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protein powder vs nonfat milk

i'm concerning weight gain actually, but there's no such category in here. sorry.

The weight gainer protein powder in the market (GNC etc.) are made from milk. I was wondering why can't I just drink skim milk to get that extra calories and protein instead of buying expensive protein powder? Does the effect similar?

Thanks!
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Avatar universal
thanks cgagexii.
ya, more workout and food. i'll have to find out what are good and inexpensive food with high calaries. milk is the one i know for now...
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337833 tn?1195459105
Weight gainer powders typically focus on huge amounts of calories (1800-2200 per serving), lots of carbs, and lots of protein.  Although they can be helpful for people (some people have troubles consuming enough calories per day), it really isn't the healthiest way (severely lacking micronutrients) or the most cost effective way (6lb containers usually have about 5-7 servings) to get the job done.  

Your best bet is to up your food intake gradually and establish a good workout regimen.  To determine how many calories you will need to consume, I would look for an online basal metabolic rate (BMR) calculator to determine how many calories your body needs (on average) per day, and increase accordingly (not sure how many calories = 1lb).  It's all about numbers and consistency.   Best of luck!
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Avatar universal
there you go!  sounds like a good gameplan.  you're right that good food takes longer and costs a bit more to prepare, but it's a worthy endeavor.  best of luck in your goals!
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Avatar universal
I appreciate your advice very much, micaela27 :)

You are right, I should do it all for myself, not for others. I should love my body more. I'll try to eat more, but at the same time, I'll have to get used of spending more time to prepare better taste food. Also, I plan to buy dumbbell that can adjust weight, so that I can do my routine more efficiently. And then do more routines.
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Avatar universal
i wouldn't make it in advance.  my experience with protein powders is that they separate over time (much like any freshly prepared smoothie or shake would).  after a day or two, it probably wouldn't be a pretty sight.

honestly, just eat more if you want to bulk up a bit.  lift heavier weights, do more reps, work a bit harder at your routine.

that said, do it for yourself, not because other people tell you you're skinny!  having a strong sense of self and a confident demeanor will do more for your image than 10 or 15 pounds every would :)
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Avatar universal
thanks you micaela27. I'm male and I just want to gain weight in general. I do sports about twice a week and a little bit of dumbbell exercise sometimes. Well, i wish i can gain another 10-15 pounds since everyone says i am thin.

The instructions on these protein powder said to mix with skim milk....I was wondering why too. And ya, I don't want to drink these expensive powder for too long.

Regarding protein powder: After blending it with milk, can I put it in fridge and keep for one or two days? I was thinking that would be more convenient, so that I won't need to blend it so many times.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
the basic (watered down) concept behind protein powders is that someone who is exercising and doing a lot of muscle building repetitions will require extra protein in their diet for muscle fiber synthesis.  yes, skim milk has protein in it, but not to the degree that an isolated protein shake would.  therefore, you would need to drink A LOT of skim milk to equal the protein and/or calories in a regular portion of a calorie-dense protein shake.  for specific weight gain, you don't want to be drinking skim milk either, as it's much lower in fat (and therefore calories) than a higher fat milk like 2% or whole.

if you want to gain weight, skip the expensive protein powders (which oftentimes are made by shady companies and contain a lot of questionably sourced ingredients) and stick with good old fashioned bigger meals.  if you're interested in gaining weight via bigger muscles, you'll need to be eating more AND working out more.  remember - the more muscle you build, the higher your metabolism will be and the more food you'll need to eat to maintain that higher weight and muscle volume.

but make sure to be realistic.  if you're 140 pounds and you want to be a 185 pound ball of pure steel, it's probably not going to happen for you (at least not easily or quickly or in a healthy manner).   make sure to set realistic goals for yourself and take your time.

are you male or female?  is your goal to have bigger muscles and therefore weight more, or just to weight more in general?
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