Hey everyone.

I'm a bit confused about this. If we're stuck to a 1,200 calorie diet, how will we be able to gain muscle? I'm just wondering. Thanks!

I do not know if I got lucky or not, but casein, I believe, was a contributing factor to losing the last 50 lbs to goal when combined with a fairly rigorous running exercise program. Now I drink / eat my casein every night for 6 months now and love it as a little "treat." I no longer run as much, but am working on strength 6 days a week in one form or another.

Perhaps somebody knows here whether there are any negative artifacts from taking casein as a bed time snack. I do not know of any.

And currently I do not skimp on the portion. I average about 2.5 scoops in about 12 oz of Water because I like it thick and creamy. That is about 60 G Protein. You do have to eat the " pudding" a little slower because it does cause restriction once the viscosity reaches a certain threshold. As for my morning Protein shake (5:30 am), it is about 40 g and my recovery shake after working out is about 50 g. I push above 200 G protein daily when considering shakes and regular foods, yet my muscle growth has stalled for a while now. Oh and sometimes I will have an extra Ostrim stick or a Protein Bar if hunger comes on.

Weight either is stable or drops to lower end of range 173-178. I lift heavy 2x a week and do full body strength based workouts 3-4x a week. all workouts are 20-30 min. Calories are between 2000-2500 daily. Go figure. Maybe I should start eating the "mass" protein where each serving is 600-800 calories. However, I do want lean muscle and not fat added. Everyone I see compliments me on how good I look. I want to be stronger though and have more power.

I certainly am eating the right diet, doing the right types of heavy compound lifting and busting through the challenge of full body exercises to promote the optimal environment for muscle growth.

I know, i know, be patient...

Thanks for the advice guys, I am thinking I will start trying the casein at bed time, especially since the kids are starting back to school on Monday I can get back on a more consistent gym routine.

Well I started the casein on Saturday night. It really does make you feel full at night which is really good since the night time snack urges were staying to return. Seem to have more energy in the morning. Went to the gym this morning and lifting seemed even easier then usual,of course that could be psychological. Also if the scale is to be believed lost 2.4 pounds since Friday which is much better then what I have been averaging lately.

For the record I am using the gnc re-feed vanilla ice cream flavored casein. Somebody needs to tell gnc what I've cream tastes like though because this doesn't taste like I've cream, lol. I use 1 and a half scoop which is 36 grams protein and 240 calories. It has herbals to help with sleep.

Well I started the casein on Saturday night. It really does make you feel full at night which is really good since the night time snack urges were staying to return. Seem to have more energy in the morning. Went to the gym this morning and lifting seemed even easier then usual' date='of course that could be psychological. Also if the scale is to be believed lost 2.4 pounds since Friday which is much better then what I have been averaging lately.

For the record I am using the GNC re-feed vanilla ice cream flavored casein. Somebody needs to tell gnc what I've cream tastes like though because this doesn't taste like I've cream, lol. I use 1 and a half scoop which is 36 grams Protein and 240 calories. It has herbals to help with sleep.[/quote']

That GNC re-feed, re-fuel and re-power product line is vile. The taste is so bad. And they sold it to me praising the taste of ice cream flavor while spinning their 2-1 deal on me. Tastes More like gym socks and used diapers to me. Needless to say, I have almost 2 tubs of this stuff that is going to see the inside of my garbage can. I gag just thinking about it. it was that bad. *shiver*. Stick with ON gold standard casein chocolate. The taste is way better. I really like the effect that casein has on staying trim and adding lean muscle. Just stick with something that is fit for human consumption. watch one of two things happen now: GNC will sue me for flaming their products And ON will give me an endorsement deal in men's fitness. It all balances out in the end, no? Lol.

That GNC re-feed, re-fuel and re-power product line is vile. The taste is so bad. And they sold it to me praising the taste of ice cream flavor while spinning their 2-1 deal on me. Tastes More like gym socks and used diapers to me. Needless to say, I have almost 2 tubs of this stuff that is going to see the inside of my garbage can. I gag just thinking about it. it was that bad. *shiver*. Stick with ON gold standard chocolate. The taste is way better. I really like the effect that casein has on staying trim and adding lean muscle. Just stick with something that is fit for human consumption. watch one of two things happen now: GNC will sue me for flaming their products And ON will give me an endorsement deal in men's fitness. It all balances out in the end, no? Lol.

