Muscle Milk worth the calories?

I have a big bottle of Muscle Milk Chocolate Milk supplement from CytoSport and was curious if because of the high caloric content if I should be taking while trying to lose weight. The instructions say to mix with 2 cups of water / 2% milk and take both before and after workouts, but it is 640 calories for 2 cups, which means that I am swallowing 1280 calories in this supplement alone each day.

Can anyone tell me if it is even worth taking? Does it work or am I just wasting calories on a hype product? I do workout for an hour a day and expend much of those calories from exercise but 1280 seems HUGE to me. Any advise?

I agree that it seems like a lot. I work out an hour a day and don't take any such supplements.

A lot of the guys at my gym use it, but I don't see any big difference between the ones who do and the ones who don't

I've taken it once, but decided unless I hear that it is a must-have I am going to stick to healthy foods and exercise instead. Just seems too many calories to waste on something I don't like the taste of. I could have a few cupcakes for that amount of calories! :)

I've seen people at my gym take it, but not sure if they are trying to lose or bulk up....

It is a lot of calories, so if you're not trying to gain that seems a little high.

I was in GNC just the other day and they have a light version of Muscle Milk that I think is in the 250 - 350 calorie range per serving. I can't quite remember to be honest since I only briefly read through the nutrition facts, but I know it was about half the calories of regular Muscle Milk. So if you like Muscle Milk you can always give the light version a go.

Personally, I think that's a product for a guy who wants to really bulk up -- like teenage boys and whatnot. That is so NOT worth the calories. 

Muscle Milk is for men who need to gain weight. If your trying to replace what your body needs as in "recover" from a tough work out you have much better options. Like 1/2 a scoop of Whey chocolate protein powder(GNC or Trader Joes) in 8 0z of frat free milk with a tblsp of organic peanut butter. Thats 190 calories and 21 grams of protien and 7 grams of Fat. It taste like a peanut butter cup. Without the peanut butter you save the 7 grams of fat and 90 calories.

I am a user of Muscle Milk Light (didn't want all the calories of regular muscle milk) and have lost.been losing weight while drinking it... with the Muscle Milk Light you just use water, I use one of those bullet blenders, 11 ice cubes, about half full with water, then two scoops of protein for 195 calories, and all of the fights are designed to actually increase lean muscle, which will in turn burn more calories and lead to more weight loss...

I've lost 90 pounds so far and have been using this product all while building muscle. On days that I do not lift weights I only have one shake any time of the day (usually for breakfast)... weight days I have one shake a half hour before my workout and another shake within two hours of the end of my workout

To everyone hear who says it is for "weight gain" or anything else you should really do your research or at least try/use the product before you toss in your two cents, the reason they designed the Light version is for people trying to lose weight while gaining lean muscle... definitly worth it and with the ice cubes and blender it is such a delicious shake  =)

If you're trying to lose weight have 1 scoop of protien before workout and then 1-2 scoops after workout.  (Granted the best time to take in any simple carbs is after a workout but save the calories since you are trying to lose fat.)  I also drink protien for mid morning snack and mid afternoon snack.  I try to eat every 2-3 hours.

Well, I used to work at LA fitness, and now currently work at a gym called Club Fit, and I make/sell protien shakes and food at the juice bar. Muscle Milk is more for what you call "hardgainers", those who are trying to bulk up fast. I wouldnt suggest it for anyone who is trying to lose weight, but instead go for a lighter protein shake instead. I actually like myoplex ALOT better, and after I work out, I usually have an RTD ( ready to drink) muscle milk light in chocolate. Its already made, plus it tastes AMAZING, with only 160 calories, and 23 grams of protein. They also come in packet form, which will give you 180 calories, and you can make it with juice/milk/water, and some fruit if you like. Since you are trying to lose weight, you should make it with water or skim milk, or cut the juice in half by using half water.

