Protein Supplements - Necessary or not? - Ausbb

03-11-2008, 11:26 PM

(popping my posting cherry

)

Hi All
As the title suggests, I'm curious as to whether or not people feel protein supplements are of benefit - specifically I guess in my case or anyone with a similar work out goal.

About me:

33, a boy, 5'4", 72kg with a gut that needs busting and muscles that need unearthing and toning.

Diet (don't eat red meat but do eat seafood):

Breakfast: 2x Weatbix with skim milk
Morning Tea: 100 grams yoghurt (no fat)
Lunch: Mountain bread with Philly extra light, spinach leaves, 95gm Tuna/Salmon, tomato.
Afternoon Tea: Apple
Dinner: Varies with the family a bit but generally tofu stirfry or a piece of fish with salad.
Extras - odd beer during the week and a couple on weekends.

Exercise:

3x per week resistance training (mornings)
5x per week cardio - 30 mins jog/bike (evenings)

Went and saw a dietician at gym recently at was told that with the right eating plan I shouldn't need a protein supp and that they are essentially just extra calories that I don't need (if I want to drop 4kgs in about 6 wks which is what I want to do).

However, I'm also aware that effective fat lose is tied to building good lean muscle and one does need plenty of protein to achieve this I'm assuming. Which kinda leads me into another question which is in regards to testosterone supplements. At my age and for what I want to achieve are they a worthwhile investment and if so what is the best one to use?

Apologies for the small essay. To summerise:

If priority 1 is to lose the gut do I need a protein supplement?
Should I be focused more on cardio than resistance training at the moment and if so to what ratio?
Is a test. supp worth the investment?
Any other supplements I should consider to assist in shedding fat more quickly e.g. Acetyl L Caratine?

Thanks for reading and I look forward to your insight.

Cheers
paul...

**The Hulk** · 04-11-2008, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raven

(popping my posting cherry

)

Apologies for the small essay. To summerise:

If priority 1 is to lose the gut do I need a protein supplement?
Should I be focused more on cardio than resistance training at the moment and if so to what ratio?
Is a test. supp worth the investment?
Any other supplements I should consider to assist in shedding fat more quickly e.g. Acetyl L Caratine?

You don't need protein supplements to lose your fat.

Cardio will get rid of your fat faster than resistance training, as it will take a while for you to build up calorie burning muscle.

You don't need a test supplement.

Your diet looks good and cardio frequency is good.
How long have you been doing it and how much have you lost so far?
If anything, gradually increase the intensity of your cardio and you should lose all your excess fat.

04-11-2008, 10:45 AM

Thanks for the reply. I made the diet changes 3 weeks ago and have been into the routine for just over 3 weeks. Took a gut measurement at belly button level at the start which was 95cm

and that hasn't really shifted so far.

So unfortunately the answer seems that I need to push harder in cardio

. How hard is hard enough? What heart rate should I be looking at maintaining and for what duration?

Also, re the Acetyl L Caratine - worth bothering with this to assist is fat loss?

Cheers

**The Hulk** · 04-11-2008, 01:44 PM

Progress from cardio will come, it just takes time for your bodys metabolism to shift.

I'd say do 20 minutes at least 80% max heart rate, so you will need to warm up to the 80% for 5 mins or so.

Shrek · 04-11-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Went and saw a dietician at gym recently at was told that with the right eating plan I shouldn't need a protein supp and that they are essentially just extra calories that I don't need (if I want to drop 4kgs in about 6 wks which is what I want to do).

Gee, now I have heard it all. It will only be extra calories if you have them as well as your normal meals. 1 or 2 shakes per day is great for fat loss as it a great way to reduce calories while maintaining a high protein diet. I do not advocate a shakes only diet but maybe 1 in the morning and 1 after your workout or before bed shoiuld suffice. That dietician is a tool.

04-11-2008, 02:04 PM

Thanks for all the advice. Think the plan now will be to hit the cardio a little harder, stick to the current diet then perhaps once I'm down to a more reasonable fat % start hitting the resistance training more and supp then with some protein shakes. Does this sound like a reasonable approach?
Also, the Acetyl? Yes/No? Will it speed things up any?

Shrek · 04-11-2008, 02:08 PM

The acetyl may help a little. Get some green tea tabs as well. They aren't very expensive and help kick the metabolism along.

