Health & Fitness: A Guide To Protein Shakes For Beginners




Protein shakes are something we see plastered all around the internet with brands such as PhD, Maximuscle and Bio-synergy all claiming to have the next best shake. However, for first time gym users (like us at GroomingMail) it can seem a daunting task as to which ones to pick and most of us don’t know where to start!

Why Use Protein Shakes?

Protein shakes are a great way to drive performance in the gym (pre-workout shakes) and increase muscle recovery and muscle gain after your workout (post-workout shake). However, its important to know that protein shakes are complimentary to a workout, simply drinking them alone isn’t going to get you huge with washboard abs. A rough guide for beginners is to intake 1g of protein per pound of body weight (from your diet too, not just protein shakes).

Is your Instagram account filled with gym-fit guys with 8 packs like ours? You can bet your life’s savings that a protein shake has at least passed their lips, we’d even go as far as to say that they use them regularly.

Our Favourite Whey Protein

Whey-Better-Banana-750g_wwi5-ocWe’ve given a lot of different brands a try when it comes to protein shakes and Bio-Synergy’s Whey Better – 100% Whey Protein Isolate is our favourite so far! It’s the UK’s highest strength whey isolate with over 90g of protein. Each serving contains up to 92% protein, over 27g of protein per 30g serving. Its perfect for people who want to increase muscle mass, improve muscle recovery or people who want to take their training to the next level.
It also comes in lots of flavours too: Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate and Mint, Cookies and Cream, Chocolate, Banoffee and Banana. We gave Cookies and Cream a try and loved it!

This protein can be used as both a great pre-workout shake or an effective post workout shake. As you become more advanced in your training you’ll probably want to swap to one of their great pre workout shakes like “Super Charge – Pre Workout Formula” and combine it with the Whey Protein mentioned above.

How Often Should I Drink Protein Shakes?

The answer to this question depends on what your goals are. The more extreme your workouts become the more protein shakes you’re probably going to need to take. As a general rule, every gym session should be accompanied with a pre-workout and post-workout shake to optimise on endurance, muscle recovery and gain. After you’ve incorporated this into your routine we recommend upping your protein intake my increasing the number of protein shakes you take. Normally have a midday snack? Consider replacing this for a shake.

We hope this post helps all of you starting your journey to a fit and healthier lifestyle. Got any wisdom or advice from when you first started out? Then leave a comment in the comments section.