please recommend your protein powder

[Anonymous]

Teen DS is trying to add muscle to prepare for his spring sport and drinks a protein shake each night before bed. He shakes up a scoop of the powder with milk in a blender bottle. When he initially shakes it up, it appears that the powder dissolves; however, it does not dissolve at all because every night he brings down the bottle after drinking and there is a thick sludge of the protein powder at the bottom - I question how much he is actually drinking as there is so mich sludge. I offered to make it for him tonight (I was suspicious he didn’t shake it up enough), but I shook the bottle for at least a minute and the same thing happened (it looked fully integrated with the milk after shaking but there was an inch of protein powder that settled to bottom by the end). I suspect this protein powder just does not dissolve well and I’d appreciate suggestions for other kinds to try. This brand is PlantFusion plant based protein powder in vanilla (plant based seemed more natural and he is already getting whey from the milk he adds so I figured plant based was a good idea - maybe I am deluding myself).

[Anonymous]

We use Orgain.

[Anonymous]

Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein from Costco. Both Vanilla and Chocolate is excellent. It dissolves fully when I have it in a shaker but lumps up a bit if we only use a spoon to stir it. Both my 15 year old and I like it alot.

You didn't ask...but hopefully he is doing more than drinking protein shakes to add muscle. He needs to be consuming a lot more calories than he is burning AND strength train for hypertrophy to add muscle. Protein shakes add some additional calories but not nearly enough. Protein shakes are to supplement if he's not consuming enough protein naturally with his diet in order to aid in muscle recovery, etc. He should be taking the protein shake 30 minutes after his workout. For additional calories, put a slab of peanut butter on everything (peanut butter isn't a great source of protein but it's good for additional calories) and finish it off his meals with a big, chocolate milkshake.

[Anonymous]

I like Quest or Premier Protein.

Blender bottles are okay, but not great. Using a stick blender will help. Or using a straw to drink it.

[Anonymous]

He needs to finish the drink before it separates. I'm assuming that he's training and eating healthy as well.

[Anonymous]

Get a Nutribullet or something similar. It also sounds like his shake isn't thick enough. Add a scoop of psyllium husk fiber, chia seeds, and hemp seeds. it will help to thicken it and give him a ton of fiber and Omegas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teen DS is trying to add muscle to prepare for his spring sport and drinks a protein shake each night before bed. He shakes up a scoop of the powder with milk in a blender bottle. When he initially shakes it up, it appears that the powder dissolves; however, it does not dissolve at all because every night he brings down the bottle after drinking and there is a thick sludge of the protein powder at the bottom - I question how much he is actually drinking as there is so mich sludge. I offered to make it for him tonight (I was suspicious he didn’t shake it up enough), but I shook the bottle for at least a minute and the same thing happened (it looked fully integrated with the milk after shaking but there was an inch of protein powder that settled to bottom by the end). I suspect this protein powder just does not dissolve well and I’d appreciate suggestions for other kinds to try. This brand is PlantFusion plant based protein powder in vanilla (plant based seemed more natural and he is already getting whey from the milk he adds so I figured plant based was a good idea - maybe I am deluding myself).

You really need to talk to a trainer who can help with nutrition. Drinking one shake a day isn't going to get him muscle. He's needs more than this in order to bulk up.

[Anonymous]

Man juice

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the recommendations. I like the idea of the costco brand - it is probably cheaper, too.

To the poster who said the shake might not be thick enough, the instructions just say shake up a scoop of the powder with water or milk (DS uses milk).

DS does a lot otherwise to gain weight and muscle - he runs, lifts and trains at the gym- he practices his sports - he eats a well balanced diet and has increased his general caloric intake. He has added a protein shake before bed as one extra boost of calories and muscle building.

[Anonymous]

NutraBio vanilla. I mix it in the blender, easier than the bottle shaking thing.

[Anonymous]

I’m making my way through Walmart Equate pea and quinoa vanilla flavored powder. I put in mason jar with ice, add water and shake vigorously. Drink w/ straw. Taste is so so but for price and protein (30g), it’s doable.

Before that I used Nutricost and mixed w/ banana & vanilla oatmilk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teen DS is trying to add muscle to prepare for his spring sport and drinks a protein shake each night before bed. He shakes up a scoop of the powder with milk in a blender bottle. When he initially shakes it up, it appears that the powder dissolves; however, it does not dissolve at all because every night he brings down the bottle after drinking and there is a thick sludge of the protein powder at the bottom - I question how much he is actually drinking as there is so mich sludge. I offered to make it for him tonight (I was suspicious he didn’t shake it up enough), but I shook the bottle for at least a minute and the same thing happened (it looked fully integrated with the milk after shaking but there was an inch of protein powder that settled to bottom by the end). I suspect this protein powder just does not dissolve well and I’d appreciate suggestions for other kinds to try. This brand is PlantFusion plant based protein powder in vanilla (plant based seemed more natural and he is already getting whey from the milk he adds so I figured plant based was a good idea - maybe I am deluding myself).

You really need to talk to a trainer who can help with nutrition. Drinking one shake a day isn't going to get him muscle. He's needs more than this in order to bulk up.

Are all trainers registered dietitians? If the trainer isn't a dietitian, I'd trust DCUM more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the recommendations. I like the idea of the costco brand - it is probably cheaper, too.

To the poster who said the shake might not be thick enough, the instructions just say shake up a scoop of the powder with water or milk (DS uses milk).

DS does a lot otherwise to gain weight and muscle - he runs, lifts and trains at the gym- he practices his sports - he eats a well balanced diet and has increased his general caloric intake. He has added a protein shake before bed as one extra boost of calories and muscle building.

So it's generally best to front load protein. Also, I agree that taking the protein shake within 30 minutes of finishing a work out is best to help with muscle recovery. Right before bed is probably the absolute worst time to take your protein shake for the best benefit of the protein shake. If you are just after calories, there are much better options than a protein shake...like a nice Oreo ice cream sundae. : ) If your son is serious, he should really talk to a certified strength and conditioning coach. I'm not sure what he's doing, but my visualization is a mess. If he's looking to gain muscle mass, he shouldn't be running or "training" at the gym before he "lifts". Are his "lifts" designed for muscle building or is he more about gaining strength. Alot of these things are contradictory. Sometimes you just need to take time off of one and focus on the other. For example, maybe focus on weight gain and muscle building now and scrap the running/training (but don't stop training with the team or whatever). Anyway...it sounds like your kid is putting in a lot of effort right now, I truly believe it would be well worth it o meet with a CSCS and find the right program for him to meet his goals. Lots of variables to consider.

[Anonymous]

This is OP and I appreciate the feedback and suggestions. To be clear, I am shorthand describing his workouts - I dont know the order of what he does, he follows a workout program that his coach has prescribed to get them ready for spring lacrosse, and I think it varies day to day. I will suggest to son that he have his protein shake after he works out (although he is usually starving then and eats dinner).

[Anonymous]

I love Promix. $$ but I load up during sales. Not plant based but amazing taste. Also works really well with baking.