Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder, Rocky Road, 2 Pound (Packaging May Vary)

First off, I'd like to say that I'm not a nutritionist, or a health nut / fitness bro. Just a regular dude who eats right and works out / runs a few times a week. That being said, this is a great Whey Powder and I am very subscribed to this brand alone. I used to use Muscle Milk Protein Powder, but under the advice of my friend (who is a health/lifestyle adviser) I dropped the MM Brand and switched to ON. To keep it short and sweet, I will list some things to note followed by my personal experience / tips with using this great product.Things I've Noticed:1. ON Brand has a much more basic ingredient list, with no nonsense or 'padding' to increase their profits. It's mostly Whey Protein, and a few other things for taste and texture.2. Speaking of taste and texture, this stuff is the real deal. I've only tried two flavors so far, Rocky Road and Strawberry, but they are both excellent. The flavor is very light and palatable, in the sense that you can go through the 5 pound tub without getting sick of the flavors and having to choke them down. It's also not sludgy at all, it mixes so easily you could probably use a spoon, though I use a Blender Bottle. The powder is extremely fine and flour-y when compared to my past protein powder choices.3. It also doesn't clump together after initial blending. For example. I'll pre-mix my drink before I leave for work at 2:00, and I store it in the cooler until 6:00 or 7:00 and it is just as new.4. The only downside I've noticed about ON is the price. It is a little pricey at just under 60 dollars for 5 pounds, but I think that with something you put in your body to support your health, it is better this way than to settle for inferiority.Personal Tips:So, in my few months of using ON Brand, I've also found that it does wonders in the mornings when you need a quick protein shot but don't have the time. Often on these mornings, I will mix the whey powder into shakes / smoothies. Like I said, I've only used the two flavors, but here are the smoothies I make with them if you are interested:Strawberry -> 1.5 Cups Whole Milk, 1 Banana, 4 - 6 Strawberries, 3 Ice Cubes, Strawberry ON PowderChocolate PB Banana -> 1.5 Cups Whole Milk, 1 Banana, 2 - 3 Tbsp. Peanut Butter, 3 Ice Cubes

Initially, when I tried this protein, I had a rather unpleasant experience and thought I might have a problem with it. I even had a close call with my toilet due to an upset stomach. However, as it turned out, the culprit was likely some expired sausages I had consumed earlier. I've been using this protein for a month now, and I can confidently say that it has been nothing short of fantastic.Not only has it not caused any digestive issues, but it has also helped me achieve my fitness goals. My muscles feel more toned, and I have noticed a significant increase in my energy levels during workouts. The taste is great, and it blends smoothly into my shakes without any clumps. I appreciate the quality and effectiveness of this protein, and I will continue to include it in my daily routine. It's safe to say that my initial scare was just a misunderstanding, and I highly recommend this protein to anyone looking to boost their fitness journey!

This is my first time buying the protein powder in a long time, but definitely not my first time overall.Let's start with flavors. Here are the ones I've tried:Double chocolate - Okay. Enough chocolatyness. Not too sweet, not too choco imo.Vanilla - Tastes oddly like coffee creamer. I used to use it with coffee as a result whenever I needed a quick start to my day.Rocky Road - Super choco. I can see it being overwhelming for some people. I personally don't like it so I just chug it down.One consistent thing I've noticed with ON whey powder and the reviews is that the flavors are never that great but never horrible either. In the end, it won't matter if you just chug it.Now for how well it works:My best example would be the summer I spent working out 6 days a week on average. My workout consisted of: 3 days lifting, 3 days hard cardio. Every lifting day had 10+ min of medium cardio to begin, ab work, and finally free-weight based lifts that targeted 2 muscle groups. My hard cardio days consisted of 1-2 miles of swimming (usually nonstop), HIIT on a rowing machine, or HIIT on a bike. Sometimes I'd switch it up and throw in racquetball or something.Throughout the three months, I took this and BELDT (now I believe it's SKALD) every day as directed. I ate fairly clean, too. In that time, I went from 160 pounds or so to 185 pounds in good weight. I went from benching 80lbs to start to 155lbs, 120lbs to 180lbs at 4x8 for deadlifts, 120lbs to 200lbs or so for squats. I realize they're not really spectacular numbers, but the overall #gainz I made were more than what I wanted/expected. I was at a healthy, lean 185 by the end of it all (for reference, I am 5' 8" and had an athletic past but have an average present).As such, I think this is one of the best budget whey isolate powders you can buy. I haven't tried much else, but this brand has always done wonders for me, and I plan to stick to ON until I find a better brand. Keep in mind, though, that just because it works for me it necessarily doesn't mean it will work for you.

Great taste and value for your money.