You probably have encountered the phrase, “nice guys finish last”. In college, I was that guy – skinny, geek-framed spectacles, baggy shirts, and I had such low self-esteem that I would sweat profusely around girls. The girls were not impressed with my lack of confidence.
I admired those, hulk-like guys who would approach a lady, and she would be giggling in a matter of minutes. Instead of sulking and seeing my dream girl walk away, I decided to hit the gym and get some muscles. Today, you will be baffled by my before and after photos. I want to share with you my secret.
Firstly, there is a lot of misinformation out there. You can spend many dollars on muscle enhancement pills and steroids only for them to backfire, leaving you with serious health complications.
One of the most studied natural supplements is whey protein. It has the added benefit of boosting strength and muscle content. In this review, I show you some amazing whey proteins that will change your life.
What is whey protein?
Firstly, a quick recap of proteins. Not all proteins are the same. Some are absorbed faster in the body than others. That steak that you love so much will take hours before its nutrients are absorbed into your body.
It is for this reason that most people committed to a fitness program will go for whey protein. Whey is a byproduct of cheese making. It’s low in lactose and contains all the amino acids that your body requires.
What you have in your supplement is not whey itself, but the proteins that have been isolated from it. During the manufacture of cheese, rennin will be added to the milk to help it coagulate.
The watery by-product is what we call whey. You can also identify it as the watery substance in yogurt. Once the whey proteins are isolated they can then be added to energy bars and supplements. Flavoring is added as whey tends to be tasteless when taken in its raw form.
How whey proteins help in gaining weight
Proteins tend to be the building blocks of the body. They are actively involved in forming muscles, organs, and skin. The main components in proteins are amino acids. Your body produces some form of amino acids but at times this is not enough and you may need to have supplements in your diet.
Essentially you need nine amino acids. The best part is whey has all of them hence its preference for anyone who wants to gain weight. One of the most important Branched-chain amino (BCAAs) found in whey is leucine. This amino acid promotes fast muscle growth.
Types of whey protein
- Concentrate: If you are looking for an explosion of flavors then this is what you should go for. In this case, you have 70-80% protein, then you have a mixture of fat and lactose.
- Isolate: This contains the highest concentrate of proteins at over 90%. It lacks flavor, some essential nutrients found in the concentrate and have less fat and lactose.
- Hydrolysate: Lastly, we have whey coming in a hydrolyzed way. Since it has been predigested it will be absorbed faster in the body. However, it causes a spike in insulin levels.
Factors influencing your choice of Whey protein supplements
Not all whey supplements come with the same ingredients. Manufacturers will mix the Whey protein with other ingredients in an effort to market their products. If this is your first purchase, let the following factors guide your purchase.
#1. Taste/flavors
It is hard consuming Whey protein in its pure form. The protein is tasteless and leaves a chalky after taste. To help consumers in digesting the protein, manufacturers mix the protein with different flavors.
You should identify a flavor that you like and that makes you look forward to a workout. This will mean trying out several before you find the ideal one. You can also check out online customer reviews for the best flavors for particular products.
#2. Ingredients
Manufacturers mix the whey protein with other ingredients like minerals, carbs, and fats. The whey protein itself is also categorized into – concentrate and isolate. The former has around 70% protein concentration and has an amazing taste.
Isolate is less tasty but comes with a higher concentration of proteins. You should check the whey protein container for any ingredients that you could be allergic to. Also, identify those products that give you more ingredients per serving.
#3. Goals
We all have different workout plans. There are those who do this to reduce weight while some are looking for a lean muscle mass. This means your intake of calories will differ.
Those bulking up will go for products with more carbs and fat while those looking for leaner muscle mass may focus more on protein content. Before you engage in a workout program, ensure that you know and understand your target calorie target.
This is what will be a guide for your workout program. You can adjust this based on your weight scales every week/month.
[content-egg module=Amazon template=list]1. Optimum Gold Standard 100% whey protein
When it comes to high-quality nutrition products nothing beats Optimum. The company ensures that everything adheres to high standards of lab testing and quality control. The Gold standard is not a blend of various proteins but is 100% whey proteins.
To help you in your weight gain program each serving has 24 grams of proteins; this is sufficient to give you well-toned muscles. The serving also contains 5.5g of natural BCAAs, 1g of sugar, 1g of fat, and 3g of carbs.
Being skinny isn’t a curse. You can reverse the tide and get that body you have always dreamed of. The Gold standard does not waste serving with non-essential ingredients.
It is 70% protein and recommended for both male and female athletes/bodybuilders. Some of the other visible ingredients include 4 grams of glutamine and glutamic acid, 5 g of essential BCAAs – isoleucine, leucine, and valine in each 30g serving.
That’s not it. Gold Standard comes in over 15 different flavors that include chocolate malt, strawberry banana, chocolate hazelnut, rocky road, banana cream among others.