I'm hoping the re-feed grows on me, you know like mold or something. But luckily when I bought it I got gnc regular casein in chocolate Peanut Butter as the half off tub, since I didn't want to get 2 that I wouldn't like. I will most likely order the ON Gold Standard going forward, but I wanted to get some right away and the only flavor on ON they had at GNC was straight vanilla, which I can't usually stand. I was wondering what is up with the ON Platinum Tri-celle, any clues.

I'm hoping the re-feed grows on me' date=' you know like mold or something. But luckily when I bought it I got GNC regular casein in chocolate Peanut Butter as the half off tub, since I didn't want to get 2 that I wouldn't like. I will most likely order the ON Gold Standard going forward, but I wanted to get some right away and the only flavor on ON they had at GNC was straight vanilla, which I can't usually stand. I was wondering what is up with the ON Platinum Tri-celle, any clues.[/quote']

From what I have been told by a trusted source is that the ON tri-celle is mostly marketing. It is kind of like the difference between application of 100 SPF versus 70 SPF on your skin. Honestly, it is not going to make a huge difference for most people, especially for the amateurs like you and I. I would just save the extra 10 and go with the gold standard.

I seen that some of you take protein in one setting of anywhere from 40-60g at a time. My dietician said anything over 30g is a waste because your body can't absorb more than that at a time. Were you all told differently, or since some of it is a slow release protein does it not matter?

That GNC re-feed' date=' re-fuel and re-power product line is vile. The taste is so bad. And they sold it to me praising the taste of ice cream flavor while spinning their 2-1 deal on me. Tastes More like gym socks and used diapers to me. Needless to say, I have almost 2 tubs of this stuff that is going to see the inside of my garbage can. I gag just thinking about it. it was that bad. *shiver*. Stick with ON gold standard casein chocolate. The taste is way better. I really like the effect that casein has on staying trim and adding lean muscle. Just stick with something that is fit for human consumption. watch one of two things happen now: GNC will sue me for flaming their products And ON will give me an endorsement deal in men's fitness. It all balances out in the end, no? Lol.[/quote']

Fiddle....I've got some GNC brand whey powder that I wouldn't use to smother a garbage fire....it's revolting. But it's good quality stuff and I can't bring myself to throw away that 5 pound tub. So I've been using it up little by little with my good stuff. I put less than half a scoop of that stuff with 1.5 scoops of the good powder into my green shakes. It's slowly going away, but it may take a year at this rate.

I seen that some of you take Protein in one setting of anywhere from 40-60g at a time. My dietician said anything over 30g is a waste because your body can't absorb more than that at a time. Were you all told differently' date=' or since some of it is a slow release protein does it not matter?[/quote']

I've been told women and men of an average frame can consume an optimal amount of 30g and 40g, respectively, within a 2-2.5 hour window. This has held true for the most part from my experiences. My night time doses of casein seem to be more like 60 g and this also is working for me. Is it because casein is slower digesting then whey protein? Is it because the body does a better job at digesting more protein at night? I don't know. If you find out the answer for differences between optimal doses of whey and casein at different times of the day, I would be interested in knowing.

Fiddle....I've got some GNC brand whey powder that I wouldn't use to smother a garbage fire....it's revolting. But it's good quality stuff and I can't bring myself to throw away that 5 pound tub. So I've been using it up little by little with my good stuff. I put less than half a scoop of that stuff with 1.5 scoops of the good powder into my green shakes. It's slowly going away' date=' but it may take a year at this rate.[/quote']

Yes, GNC just needs to work on the taste. I think the re-feed powder tastes revolting because of the inclusion of valerian root (for sleeping). However, that does not explain why their re-power powder also tastes worst than sewer Water. I am not exaggerating.

I had some EAS powder one time that had a similar taste. Just mixing it up made me gag. So glad I found something I liked.

Here a good link on the benefits of casein which describes the differences between casein and whey. http://www.smart-strength-training.com/casein-protein.html

Is cottage cheese a no no? Or can you just not get enough grams of Protein in a small serving?

That's where I've always grabbed cassein for working out.

I eat cottage cheese all the time.

Can women take a casein shake also' date=' dr wants me to put on 2 to 3 lbs of Muscle, I don't know how....[/quote']

I have to admit I do not know what a casin shake is. Before WLS when I was working out big time.

( one of the fittest 'big' men in da gym)

I would have a whey shake AFTER EACH WORK OUT.

MY trainer TOLD ME GENERALLY whey shakes for men and soy shakes for women we best.