Sorry its long, but hope it helps!

sillyredfilly: I like myoplex light too. there are actually carb sense and carb control. Which one do you recommend?

i just bought muscle milk chocolate and its 300 calories with water, 600 with lowfat milk, i would recomend if u wanna lose take 1 scoop cuz the serving size is 2, so if u take 1 scoop with water its only around 150 calories, and 300 with milk before and after workout

also i found this great guy on youtube called fitness factor who tells people all about health through his videos and he did one on muscle milk, hes the real deal so here the link to the video on muscle milk, its about halfway through http://youtube.com/watch?v=q0nTXltxEaI

I just use water & 1/2 cup oatmeal in the morning.  Do you like the taste of it without milk?  I think it tastes pretty good with just the water.  I'm on a cut right now, otherwise I'd be using milk instead.

Muscle Milk can be used for bulking, but if you want to maximize bulking up using a Cytosport product, Cytogainer is the product you want.

Cytosport's Cytogainer

I think Cytosport intended Muscle Milk to be a stabilizing product.  Breakfast to give you a dose of quality nutrients, post workout to reverse the effects of Catabolism and give your body a fast/easily digested meal, and nighttime for recovery during sleep after a hard workout & avoid catabolism during sleep (that part I don't agree with so much).

Muscle Milk is high in calories mainly due to it's high fat content.  It is however, healthy fat, similar to the idea of avocado/nuts/fish fats.  The fats in Muscle Milk are in the form of medium chain triglycerides, which according to studies, is used as a form of energy and have little chance to be stored as fat.

I've ben using Muscle Milk for about 2 weeks now.  It's too early to make any reports about gains, but I can say that my recovery seems to have improved the next day after a hard workout, and my appetite seems to have increased.

I only use Muscle Milk in the morning and sometimes at night.  Post workout I use a mix of maltodextrin, dextrose & Optimum Nutrition's Gold Standard whey protein.

Muscle Milk has just about every nutrient known to man in it.  I imagine there's even a ground up kitchen sink in there just to be sure.  However, it's very high in Saturated Fat.  According to the label, it's "good" Saturated Fat.  Who am I to argue with a label?

As with any other supplement, Muscle Milk has it's uses.  I am trying to gain muscle mass.  In order to do so, I take in 250 to 500 calories more than I burn each day.  This equates to around 4,000 to 4,500 calories a day.  Doing this, I gain a pound every one to two weeks. 

As you would imagine, eating 4,500 "quality" calories a day is not easy.  To make it easier, I drink four cups of Soy Milk combined with four scoops of Muscle Milk each day.  I drink half in the morning, and the other half one hour before my workout.  This equates to around 1,100 calories. 

When I trim down, I drop my intake to two scoops per day, drinking one in the morning, and one before my workout.  I combine this with multivitamins to ensure I get plenty of protein and the vitamins and minerals my body needs to maintain itself.

This is important for anyone trying to lose weight.  Make sure you get your RDV of all vitamins and minerals, and make sure you keep up your protein and "quality" carb intake.  Muscle Milk can be a part of that, so long as you don't go overboard with it.

As an aside, I'm lactose intolerant, so Whey proteins are out of the question for me, which is why I prefer the Muscle Milk over Cytogainer.

