Category — Whey protein

So we’ve covered pre-workout snacks, now let’s focus on what you consume after your workouts. This step is arguably the most important part of your workout because when you exercise you deplete your body’s glycogen (the carb stored in your muscles and liver). That’s why it’s extremely vital that you replace what you lose so you can get the most out of your hard work.

Through my own personal experience and speaking with several personal trainers, I have come up with this list of the best post-workout meals:

5.  Piece of fish and baked potato — A muscle-building packed combination of quality protein and complex carbohydrates, this meal is a great way to end your workout. Go for salmon or tilapia as these have the highest amounts of protein.

4.  Chicken breast or steak and rice — Another classic meal that will maximize your workout. If you’re buying steak make sure to pick sirloin or a lean cut which are a lot healthier. Don’t forget the whole grain rice either!

3. Protein bar — This is only third on our list because it is a solid and will take a bit longer to absorb than its liquid counterparts. However, it’s still a very effective post-workout meal. In this instance don’t go for “Low carb” bars, instead buy a protein or meal replacement bar that has plenty of calories and carbohydrates to go along with at least 30 grams of protein. I like the MET-RX meal replacement bars.

2. Chocolate milk — This surprisingly effective recovery drink was almost a unanimous pick for all the experts I interviewed. Two cups of this stuff averages about 310-320 calories, 50 grams of carbs, and 16 grams of protein. Of course the liquid consistency will allow it to be absorbed quickly and carried to your depleted muscles.

1. Protein drink with whey — The original and still the best. No other food or drink can compare to the punch this packs when it comes to optimizing your workout. Whey protein is absorbed the fastest by your body and the liquid form will bring it to your muscles that much faster. If it’s a low carb protein add in some berries or a banana to give it a boost. Optimum Nutrition’s Hydro Whey is a good pick!

All of these foods should all be taken within 45 minutes after completion of your workout for best results.

Men’s Fitness magazine (June/July 2009, page 31) gives a great rundown of the best protein bargains at the supermarket. They took 12 of the most popular protein sources and listed their average cost per 10 grams. Here are their findings:

1. Black beans – $.13
2. Turkey – $.14
3. Chicken breast – $.24
4. Eggs – $.26
5. Whole Milk – $.30
6. Ground beef – $.34
7. Ham, boneless – $.40
8. Cheddar cheese – $.43
9. Peanuts – $.44
10. Sirloin steak – $.69
11. Cottage cheese – $.96
12. Soy milk – $1.26

My diet revolves around items two through four. Organic milk could be a better option for those who don’t drink the whole kind. Stonyfield Farms makes a good organic, fat-free product.

Since I’m not a big fan of cottage cheese I’ll often eat yogurt as a replacement. Foods like ham, sirloin steak, and ground beef are considered a “treat” for me—hence which is why they are some of the more pricier protein sources.

What about you? What protein sources do you eat the most from this list? Which ones were left out?

I’ve recently gotten into the habit of making homemade smoothies on a daily basis. Especially as a meal replacement or post-workout snack. I’ve been playing around with different combinations for a while — and believe me there are literally thousands of possibilities when it comes to protein smoothies.

You can go the “fruit” route or you can make it more “rich” and sweet. Whatever your preference, try to make sure you’re using only natural ingredients. For instance, I’ve been making a peanut butter based smoothie, but I don’t use any old peanut butter. I’ve been using Smart Balance Omega-3 Peanut Butter.

Here’s the recipe for my creation:

1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons Smart Balance Omega-3 Peanut Butter
1/2 banana
1/4 cup Hershey’s Sugar Free Chocolate Syrup
2 scoops Low-Fat frozen yogurt
1 scoop whey protein
4-5 drops of Agave Nectar or 1 packet Splenda
10-12 ice cubes

The best thing about this smoothie is that it leaves you feeling full and if you’re craving sweets it’s the perfect solution. And if it’s muscle that you’re trying to pack on this one is loaded with protein from the whey, peanut butter, and yogurt.

So give it a shot after your next workout!

This could quite possibly be the greatest bar ever made! Supreme Protein Incorporated, a company based out of Manasquan, New Jersey has come up with the best tasting, most satisfying bar on the market. First let me give you a rundown of the nutritional information. One Supreme Protein Bar contains 360 calories and 16 grams of fat.

Now I know 16 grams is a lot but only 5 grams are saturated and the rest is the “good fat” coming from flaxseed oil.

Supreme comes in two flavors, Caramel Nut Chocolate and Peanut Butter Crunch. Each bar is packed with 30 grams of protein consisting of whey isolate, whey concentrate, and milk protein isolate. The abundance of whey makes it a great post-workout snack. It also contains 31 grams of sugar, however 27 grams are of the sugar alcohol variety which have little effect on your blood sugar. Both bars are “Carb Conscious” according to their labels. These bars are also packed with the full array of multivitamins you get from most protein bars.

Guys, if you’ve never tasted a Supreme Protein bar it’s almost like eating a candy bar. In fact, it’s better than most candy bars. If you didn’t know any better you wouldn’t have a clue you were eating a protein bar. The chocolate and caramel actually taste like chocolate and caramel.

I think Supreme has set a new standard in protein bars. I don’t think I’ll ever have to try another nasty one for the rest of my life.

Rating: 5.0/5

Serving Size: 1 bar, Calories: 360 Total Fat: 16 g, Saturated Fat: 5 g, Cholesterol: 20 mg, Total Carbohydrates: 34 g, Dietary Fiber: 1 g, Protein: 30 g

Met-Rx has really cornered the market when it comes to meal replacement and protein bars. They ususally have the best tasting products and these bars are no exception. The Big 100 Colossal Meal Replacement Bars come in four flavors (Super Cookie Crunch, Crispy Apple Pie, Peanut Butter Caramel Crunch, and the brand new Peanut Butter Pretzel). You could probably pick anyone of them out of a hat because they all taste great.

Depending on the flavor each bar has 31 or 32 grams of protein via Met-Rx’s exclusive Metamyosn protein blend consisting of whey isolate, whey concentrate, milk protein, egg whites, and L-Glutamine. They also contain between 10 and 40 percent of the recommended daily value of selected vitamins and minerals.

Let it be known that this is a true “meal” bar packing 410 or 420 calories per serving. People looking to gain lean muscle mass can replace a meal with one of these bars. Those looking to bulk up and make serious gains may want to combine this bar with their meal or use it as a snack between meals.  The only drawback to this bar is that the four flavors average 14 grams of fat per bar and 25 grams of sugar. Now, if you’re consuming a well-balanced diet then it shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you’re already consuming enough fat then you may want to look elsewhere.

Overall you’re probably not going to find a better tasting bar on the market today that packs this much quality protein.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Serving Size: (Super Cookie Crunch flavor) 1 bar, Calories: 410, Total Fat: 14 g, Saturated Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 5 mg, Total Carbohydrates: 43 g, Dietary Fiber: 3 g, Protein: 32 g

Any protein, whether it be whey, casein, or soy is made up of amino acids, which are the building blocks of muscle.  However, that’s where the similarities end. Here’s a brief description of the differences between the 3 main types of protein:

Whey – This protein absorbs the fastest and contains the most concentration of amino acids. Consumption is ideal immediately after a workout or activity to replenish the muscles.

Casein - This protein derives from milk and has the highest amount of glutamine (the most abundant amino acid found in your muscles).

Soy – A product of soybeans, it is considered the “complete protein” because it provides all of the essential amino acids and isoflavones (which may help reduce cholesterol).

Ideally, an athlete or someone looking to increase muscle mass should get an equal amount of protein from each source and strive for at least 1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight each day.