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lmfitnessuk · 7 years ago

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Protein Powders can be a complicated and confusing subject, and without the right guidance it is easy to make the wrong decisions. In truth, there is no right or wrong answer for which protein powder is best for you, as a lot of it it comes down to your own personal tastes, preferences and, of course, what your goals are.

There are literally THOUSANDS of brands and products on the market, and this has all made for a big headache and a lot of questions when deciding which one to go for.

Which is best for me?

Which has the best ingredients?

Which will help me the most?

Is one healthier than another?

Does it contain animal products?

Is it ok for vegetarians/vegans?

….and so on…. There is literally a gazillion questions that you can ask about protein powder… and even then, you would probably still feel a little bit bamboozled, and maybe even more so.

Market Growth

When I first started in the fitness industry back in 2007/8, there was literally about six or seven well known manufacturers that were the easy choice. But fast forward to today, and heck, every time I log in to my emails, there is a new brand ambassador or sales manager trying to sell me something. Sheesh…. leave a girl alone to get on with her job right!

Anyway… If I rewind to 2008, there was only one company that I would have ever recommended, an American company called EAS. But for some reason, they pulled out of the UK market back in 2009/10. So I lost my “go-to” company for supplements. (EAS have recently returned to the UK market, but I am already now very happy with the few suppliers that I use).

To be honest, there really is not difference between what is good for men & women, and in fact, most of the products marketed to the female audience, are the same, or very similar to the general products. So my first tip, is do not be fooled into coughing up lots of money just because something markets itself to a “niche” in a very clever way!

So, from the manufacturers that I have used and tried, here are MY personal opinions on how they worked for me and the overall quality of the products.

JST Nutrition

I will be honest, one of the main reasons that I tried JST Nutrition, was solely due to my friend working for them. After said friend had been made redundant from EAS when they pulled out of the UK market, she joined JST, and dropped me a quick email. I was intrigued at their products and with the deal she had extended to me, I would have been a fool to say no. I ordered up a load of supplements, including some Whey protein, and set about testing them out. I was impressed, both in quality and in price. A little while later, INBF Body Building Champion, Jodie Marsh became involved in the company, and the products seemed to improve.

Personally, if you are aiming for a weight loss goal, the JDiet is a good option, and one that I regularly recommend for my PT Clients.

Not only does it pack a 23.3gram punch of protein per serving, but there are lots of added ingredients that offer further health and weight loss benefits. Including:

Chromium (Chromium is a metallic element that humans require in very small amounts. It is an essential part of metabolic processes that regulate blood sugar, and helps insulin transport glucose into cells, where it can be used for energy. Chromium also appears to be involved in the metabolism of carbohydrate, fat, and protein.)

Yacon Extract (Yacon syrup and powder are commonly used as healthy replacements for sugar as sweeteners in various foods.)

Cayenne Extract (Helps to increasing your metabolism, cayenne pepper is thought to help you burn calories because of it’s spiciness. When you eat a spicy pepper, it causes your body’s temperature to rise, as a result, you may experience weight loss)

Acai Berry (Acai berries contain antioxidants, fiber and heart-healthy fats)

L-Carnitine (L Carnitine is most commonly known to help the body produce energy by freeing up fatty acids, which has been said to aid fat loss. It is often mistaken for an amino acid but is actually synthesised in the body from amino acids)

Guarana Extract (Stimulants like guarana increase heart rate and may speed up your metabolism, resulting in more calories burned. But Guarana is also a diuretic, so increases the amount of water you lose through urination).

Inulin (Inulin is used for high blood fats, including cholesterol and triglycerides. It is also used for weight loss, constipation, and as a food additive to improve taste.)

Green Tea Extract (It is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body. This includes improved brain function, fat loss, a lower risk of cancer and many other incredible benefits.)

Caffeine (In the short term, caffeine can boost the metabolic rate and increase fat burning, but after a while people become tolerant to the effects and it stops working. But even if coffee doesn’t make you expend more calories in the long term, there is still a possibility that it blunts appetite and helps you eat less.)

JDiet is one of my favourite protein shakes, for it’s flavour alone. Available in Raspberry Ripple, White Chocolate, Strawberry Cheesecake and Cappuccino, JST have gone beyond the standard Chocolate, vanilla & strawberry & made Protein tasty! In my experience, it has helped me to increase my protein, shed off a few pounds when combined with a good diet & exercise, and helped me to maintain muscle mass when out of training. My only negative comment with JST JDiet, is that it is not as easily accessible as many other protein powders, and can only be ordered from specialist stockists or online from JST Nutrition.

You can order JST JDiet directly HERE.

Grenade Carb Killa

Grenade have become a very well known and VERY well respected Fitness Supplements company in a very short space of time. One of the reasons for this sudden rise to the top, is their dare-devilish attitude which sits them just outside of the box. They have taken Protein supplements to a point of deliciousness that many other companies have failed to achieve. Furthermore, they have changed up the product type so that you can incorporate the protein into a diet, without the need for powders or vigorous shaker shaking (that usually ends up in shaker spillage).

Grenade have kinda revolutionised the protein market, with fresh ideas that I PERSONALLY LOVE!!!

For instance, Carb Kills bars, are ALWAYS available in my kitchen. They are easy for me to grab and take to work, fuel myself between sessions and still keep on upping my protein levels without worrying about over-consumption of junk and sugary carbs. But then one day, as I scooched my way through my Insta-feed, I saw one of my awesome Buddies Lou, share a picture that made me stop in my tracks! Grenade had upped their game and turned their awesome Carb Killa range into a SPREADABLE GOO!

Which is Delicious!!!!

