If I am doing mainly weights rather than cardio will taking Whey Protein to replace one meal a day (During work time when I need something quick) and as a post workout meal on workout days (So maximum 2 shakes a day, minimum 1)

Will this have any bad effects or is it just the same as eating food with the same properties as the protein shake? I try to get as much of my nutrition from real, fresh food but as I say these are really useful post workout to get some "food" in me quickly and also in work where I am short of time.

If theres a chance this would contribute to man boobs etc then I will just stop having them and figure something else out to replace them, if they are fine though and would not be any worse than eating food with the same nutritional value then I will stick to them.

Also can TOO MUCH protein in a diet make you put on fat?

You are right on in your second paragraph. Protein powder is just protein. No different than protein from milk, steak, chicken, etc. With that said, and you said it yourself, you want to get as much of your protein from natural food sources. Protein powder can be a easy, healthy way to up your intake.

Having too much protein is all relative to your goals and needs. Depending on your weight, you need to get a certain amount of grams of protein.

Too much protein will not really put on fat, the body can only take a certain amount and a certain ratio, the rest will be flushed from your body... I suggest not using whey protein as a meal replacement, it is a supplement, you need the food, if your food is not high in protein, you supplement it with whey.

Back to the too much protein making you fat comment. A lot of whey's are high in calories, sugars, and cholesterol. So they provide the protein for you BUT, they hurt you in other areas. Find a whey that has good ingredients. Either Isopure or Jigsaw Whey is what I have been using...

GOOD LUCK

to clarify FDukes80 - protein doesn't make you fat. carbs don't either. fat doesn't either.

TOO MANY CALORIES make you gain fat.

If you eat too many calories and its protein, it STILL stores as fat.

But if I drink a protein shake I will get big muscles, I dont want too big of muscles!!!!!!!!

NOT TRUE.

you need protein to build muscles...yet. you need EXTRA calories to build muscles.
you also need plenty of testosterone, and the right kind of training.

the female bodybuilders that look "gross" to so many people...they are NOT NATURAL...meaning they use anabolic steroids, and testosterone injections.

The natural female weight trainer will end up looking more like Beth Horn
http://beth-club.tripod.com/images/photo3.jpg

and that's only if you're really really really dedicated.

find me a man (or a lesbian) that doesn't agree Ms. Horn has a slammin body.

As long as you know it was a joke lol

Any and all macro nutrient can be stored in the body as fat; Including Fat(DUH),Carbs, and yes Protein.

But as malkore said perfectly.
"TOO MANY CALORIES make you gain fat."

Not exactly.

Only fat can be stored as fat. (of course excess of anything will also eb stored as fat)

carbs are stored as glycogen.

I dont think thats a good why of saying it.

Fat will make you fat, fat you eat and is taken up in the body and stored if in excess, hence you will gain fat.

Calories is just the amount of energy from fat, carbs etc.

Are you kidding me?

If a body consumes Carbs in excess of whats immediately needed or can not be converted to Glycogen(if these stores are already filled) then the liver will convert eh excess glucose into FATTY ACIDS then TRIGLYCERIDES that can be stored as BODY FAT the process is called, listen carefully , LIPOGENESIS.


Your in college and you do not know carbs can be stored as fat? What college are you going to?

If you didnt even know carbs,protein can be stored as fat then you might not understand what Lipogenesis is if this is the case here is the Description from the Medical dictionary.

The normal deposition of fat or the conversion of carbohydrate or protein to fat.

If I could take away reps...I would.

and C-mayhem...nope, I thought you were serious. my mistake. i was in a foul mood when I read that.

I guess I got punk'd a little bit eh?

AGREED, Hell just give a Neg rep.

I am shocked and appalled by Matt's posts. What college are you going to and for what?