You can mix the ingredients in a blender before or after a workout. This does not mean that if you forgot your shaker you won’t get your daily dose of whey protein. The solution is instantized so you can scoop your portion and mix it in a glass.
2. MuscleTechNitroTech pure whey protein
When you engage in a bodybuilding program, you are seeking well-toned muscles. Firm muscles, over a clinging t-shirt, will cause the ladies to go “gaga” over you.
The problem is you need a solid fitness program and the right diet. For this to happen, you need to try out MuscleTech’sNitroTech Pure whey protein.
For each serving, you get 30 grams of protein, 6.8g of BCCA amino, and 5g of glutamine.
When filtrating the whey, the manufacturers use a cold, multi-filtration that helps in the reduction of fat, impurities, and lactose. This will help you in getting those lean muscles that the ladies are so much in love with.
3. Natural Force organic whey protein powder
If you like going all-natural then this is your kind of product. Firstly, how the whey protein is outsourced is very unique. Natural force gets their whey from exclusively grass-fed cows based in California.
The processing does not include any other ingredients. With just a scoop of the product, you can meet more than 42% of the recommended protein intake. In addition, you have four flavors to excite your taste bands.
Natural Force organic whey ensures that you have a lean muscle mass while at the same time boosting your glutathione reserves. It is the perfect way to start your day before a workout. You will not find any synthetic colors or unnecessary filters on the product. The product is certified by various bodies as purely organic.
4. Gatoradeprotein recover bars
If you are the kind of person who prefers to chew down your proteins instead of drinking it, then the whey proteins are your kind of bars. Gatorade is so popular that is an official protein bar for the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL.
This the right kind of bar after a workout. It helps in rebuilding your muscles by supplying your body with essential amino acids. Depending on the flavoring expect a serving of 20-21g protein, 15-25% calcium, and 38-43g of carbs. This will replenish the energy you just lost during workouts.
5. BPI Sports ISO HD whey protein
The right workout plan is always accompanied with the right diet. Your body muscles need protein for growth and replenishment after a strenuous workout. Whey protein offers fast absorption rates, which means you, are able to recover faster after a workout.
The BPI Sports ISO HD has the benefit of being manufactured from 100% hydrolysate and isolate. You should not that isolate is whey protein at its purest form.
BPI Sports results are best felt in post-workout diets.
Each serving has 25g of proteins and this delivers 130 calories. You also get 1.5g of fat and 3g of carbs. As stated earlier, whey protein is not the most delicious supplement and that is why manufacturers produce it with a variety of flavors to make it digestible.
BPI Sports ISO HD comes in seven amazing flavors that include: – cookies, chocolate brown, banana cream pie, cream among others. When I tried it out I found the cream and cookies flavor worth trying out. At the price they are offering it in, it offers good value for money.
6. LABRADA –Lean Body whey protein shake
Protein shakes are great for weight gain and muscle growth. Firstly, liquids tend to be absorbed into the body faster than the solids. This gives you the necessary calories to replenish worn-out muscles.
LABRADA has its origins in Houston, USA. It’s named after Mr. Universe LABRADA. The whey protein shake comes with 35g of protein, 21 essential minerals, 20g of carbs, 7g of fats, and minerals.
You need to use two serving scoops for the shake. Each serving will deliver 285 calories to your body. It also has some vitamins like Vitamin A, C, D, and E. You also get some essential minerals for bodybuilding like magnesium, copper, zinc, iron, and iodine.
A closer examination of the bottle ingredients reveals that the primary protein is Whey, while you get sucralose and acesulfame potassium as sweeteners. The high-calorie content is what makes the LABRADA popular with weight enthusiasts.
This does not mean it has all the nutrients that you need. You will still need to get some manganese and omega-3 fatty acids from other sources. Each bottle of LABRADA gives you 16 servings. The flavors are amazing and their chocolate peanut butter flavor explodes into your mouth.
Proteins are the building blocks for cells and muscles. It does not matter whether you are a vegan, you still need the correct grams of protein. You can mix your protein requirement with cereals. Junk foods also have high-calorie content but they have the negative effect of being addictive and leading to obesity.
No matter the type of diet plan that you have chosen, you need to supplement it with proper workouts. Otherwise, you end up being fat. When starting your plan of weight gain document what you are eating so that you can make adjustments depending on the desired results.
Conclusion
Whey protein is a byproduct of cheese making. The liquid part is left after the cuds have solidified. What many people do not know is that it is rich in digestible proteins. The proteins are specially extracted and added to various supplements.
You cannot eat whey protein in its pure form as it is tasteless. Almost all Whey supplements will have various flavors added to enhance the taste. You should identify your goals when selecting a whey protein supplement.
The supplements will have various ingredients added to boost sufficient nutrient content. For supplements to work, you also need to exercise otherwise you will become obese. Identify exercises that are not cardio intensive.