Carb Kills bars, shakes and Spreadble Goo (thats my term for it, not the official name BTW), are available on the high street, Holland & Barrett, Tesco, Sainsburys and loads of other stores stock some, if not all of their range. So you can grab it when you are doing your weekly shopping. Price wise, I think they are pretty reasonable. The Protein spread is available on Amazon for as little as £6!!!

I love this stuff, and for something simple, quick and easy, it really cannot be beaten!

SciMX Hardcore

I haven’t had a huge amount of dealings with the SciMX protein shakes recently, although I did use to use them a lot more, so I have tried them and I do like the flavours. But they do tend to be very “run of the mill” flavours though, with chocolate, strawberry & vanilla being the only three real options. Saying that though, my hubby is a bit fussy when it comes to Protein Shakes, and he does

seem to rate this one quite highly, with a huge tub of it hidden under his desk at work.

SciMX has gone through quite a few changes over the past few years, and really the last time I had much to do with them as a company was back in 2010 when they made me a affiliate to sell their products )this just means they sent me a T-shirt, a Protein shaker & a load of £10 off vouchers – sorry they are all out of date now!). Recently they were “acquired” by a company in Gloucester – You probably won’t know the company, but you’ll know some of their other brands, maybe Ginsters or Soreen!

One good thing that seems to have come from the Samworth Brothers take over, is Pro2Go. A rather convenient grab & go High Protein cookie & bar option.

These bars and cookies are good, but they are not on the same wavelength as the formerly mentioned Grenade Bars above. But definitely not to be sniffed at (especially as I have just eaten one, whilst writing this blog!) The cookies can be a little dry in texture, but to be honest, half a cookie is actually enough to fill a larger than normal hole in the stomach. The Caramel Crisp Bars are much better, and pack a sweetness that will kill off any chocolate or sugar craving, without al of the junk. They are not my first choice, but definitely, if I see them in B&M or PoundLand, which they often are, I will grab a box or two.

I have given The Pro2Go cookies 3 out of 5 for accessibility, this is purely due to their sporadic appearances in the shops I mentioned above, as I would only ever pay minimum for these.

MyProtein.Com

Again, for MyProtein.Com, it has been a while since I purchased anything. And I will be frankly honest, it is because last time I did, the protein powder tasted, well, it tasted very powdery. Almost chalky! Now, I know some people really rate their products, and as I said at the beginning of this blog, this is ONLY MY OPINION of what I have experienced. so I can’t say too much more than what I think & feel.

If I remember correctly, I ordered a Vanilla whey protein, which arrived in a sachet, as most things do from this company. Upon opening it, it didn’t smell too bad. But mixing it up was hard work, I had to spend AGES shaking it… and if it had been after an arm workout, well I probably would have given up. The taste was disappointing, but I made my way around this by mixing it with yoghurt or blending it into a fruit smoothie. So I DID use most of it, but wouldn’t personally buy it again.

MaxiMuscle

I’ll admit, in a moment of utter madness, I fell for the trap…. Maximuscle have their “run of the mill” protein powders, like ProMax & ProGain, but then they have their Female specific products like “sculptress” and “definity”. Which one day, whilst grabbing some essentials from Boots, I succumb to and wasted my money on. in my honest opinion, the taste wasn’t great, in fact it was REALLY weak, the consistency was pretty damn thin as well, and The size of the tub was only about one, possibly two at a BIG stretch, weeks. A protein tub would usually last me 4 weeks minimum when I am training HARD. So this was never going to cut it. Especially not at £20 a time, when my usual 4 week supply would be about £24-£30. It was my error, I used it for a few days, then binned it. I wasn’t enjoying the taste or consistency. So, if I am honest, I cannot really comment on its effectiveness, as I didn’t use it for long enough to actually see any benefits. I am sure there are women out there that will say that it is great, and they achieved loads, but personally, It is not the product for me.

SUMMARY

To summarise, there is no right or wrong protein powder, as it is all a matter of choice & opinion, tastes & preferences, Goals & Training loads. BUT, pick the wrong one, with a bad texture or taste and you could be put off forever. Pick the right one, and it could help you all the way to the finish line of achieving your goals. Protein shakes can be used to boost your daily calories or as a meal replacement, but they can also help to aid you in developing a good healthy muscularity and tone, developing a sexy & smoking hot physique, and increasing your metabolism. I dip in and out of protein supplements, I have three BIG tubs of protein on top of my fridge that I haven’t even opened yet, but when the time is right, I will crack on in there and enjoy My Raspberry Ripple or Strawberry Cheesecake JDiet as a post workout boost or lunch time replacement. Second to that, on my busy days, when I am out training all my gorgeous PT clients, I will grab and go with a Pro2Go Caramel Crisp of Grenade Carb Killer – Caramel Chaos. To boost my breakfasts, as I cannot eat much Egg, I will turn to my Ezekiel Bread and Carb Killer Chocolate Spread…. But not every day!

Although protein shakes are useful in boosting your protein, they will not give you the nutrients that protein rich foods will give you. Hence the term Supplement! They are there to help you, not replace protein foods completely.

Just check back on my Instagram feed to see a few of the products I have used, In fact, I’ll save you the time….

Click the Images for my Comments!

Just a little order!

PhD didn’t really make it on to my list, I only ever had one or two mixes of it, and didn’t like the taste.

JDiet in my porridge!

Good Option with Added BCAA’s

Oomph Porridge absolutely Rocks! LOVE THIS STUFF!

NOT Recommended – Too High In Sugar!

Thanks for Reading 🙂

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Protein Powders can be a complicated and confusing subject, and without the right guidance it is easy to make the wrong decisions. Find out which protein bars & Shakes I rate and which I do not! Protein Powders can be a complicated and confusing subject, and without the right guidance it is easy to make the wrong decisions.

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