Whey vs. BCAAs

[goslamacamel]

Is it really much different, for a 45min-1hr workout, to drink BCAAs intraworkout than to consume whey protein before and after workout? Or even whey during workout (sounds kind of weird). But BCAAs are basically broken down protein if I understand correctly, so what's the big deal with predigesting it as opposed to consuming it undigested?

The reason I ask is because everyone talks about BCAAs like they're the holy grail, and I tried a sample of Purple Wraath intraworkout and it was god awful (reswallowed own vomit about 2 times), worst tasting supplement besides concentrated Poseidon. I know Purple Wraath is EAAs, but that's kind of the same thing as BCAAs. And if whey is just undigested BCAAs, why not drink that during a workout if the body absolutely needs amino acids during a short physical session (which I find hard to believe because it's been my understanding that digestion slows down during physical activity for a reason).

 

[Hate4TheWeak]

LMAO at the re-swallowing vomit comment lol...That's just naysti mmkay.... And no I don't believe in the whole bcaa's thing, if your meeting your daily protein intake you should have a high level of bcaa's in your system already. If you want something that's fast acting to consume during/post workout I would go with a hydrolyzed protein supp personally.

 

[goslamacamel]

LMAO at the re-swallowing vomit comment lol...That's just naysti mmkay.... And no I don't believe in the whole bcaa's thing, if your meeting your daily protein intake you should have a high level of bcaa's in your system already. If you want something that's fast acting to consume during/post workout I would go with a hydrolyzed protein supp personally.

Yeah I don't exactly remember the taste of grape Purple Wraath in detail, but I remember it was extremely bitter and my back throat muscles would tense when swallowing it. [I got the Purple Wraath sample along with a Green Magnitude sample, and the apple flavor was the best creatine I've ever tasted, so I was disappointed to see how awful the Purple Wraath was]. It was my first time drinking anything besides water intraworkout so I suppose that's why my stomach felt like 100% crap while drinking a small sip after every set.

The main reason I can come up with as to why people take BCAA on top of protein is because it's easier to drink intraworkout, and maybe they don't have protein close enough to workout time for the amino acids to be in high blood concentration. Apart from that, I guess there's a chance that during a workout, digestion progresses so slowly that having an undigested form of protein during a workout would do you no good. But I have nothing besides a hunch to back that up with.

 

[pmiller383]

Wow, I really like the taste of Purple Wrath, different strokes for different folks I guess. I don't really think you need BCAA's during and whey pre & post, but I do think that BCAA's during do great things for recovery. If I drink about 10-15g of BCAA's for a session, I am not sore the next day, but if i just have a whey shake after I can usually feel it the next day. The biggest reason BCAA's are recommend during your workout is just because of the uber quick release into your system upon ingestion, but if you prefer whey I think a well timed shake before your workout can achieve the same thing basically.

 

[goslamacamel]

I rarely get sore anyway, so I'm never too concerned about recovery. I actually like if I do get sore because it helps me make a connection between what exercises the previous day targeted which parts of the exercised muscle. This makes me sort of want to try something like arachidonic acid.