Protein

fourstarclothes · 02-27-2007, 07:50 PM

I was highly considering starting to take protein shakes but then decided against before I have heard if you stop working out then all of the muscle you have gained off of the protein powder turns into flab. Any truth to this? Comments? Suggestions?

The-Iceman-Chuck-Liddell · 02-27-2007, 07:57 PM

well you shouldnt have a protein shake if you dont work out. and if u work out you shouldnt have a problem. i have on one after i workout everyday

GSPALLTHEWAY · 02-27-2007, 08:03 PM

actually it is true to a degree... if your taking in any kind of calories, fats, proteins, carbs, and dont work to burn calories and or build muscle, eventually it will turn to fat.... so no need for a shake if your not very active and working hard

lwbfl · 02-27-2007, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstarclothes

I was highly considering starting to take protein shakes but then decided against before I have heard if you stop working out then all of the muscle you have gained off of the protein powder turns into flab. Any truth to this? Comments? Suggestions?

Muscle CAN NOT turn into anything, not even fat, flab etc. What happens is people who are active, and desire to build muscle increase their calorie intake to achieve that goal. When they quit the activity or decrease it, and maintain the increased calories, they get fat. One cannot turn into anything else, but you can cause yourself to get fat by eating more than you use.

Daniel · 02-27-2007, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwbfl

Muscle CAN NOT turn into anything, not even fat, flab etc. What happens is people who are active, and desire to build muscle increase their calorie intake to achieve that goal. When they quit the activity or decrease it, and maintain the increased calories, they get fat. One cannot turn into anything else, but you can cause yourself to get fat by eating more than you use.

So if you're the size of a bodybuilder and then you cut down to normal calories and just never pick up a weight again, what will happen to your muscles?

sitnspin · 02-27-2007, 09:11 PM

As lwbfl was saying, muscle and fat are two different things. One doesn't turn into the other. If you're all ripped and buff and you stop working out and you reduce your caloric intake, your muscles shrink because A) They're not getting any exercise, and B) They're not being fed sufficient protein to grow. At the same time, if you're not working out any more, you're not burning as many calories and your metabolism slows down, which is why it's easier to get fat.

You should also keep in mind that protein powder doesn't magically create larger muscles. The real change comes from the work you're doing at the gym. By raising your protein intake, you're just ensuring that your muscles are getting enough to eat between workouts.

lwbfl · 02-27-2007, 10:33 PM

Yep, what he said. Your body will not see the need to maintain the muscle since you are no longer in need of it, and burn it as energy. You probably will not return to the size you were before, but will return to the size you body needs to maintain it's work level.

sitnspin · 02-27-2007, 10:39 PM

This also relates to a widespread belief that drives me nuts when I hear it. A lot of people avoid getting into weight training because they believe they'll either have to keep it up forever, or they'll get fat when they stop. That's crazy. There's no actual link between working out and getting fat -- quite the opposite. Any fat you gain when you stop working out will be directly attributed to how much time you spend on the couch and how crappy your diet is. If you started lifting weights steadily for the next five years, your body would go through really positive changes. You'd pack on muscle and burn fat (assuming you're eating well too). If after those five years you decided to stop weight training, it's just a question of maintaining a healthy, balanced diet and staying active in other ways, but shouldn't you be doing that anyway?

lwbfl · 02-27-2007, 10:53 PM

Good point SNS!

Crashsti · 02-28-2007, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstarclothes

I was highly considering starting to take protein shakes but then decided against before I have heard if you stop working out then all of the muscle you have gained off of the protein powder turns into flab. Any truth to this? Comments? Suggestions?

is it not also true that protein does not get stored as fat when it is'nt used? it either goes to use for tissue repair or passes out of your system as waste.

lwbfl · 02-28-2007, 03:09 PM

No, that would be great though! Any form of energy will be stored as fat if you intake more than you use. This includes fats, carbs, and protein.

Crashsti · 02-28-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwbfl

No, that would be great though! Any form of energy will be stored as fat if you intake more than you use. This includes fats, carbs, and protein.

i am going to have to check into this again. i was always under the impression that with protein, you either used it or it passes out of your system in your urine. if i am wrong i have no idea where i picked up the idea since i have been believing it for about 20 years.

Ring_Raider_07 · 02-28-2007, 03:54 PM

This doesn't have to do directly w/ this OP's question, but with protien suppliment.

I have whey and soy protien. I was thinking about taking the soy protien in the morning and whey protien after I work out. Will I benifit from this, or should I take it @ different times?

Thanks, I used to be really into weight lifting. However, I never really used suppliments.

fourstarclothes · 03-05-2007, 08:06 PM

I do go to the gym now but I doubt I will be doing it for the rest of my life. I want to make sure I know all of the side-effects before I do something. Are there any other supplements or drinks I can try to help gain muscle besides protein?

sitnspin · 03-05-2007, 09:07 PM

creatine, but I'd still recommend protein first.

lwbfl · 03-05-2007, 09:08 PM

Protein is just food.

MTKrav911 · 03-06-2007, 01:01 PM

I have a question. I notice that everytime I drink a whey protein shake, about half an hour or so after, I get really hungry. Is there some type of appetite stimulant that you are all aware of in protein shakes?

lwbfl · 03-06-2007, 01:26 PM

Not really, sometimes you get your digestive system going, it processes the liquid fairly fast as opposed to eating a solid food that takes longer to process.

SmashingMachine · 04-09-2007, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstarclothes

I was highly considering starting to take protein shakes but then decided against before I have heard if you stop working out then all of the muscle you have gained off of the protein powder turns into flab. Any truth to this? Comments? Suggestions?

Once you gain muscle you have it forever...muscle doesn't turn into fat. Muscles decrease in size and condition if you don't regularily work them. The same way that if you run every day and then stop and dont run for six months or so...you get winded or out of condition. Whether you work out or not you should consume a healthy dose of protein everyday. Menshealth's website has all kinds of information on how much you should consume based on your lifestyle. If youre working out you should consume 1/2 to 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight...and drink lots of water too.

SmashingMachine · 04-09-2007, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTKrav911

I have a question. I notice that everytime I drink a whey protein shake, about half an hour or so after, I get really hungry. Is there some type of appetite stimulant that you are all aware of in protein shakes?

when you work out your blood goes to your muscles and when you eat it flows into your stomach to aid with the digestive process take that and add it to the fact that good work outs really stimulate your metabolism and there's the reason you feel hungry...I am the exact same way...I can work out, eat or take a shake and just feel famished...just take care that you don't go crazy with the calorie intake.