Tips

FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH YOU NEED

For most individuals, 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day is a good target. Those who are looking to add size may need as much as 1.5 g protein/lb. body weight/day. You should also plan on eating some extra protein (1.25-1.5 g/lb/day) if you’re trying to lose weight on higher-protein, lower carbohydrate diets, as some of the amino acids will be burned for fuel. These amounts include all of the protein consumed through foods, beverages, and supplements. What’s more, your daily protein allotment should be spread out over 4-6 smaller meals to enhance absorption and utilization. If you’re a big meat, fish, poultry, egg, and dairy food eater, you can probably get by with a smaller “hit” of protein from your powdered mix. Vegetarians and others who eat lots of starchy foods will benefit more from a higher-protein formula.

DETERMINE WHAT YOUR BUDGET

& SCHEDULE ALLOW

Single-source proteins offer more precise benefits. Ideally, you might use a fast-acting whey protein first thing in the morning and 30 minutes before workouts, a recovery product containing protein plus carbohydrates immediately after workouts, a moderately-digested egg protein in between meals, and an all-micellar casein protein at bedtime for sustained amino acid delivery throughout the night while you sleep. Now, here’s where you need to be realistic and honest with yourself. Even if you can afford multiple products, are you the type of person who’s disciplined enough to follow such a regimen? If you answered “no,” consider a protein blend. While not as fast as the fastest or as slow as the slowest single-source proteins, blends offer many of the desirable qualities of a variety of different proteins.

MAKE YOUR SELECTION AND STICK WITH IT – AT LEAST FOR A WHILE

To do something positive for your physique, you need to take your protein(s) continually and consistently for at least 60 days. After a couple months, evaluate and, if necessary, modify your program to add in other proteins, to increase or decrease the amounts used, or to change to a different type of protein altogether.