform better.
  The amount of protein your body can use a day is actually quite a lot...Some people say up to 1.5g per day per pound of body weight, if you want to gain muscle. Protein shakes are a very cheap way (buy in bulk, get offers etc from myprotein) of topping up your intake.
  That said, it seems your exercise is generally cardio based and over relatively short distances, so I'd not consider using protein in most cases...If you run a 10k run at race pace in training, or a hard fartlek session etc having a shake within 15 minutes of stopping might help - or if you're finding you can't walk the day after the spin classes....but it doesn't sound like it's something you need regularly right now.
• Thanks for the advice both
• Toxic fad, don't eat chemicals, eat real food that your body was designed to eat
  No product that any company comes up with can replace what nature provided you with
• Have been having a think about this and i think i dont actually need them (going off what idiophreak has said) -- i do eat a lot of protein in my normal diet (meat, nuts, seeds etc) anyway.
  I just like the idea that its a shake , and everyone at the gym seems to toddle around with their shake in hand.
• Ive found the Meal replacement (USN Diet Fuel) \ recovery (Science In Sports) type drinks to be more beneficial than the bulking up ones available - particulary if the aim is fitness improvement..
  Yes proper food would be great - but Im not sure how fresh food wood fair in the Gym bag all day long - much more hygienic to add water to shaker & powder to give something to drink on the way home..
• I've used shakes after runs. I really struggle to eat after running.
• I use protein shakes to help me take psyllium husks (PH).
  If I add the PH to water and cordial, the PH just sticks to the sides of the glass.
  Taking it mixed into the protein shake means I get just about all the PH.
  I also take the protein shake (with PH) to fill out a small meal.
• Agreed on all counts with idiophreak.
  I only take a protein shake after run that is longer than 75 mins, unless I am really really exhausted and know I have a hard session coming up.
  If you are running for less than an hour you probably wont want/need fuel or water with you - it will slow you down to carry something. I go for about 90 mins long run with no fuel but feel awful during the last mile. I only take electrolyte drink for running between 1hr 20 and 2hrs.
  I personally like Accelerade which is a mix of carbs and protein, so a recovery drink - probably more calorific than myprotein shakes, but I find they are great for quick refuelling and the level of protein seems to work for me in terms of recovery as opposed to building up.