So I've decided that I'm going to start taking Whey Protein Isolate, I'm not sure what brands have good reputations so I guess I'll just start off with Optimum 100% Whey Protein - Gold Standard or should I go with Complete Whey Protein by CytoSport

Anyways, my question is when do I take the whey, and what should I mix it with?

I've read that you should take a gram per every pound, so me weighing 135lbs I would take 135gs daily, correct? Also I've read you should take whey as soon as you wake up, 40 minutes before a workout, and immediately after a workout. And I've even heard before bed? And what about days off?

1g per lbs of body weight sounds more like a recommendation for total protein intake, not just from your suppliment. I would start out with just taking it post workout with some carbs.

Are you trying to gain weight?

Karky, Yes I am trying to gain muscle mass; right now I weigh about 135lbs and I'd like to get to about 165lbs. I don't want to lose any of my 'cuts' or 'tones' tho, will this be a problem?

That depends on how you bulk, If you do whatever it takes to get to your daily caloric goal, such as by eating pizza and burgers, yeah you'll bulk up muscle but also fat. On the other hand, if you clean bulk, then you'll minimize the addition of fat, although it is still very difficult to put on 30lbs of muscle without putting on any fat. I'm not sure if its possible, it probably is but its just a matter of what you eat.

So as far as your cuts, they are there because of your low bodyfat %. If you clean bulk and keep that bodyfat % low, then your cuts will stay.

Everyone always used pizza and burgers as a junk food example, when in fact they can both be quite healthy depending on the ingredients.

Anyways, so whey protein itself will not reduce my cuts correct? It simply supplies my muscles with the protein it needs, maybe even creating more cuts?

Also, can somebody please elaborate to me the best method of taking the whey protein such as how much and how frequently/when? Also, are there any recommend brands? I've been looking at 100% Whey Protein - Gold Standard by Optimum Nutrition.

How can burgers or pizza be "healthy" when the typical burger or pizza is calorie-dense with unhealthy fat/simple sugars? At the very least burgers or pizza would be dirty bulking or as a cheat meal. You should concentrate on getting 5-6 meals a day and get your protein shakes in so that your macros add up at the end of the day. Are you getting EFAs(Essential Fatty Acids and Omega 3,6,9)? Are you getting complex carbs and fibre? Minerals and Vitamins? Its not just about Optimum Whey.

So you saying that if i go to the store and buy 1-lb of lean ground beef or even ground buffalo, go home, make it into patties and grill em, then put them on a whole wheat roll and top with grilled onions and grilled mushrooms thats not "healthy"??

U know I could almost see into the future and that's why I said "typical".

Cotton8541

Here is a simple and good post-workout shake recipe, to which you can add whey protein powder. This tastes good as well. Here it is:

MUSCLE BUILDER SMOOTHIE
This mix features the brawn-building power of protein from both peanut butter and whey.
2 Tbsp peanut butter
1 banana
1/3 c whey protein
1/2 c fat-free chocolate frozen yogurt
1 c fat-free milk

You can add other fruits as well, or yogurt with other flavours, if you get bored with same stuff.

Source: MensHealth

I have been using Optimum Nutrition whey for a little while so it's hard to talk about its effectiveness. I will see what happens in a month or two and write it then

Here is how I take my Optitum 100% Whey gold standard:

1 scope between breakfast and lunch (Brunch snack)
1 to 1.5 scope imediately post workout (most important time).

Normally, I just mix it with good old h20. I would buy the variety package and see which favor you like and then order it in bulk (2,4,10 lbs). personally, I perfer the mocha cappacuino.

As for at night, eat cottage cheese or take Casein. Both are slow digesting protein whereas Whey is fast digesting protein. Mancard is right, its 1 g of overall protein eaten per 1 lbs of body mass, not just supplement. Remember to exceed your calorie intake over calorie burnt to gain muscle mass. Also take a multi-vitamen daily.