Protein Powder, Weight Loss, and Supplements

Posted Dec 04, 2009 by Nia Shanks. This entry is filed under weight loss, fat loss, and supplements.

photo by passi0n via flickr

Supplements and Weight Loss Success

I’ll start this off by saying that no rule applies to every person 100% of the time. With that out of the way, let’s move on to today’s post.

One thing that annoys me more than any other is how supplements are pushed on people who just want to lose weight and improve their overall physical appearance. Now more than ever, personal trainers are joining in and trying to get their clients to buy useless supplements telling them that “you absolutely have to take this if you want to lose weight”. I have heard it many times before.

Now before I jump into why protein shakes and powders are not mandatory for weight loss success, I will first tell you some supplements that can be helpful.

• Fish oil – this has been talked about for years, and I’m not going to get into all of the health benefits that it provides. The point here is that it works. This is the only supplement that I think is a “must” for practically everyone. If you’re not taking a pharmaceutical grade fish oil, you really should start. (Just make sure you discuss this with your physician first, as they may think otherwise).

• Protein powder – this is not mandatory for weight loss and/or muscle building success. There is absolutely nothing magical about protein powder when it comes to losing weight or building muscle. I do use protein shakes on occasion myself, but that is because I have cut meat out of my diet, and I want a little “insurance” when it comes to protein, but I’m still not convinced that it’s truly necessary. If you eat meat and an overall balanced diet, then you don’t need protein powder for weight loss or building muscle. Forget what the magazines tell you, because more often than not, they own the supplement companies they promote.

I've gone into detail about protein shakes and weight loss once before, and you can check that out here => The Truth About Protein Shakes and Meal Replacements.

Many people use protein powders before and/or after they workout to stop catabolism and what not. Well, if that is why you use it then fine; just as long as long as you don’t expect it to make a huge difference. In fact, drinking chocolate milk after your workout will do the same thing, and it’s a lot cheaper. How hard you work in the gym, your consistency, and your overall diet will make a much larger impact on your body composition.

The problem with protein powders comes when people take it with the idea that doing so will help them lose weight and/or build more muscle. Once again, there is nothing magical about protein. If you want to change your body, then train hard and eat smart. That is the ultimate way to reach your goals, and it will save you a lot of money in the process.

One final note on supplements: most of them are worthless. Supplement companies are always coming out with the “latest and greatest” thing that is guaranteed to do this or that and they always have crazy eye-catching names. What’s more they want you to “stack it” with something else to make it more effective.

If you really need something to get you going before a workout, drink some green tea or a cup of coffee for a kick.

Don’t get tricked into thinking that some pill or powder is the missing link you have been waiting for that will finally help you achieve your goals. Just follow a great training and nutrition plan, commit yourself to the process 100%, and don’t stop no matter what.

Want to know something else about supplements? Most of them have a huge mark up price. I have read that some supplements that sell for over 60 bucks only cost about five dollars to make. Just something to keep in mind . . .

I don’t hate all supplement companies and think they are evil. In fact some of them are honest and really try to help people. Just do your homework before you make a purchase, and use common sense.

Oh, and one more thing. I once heard someone say that “if licking a frog before you workout helps you perform better, than do it.” With that said, if you believe that your favorite supplement truly helps you, then by all means keep taking it. Just know that nothing replaces a relentless attitude, dedication, and hard work.

What supplements do you take or have you tried? Did any of them work?