Using Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard During Calorie Deficits For Fat Loss

As you begin creating the necessary calorie deficits to achieve fat loss, the possibility exists that muscle tissue is catabolized (broken down) in the process as the body begins to use its stored energy reserves to exhaustion. Therefore, while in the process of reducing your body fat percentage, it becomes crucial to maintain as much of your muscle and strength gains you've achieved from strength training as possible.

One of the best approaches to this objective is to maintain your maximum weight levels during the calorie reduction period. In my experience, it is always good to keep your regular routine for as long as possible during your calorie deficit. For example: if you entered the cutting period with a maximum bench press of 250 lbs, then put your best effort towards maintaining that strength level. If you experience any decreases in strength (which can be naturally expected), then reduce the weights only slightly for a period of time to compensate.

In addition to strength training, nutrition plays an important role. Calorie deficits encourage you to exhaust the majority of your internal energy stores: this comes in the form of fat. While maintaining the deficit is necessary, it is also essential to have sufficient protein intake for muscle preservation and maintenance during a calorie deficit. This combats muscle loss. Maintaining muscle mass ensures that the loss of strength gains during a cut is minimized.

As you lose fat and maintain your muscle mass, via strength training and adequate protein intake, the net effect is that you become a leaner yet strong version of yourself. This is a goal many people aim to achieve, as opposed to the skinny-fat appearance that occurs when we lose too much fat and muscle from calorie deficits with no muscle maintenance involved.

So that's the key here: calories lowered to create the deficit needed for fat loss, but high protein intake combined with strength training and cardio. One way of getting high protein intake is protein supplementation.

Let's talk about a protein powder I use and recommend.


My Experiences With Optimum Nutrition's 100% Whey Gold Standard

One of the best powders I've used for the past year is Optimum Nutrition's 100% Whey Gold Standard, a whey protein powder. Whey protein is ideal for protein synthesis, as it is fast-digesting and fast-absorbing. The benefit of these two properties is that this protein powder can be used in post-workout shakes for the purpose of muscle protein anabolism (muscle building). This prevents muscle wastage or loss after performing intense strength training and/or cardio sessions. The fat burns, the muscle stays.

It also increase satiety, meaning it leaves you feeling full after consuming it. Being more full from the protein shake can have the potentially positive side-effect of your calorie intake becoming reduced, thereby increasing the possibility of avoiding bad calorie consumption (junk!). This also means less time spent eating junk leads to less money spent on eating junk, making it a cost-effective meal supplement. This happens to me on most occasions after drinking the protein shake: I don't feel like eating for 2-3 hours until my next main meal. My need for munching on snacks is reduced significantly. This is one of the reasons I recommend it.

One of the other essential properties of Whey Gold Standard is that it's classed as a whey protein isolate. What does that mean? The powder's composition contains a high concentration of protein (about 90% and up). Its composition is very low in terms of carbohydrates and fats. This high-protein, low-carb and low-fat property is very desirable, making it an easy way to maintain your protein requirements while reducing your calories for fat loss. Whey protein isolates also contain extremely low concentration levels of lactose, which is a benefit to those who are lactose intolerant.

After an intense workout (2 hours of heavy lifting), I usually make a protein shake containing 3-5 scoops (depending on scoop size) of this powder with low-fat milk. In terms of mixability, my opinion is that it's best to blend the ingredients together for a more agreeable taste and smoother texture. In order to avoid becoming too adjusted to the taste, I enjoy adding a variety of additional ingredients to my protein shakes. Besides buying different flavours, I sometimes even add peanut butter, ice cream, or even fruits (especially bananas) to the mix. I do this especially with the vanilla brand, since it has almost little to no taste (it's bland), and any additional ingredients enhance its flavour. When the taste isn't to your liking, I recommend you try adding ingredients to the mix that you know you would like.

While protein powders aren't the cure-all for muscle maintenance or preservation during calorie deficits, I recommend protein supplementation for both its benefits and cost-effectiveness.

Overall, this product is a great addition to your natural protein sources, and it gets the job done during your fat loss journey. Go for it.

Highly Recommended Purchase

Want lean and muscular? Get your supply of Optimum Nutrition's 100% Whey Gold Standard: