Thread: Protein shakes bad for weight reduction?

No protein will not make you gain a substantial amount of weight. I believe there are 6 calories in each gram of protein. I would say continue drinking your protein shakes if you enjoy them. Just as long as your not sitting on your butt all day doing nothing and you are activly trying to lose the weight you should be fine. I find it funny when people try to lose weight but consuming these drinks like Slim Fast. Its like are you kidding me you are still consuming calories you still need to burn them to lose the weight.

Originally Posted by WilliamB

No protein will not make you gain a substantial amount of weight.

Anything in excess above your calorie needs will make you gain weight. Whether those excess calories come from fats, proteins or carbs.

I believe there are 6 calories in each gram of protein.

There are ~4 cals per gram of protein...

I would say continue drinking your protein shakes if you enjoy them. Just as long as your not sitting on your butt all day doing nothing and you are activly trying to lose the weight you should be fine. I find it funny when people try to lose weight but consuming these drinks like Slim Fast. Its like are you kidding me you are still consuming calories you still need to burn them to lose the weight.

Bump on this... Although real food is always better for you in terms of stumlating thermogenesis and providing you with a greater sense of satiety, if the shakes you are consuming are simply a protein source (and do not have carbs etc in them) then, as long as they are consumed with in the bounds of a good diet with macronutrients, fibre and calorie level appropriate for your requirements then you can go right ahead and drink them. (Just combine them with some good carbs or healthy fats).

dont the protein powders say how many calories are in them allready?

do we need to add a calorie/4 g protein in there too?

Originally Posted by DanSterone

dont the protein powders say how many calories are in them allready?

do we need to add a calorie/4 g protein in there too?

You do not need to add more calories. The calories on the packet will take into account the protein calories.

What they mean is that they are not intended as Meal Replacements because they are not "complete" meals. There is a difference between a Protein shake and a Meal Replacement Powder. MRPs have more nutrients. But agreed with Emma (cause she is hot), any excess calories more than you burn will eventually make you fat.

As far as the banana, you can put them in there, but you might want to only put it in your post workout shake. You need those quality simple carbs to replenish your glycogen stores. If your other shakes throughout the day taste too bad without the banana, go ahead and leave it in there. And again, even protein intake higher than your body needs is going to be stored in fat cells. Don't overdue it on the protein. I would say no more than 1.2g/lb of lean body mass for the protein when cutting.

I believe the original post by 357mag was reffering to a banana flavor protein shake not adding a banna to the protein shake. Or am I mistaken? Its not a bad idea to know how many calories are in a gram of protein, carb, of fat. Is it 6 or 9 calories in a gram of fat?

Originally Posted by WilliamB

Is it 6 or 9 calories in a gram of fat?

9 cals for fat, 4 for protein or carbs.

7 cals for alcohol.

ohhh okay.