From my experiences with Muscle Milk is that it is probably the best over-all gainer for people trying to tone or put on weight.  When i say also tone i would refer to those right now trying to get back that beach body.  You can eat anything you want as long as you know when to say *when*.  But in order to do that you have to make sure that you are doing the right thing by being able to eat what you want.  So to do that working out... something with good cardio and a little bit of muscle stimulation, low weight with high amount of repetitions at least 15-20 reps will give you more muscle stamina and generally less bulk... Muscle milk will help you in making sure that the calories that you take in with is is coupled with the amount of potassium, and protein especially that your body needs.  Potassium to help keep muscles from getting all tense/ tight and protein to be broken down into amino acids to rebuild tissue.  A lot of people try to take just a whey protein and they get discouraged by the taste... which is why people eat what they eat... most foods flavor are enhanced by fats and oils that they are made in... i.e. fast food.  If you want to put on some lean mass, i didnt say weight because that is everything...water, fats, and muscle... you need the right ingredients to produce that.  I enjoy Muscle Milk because it combines alot of all the nutrients needed.  Just ask a dietician.  Also a multi-vitamin should be always taken with you guessed it lots of water... i am horrible with remembering to drink it so just get a bottle and keep it near you and everytime you see it just take a drink.  Make it a habit.  The better hydrated you are the easier it is to filter out all of the bad stuff your kidneys and liver is collecting.  Along with the oxygen that the water provides for all of your cells.  Water is water...if you dont like it out of your faucet for one reason or another, just buy a small bottle like a liter or so, and buy water by the gallon and refill it.  Room temperature water is better than fridge temp also, this is because it is absorbed easier into your system than being flushed through at a colder temp.  Look it up if you dont believe me...knowledge is power...I know i got a little off subject but really i didn't, if you are going to go so far as to take in supplements like Muscle Milk, do your research, and ask questions.  I agree with the post earlier about taking half of the suggested serving, it is all coupled with how much other stuff you are consuming... compare it with one of those Starbucks coffees...like $5 right... so you can buy a 2.5 gal jug of muscle milk for like 25 dollars and if you take half the serving twice daily, you still have enough for at least 2 weeks worth of breakfast or snack...and if you need that pick me up from the caffiene or guarana...You need to take some vitamins...like a couple B-complex vitamins... you will feel the energy... That 5 hr energy shot being advertised for like $ 3-4 is 200 mg of caffeine (1 cup of coffee) and the rest of it if you look at is ... ALL B- Vitamins... go buy a couple bottles for like $4 each and take as directed or shoot double it... it is not going to hurt you and you have enough for like a MONTH.... All i can say is work smarter not harder... you can knock out a good workout in like 30 minutes with cardio included... drink some nutrition shakes whether be Muscle Milk or whatever fits into your budget... (peanut butter or Tuna work also) and stick to a plan... you have to hold yourself accountable... because in the end ... YOU are the one looking yourself in the mirror.  Find a battle buddy to help you on days when you don't want to go.  If you can't make it to the gym one day at home grab them great phone books or something and you can do some step up aerobics in the stairwell...The stair well works just as good as a stepmaster if you can't get to one.  I can go on and on... But set yourself a reasonable goal...and build from there... and remove a couple words from your vocabulary...*excuses*, *CAN'T*, *Tired*, *Too Late*, *Too Far*, *Too Hard*, get rid of the negative energy that is keeping you from doing it...work that energy out of you by breaking that sweat... and simply... BEING HAPPY with yourself...

Lastly hear is a good quote that i use daily.

"Strive for Perfection, while Accepting Human Limitation"... If you don't push yourself how do you know you can't do it??? ........... signing off Jordan

I drink the light kind because I'm trying to gain muscle and I'm a vegetarian so 20g of protein packed into a 160 cal. drink is not bad at all.

Plus, it doesn't taste too bad... just make sure you shake it up well enough or else it will all settle to the bottom.

I just started taking muscle milk, I just need to know if anyone has used this before and what they think about it

What would be your purpose for taking it? For a post-workout supplement?  I've looked into Muscle Milk but I decided my best option was protein powder that I mix into shakes for water.  Each serving has somewhere between 60-150cals, depending on which supplement I'm using (I take different ones for pre-WO, post-WO, after my post-WO, and pre-bed) On a workout day I take 4 different proteins and it barely hinders my food intake to fit it into my calorie allowance.

 

EDIT: Sorry, I just re-read your original post for what you would be using this for.  I use two different supplements for pre-and post-workout.  My pre is only 60cals per serving, and my post is about 117.  I think you could get a much better use of your calories! I custom mix my post-WO, so I get all the ingredients i need and nothing I don't, which could be another downside to Muscle Milk.

Girl you need to be drinking muscle milk LIGHT, that's what I use and I add water and it's 195 cals.  If you know a man that wants it sell it to him and get the Light version for yourself. You can still add milk if you prefer but just don't forget to add the calories correctly.

ya it tastes just fine with water