04-11-2008, 02:09 PM

I'm drinking 3 cups of green coffee per day - would that be just as good as using Acetyl or a thermogenic?

Shrek · 04-11-2008, 02:14 PM

I'm not sure about green coffee. I know green tea definately helps. The acetyl works a little differently than the G.T. the acetly is a lipotropic and the G.T a thermogenic so they should work well together.

breebreerocks · 04-11-2008, 07:34 PM

Just a word of warning- Carnitine smells rank, so you will need to skull it super quickly. I didn't find it to be a miracle cure, but even if it was just the placebo effect, I thought it made a bit of difference. You can get protein shakes that have it as an additive.

In terms or cardio, if you want to stick with 30 mins, look at interval training. That way you are only killing yourself for say one minute, then slowing down for the next minute. I find interval sessions are a great way of losing fat and increasing fitness.

03-11-2008, 11:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
raven Guest Posts: n/a	Protein Supplements - Necessary or not? (popping my posting cherry ) Hi All As the title suggests, I'm curious as to whether or not people feel protein supplements are of benefit - specifically I guess in my case or anyone with a similar work out goal. About me: 33, a boy, 5'4", 72kg with a gut that needs busting and muscles that need unearthing and toning. Diet (don't eat red meat but do eat seafood): Breakfast: 2x Weatbix with skim milk Morning Tea: 100 grams yoghurt (no fat) Lunch: Mountain bread with Philly extra light, spinach leaves, 95gm Tuna/Salmon, tomato. Afternoon Tea: Apple Dinner: Varies with the family a bit but generally tofu stirfry or a piece of fish with salad. Extras - odd beer during the week and a couple on weekends. Exercise: 3x per week resistance training (mornings) 5x per week cardio - 30 mins jog/bike (evenings) Went and saw a dietician at gym recently at was told that with the right eating plan I shouldn't need a protein supp and that they are essentially just extra calories that I don't need (if I want to drop 4kgs in about 6 wks which is what I want to do). However, I'm also aware that effective fat lose is tied to building good lean muscle and one does need plenty of protein to achieve this I'm assuming. Which kinda leads me into another question which is in regards to testosterone supplements. At my age and for what I want to achieve are they a worthwhile investment and if so what is the best one to use? Apologies for the small essay. To summerise: If priority 1 is to lose the gut do I need a protein supplement? Should I be focused more on cardio than resistance training at the moment and if so to what ratio? Is a test. supp worth the investment? Any other supplements I should consider to assist in shedding fat more quickly e.g. Acetyl L Caratine? Thanks for reading and I look forward to your insight. Cheers paul...

04-11-2008, 10:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
raven Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks for the reply. I made the diet changes 3 weeks ago and have been into the routine for just over 3 weeks. Took a gut measurement at belly button level at the start which was 95cm and that hasn't really shifted so far. So unfortunately the answer seems that I need to push harder in cardio . How hard is hard enough? What heart rate should I be looking at maintaining and for what duration? Also, re the Acetyl L Caratine - worth bothering with this to assist is fat loss? Cheers Last edited by raven; 04-11-2008 at 11:28 AM.

04-11-2008, 01:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
The Hulk Active Member Site Advertiser Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sydney Gender: Posts: 2,092	Progress from cardio will come, it just takes time for your bodys metabolism to shift. I'd say do 20 minutes at least 80% max heart rate, so you will need to warm up to the 80% for 5 mins or so.

04-11-2008, 02:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
raven Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks for all the advice. Think the plan now will be to hit the cardio a little harder, stick to the current diet then perhaps once I'm down to a more reasonable fat % start hitting the resistance training more and supp then with some protein shakes. Does this sound like a reasonable approach? Also, the Acetyl? Yes/No? Will it speed things up any?

04-11-2008, 02:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
raven Guest Posts: n/a	I'm drinking 3 cups of green coffee per day - would that be just as good as using Acetyl or a thermogenic?

04-11-2008, 07:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
breebreerocks Elite Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sydney Gender: Posts: 668	Just a word of warning- Carnitine smells rank, so you will need to skull it super quickly. I didn't find it to be a miracle cure, but even if it was just the placebo effect, I thought it made a bit of difference. You can get protein shakes that have it as an additive. In terms or cardio, if you want to stick with 30 mins, look at interval training. That way you are only killing yourself for say one minute, then slowing down for the next minute. I find interval sessions are a great way of losing fat and increasing fitness.