Dymatize ISO 100 Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate - Gourmet Chocolate 1.6 lbs

If you are like me, and spent countless hours researching and reading about protein powder (isn't it a piss off that everyone who reviews a protein powder online is trying to sell it to you?), then keep reading and I hope I can help you.It is important to note that every individual will have different goals, different genetic and chemical compositions that play a major factor as to how this stuff affects you. I will give you my goals and results, as well as a slight peek into my body type, and I hope that helps in your decision:Goals: I wanted a protein that would not only help me with recovery, but assist me with energy and endurance throughout the course of the day, even when not using it after a workout. I work a job where it can be very labor intensive, and I would be moving around a lot. I take one glass, with water, every single morning, in addition to another glass of just plain water. All I have to eat is a slice of toast with peanut butter and a banana. That can easily carry me from around 6:30am all the way through 1pm. I also drink a full glass of water mixed in with a scoop of this stuff after I either run, or lift weights (which I alternate days). I am a recreational athlete whose main interest is to just stay strong, healthy and in shape, I do not perform competitively.Body type: I am a rather short male, but also quite stocky. My diet does not consist of sugars, processed foods, sweets, and the only thing I ever drink is water, black coffee once in the morning, and your occasional weekly beer. I WAS overweight before I decided to get my health back into gear, and am fortunate enough to have been able to burn it off quickly, although my muscles were still soft and mushy before I started to take this stuff.My personal results: The drink itself tastes very nice with water, however, a chief complaint I read was a chemical aftertaste. There is absolutely an unpleasant chemical aftertaste. However, it is my personal belief that yes you pay a lot of money and should enjoy your protein, but the enjoyment should come in the form of results, not taste. I drink one glass of water with one scoop and it provides me with bounds of energy I never had before I started (I am not saying that it is all the powder, but a combination of that, diet and exercise.) It helps me stay full until I take a lunch break, and lunch can usually keep me until I get out of work, and can exercise. My main issue being in my 30s is that I can't exercise hard and not suffer in terms of energy afterwards, which comes in the form of a very hard crash and the inability to stay awake. I am pleased to say, that using this protein alone has helped me to maintain bounds of energy and I typically feel fantastic after recovery (no aches or pains, even the next day!) I have noticed that my muscles are no longer mushy and feel much more firm and solid, as well as I have noticed a very considerable strength gain. (Once again, not attributing all of it to the powder, diet and exercise comes into great consideration.) I have not experienced any of the gas or intestinal issues that were another major complaint of the product, although everyone digests differently. There were also no bugs in it, that might have been a bad batch, and even then those reviews are from 2 years ago.Conclusion: I purchased the 1.6lb size as a trial run, and with two back-to-back purchases, I am ready to commit to the 5lb. For me, personally, it has aided tremendously in my goals, and I have not experienced any negative side effects. I recommend trying out the smaller size for yourself, and see what it does for you. It is important to note, that I do recommend using this as a SUPPLEMENT, meaning you need to keep up with your food intake, as well as work in some exercise to really get the full benefit of this powder. If not, you are just buying really expensive poo. Give it a try, and I wish you the best of luck on achieving your goals!

I just purchased and tried this Cinnamon Bun flavor and wanted to write a first-impressions review. It's more like 4.6 stars than a 5, but it does not deserve a 4 thus my 5 star rating. Of the relatively few protein powder brands I have tasted, this Dymatize ISO-100 is probably the best. That does not mean that it is absolutely fantastic, but you are drinking whey powder with water, so you have to be realistic in your expectations (which in my case are low). I am sure if you mix this with whole milk it will taste a lot better, but that would defeat my personal purpose. I am not a body builder by any stretch but am interested on a cleaner diet (heavy on unprocessed ingredients & raw fruits & veggies), loosing some weight (Weight Watchers - a 1 scoop single serving w/ 25g protein is only 1 Point!!), and toning up. My goal is about 170g protein a day (that's high - my USDA RDA is 85g), and this is a great low calorie supplement. Since it uses stevia as a sweetener. Stevia has a slightly sweet aftertaste which is not unpleasant, and with stevia I am not taking in artificial chemical sweeteners.I have tried both the Gourmet Chocolate and the Cinnamon Bun flavors and like both. I like the Chocolate just a little bit better but that is a personal taste thing. When mixed with room temp water it mixes very easily. After it is mixed I add crushed ice & shake again as it tastes best served cold. The company is proud of the quality of protein it provides and markets heavily on that claim. I am not a biochemist or nutritionist so I take them at their word regarding the amino acids, but this is made from standard non-organic GMO grain-fed BigAg dairy. I would be amazed if there were not trace amounts of GMO-related gyphosate herbicide, growth hormones, antibiotics (constant small doses create antibiotic resistant bacteria) and such in this product. I am no greenie wienie but low-dose herbicide for breakfast is not something I relish the thought of. I would pay more money for less chemicals.I can say that one scoop (24 of which are in a 1.6 lb jar) mixed with 6 oz of water has really filled me up. Earlier I had 2/3 cup of 1% cottage cheese with blueberries for breakfast (with my pot of morning coffee - some vices I refuse to give up). With this as a mid-morning snack I am still satisfied at noon. I am going to be using the Cinnamon Bun flavor as a first-cup-of-coffee replacement in the mornings to help boost my metabolism.This product is just under $1.29/25g protein serving when purchased in 1.6 lb jars, which supplies me about a third of my RDA. The cost drops a bit when you purchase the 5 lb jars, so get the small ones for taste testing and the large ones for everyday use. For comparison, a 10 oz. skinless boneless chicken breast (normal size from Texas HEB stores) is 88g protein and 467 calories. 3 scoops of this diary product is 75g/300cal but it is largely devoid of the other nutrients chicken meat has. We buy organic chicken so we are not getting antibiotics, growth hormones or GMO-related herbicides from that protein source. Even organic chicken at $5/lb is cheaper than this, but this is priced similar to competing products, is incredibly convenient, good tasting, and provides a filling boost of protein whenever you need one.