đź’Ş How Much Protein Do You Need?

Author

Jason Serafino
May 05, 2023

Before we start: Today’s newsletter is presented by Talkspace. Sign up for this virtual therapy provider today and get $100 off your first session by using the code SPACE. Click here to get started.

Here’s what we have on the set and rep scheme today:

  • Digging into the science of protein for bodybuilders: How much do you really need?

  • Two of the best women’s bodybuilders, head-to-head.

  • What bodybuilders can learn from powerlifters (and vice versa.)

The annual Kentucky Derby is tomorrow, and it’s supposed to be the most exciting two minutes in sports. It’ll take you twice as long to read The Ripped Report, but you’ll gain 1000% more bodybuilding knowledge!

NUTRITION

The Building Block

GIF: @SNL on Giphy

Protein is the lifeblood of bodybuilding. An entire industry is built around the idea that bodybuilders need a lot of protein all the time; particularly before, during, and after their workouts. And in the morning, as soon as you wake up. Oh, and right before bed, too.

The one-gram-per-pound rule is as close to bodybuilding law as anything can get (other than “rerack your weights,” of course). But is that figure the end-all, be-all of protein consumption for bodybuilding?

FROM OUR SPONSOR

Mental Health Care on Your Terms

Mental health is just as important as physical health, yet so many of us still struggle to access the care we need. That’s why we’re partnering with Talkspace. They've created a secure platform that makes high-quality mental health care accessible and affordable for everyone.

Their team of licensed therapists, psychiatrists, and nurse practitioners offers support through any challenges you may be facing. And with private therapy sessions offered through text, voice, or video, you can choose the method that works best for you. Plus, with insurance, you can get the support you need without breaking the bank.

As the #1 virtual therapy provider brand, you can rest assured that Talkspace will provide you with the best care possible. So why wait? Sign up today and start taking control of your mental health on your own terms. Use promo code SPACE to get $100 off your first session and experience the power of Talkspace for yourself.

HEAD TO HEAD

A Dream Matchup?

Image: @lendamurraylegend and @themsolympia on Instagram

Many bodybuilding fans will tell you that eight-time Ms. Olympia Lenda Murray is one of the greatest — if not the greatest — women’s bodybuilders ever to take the stage. But another name that inevitably comes up in the G.O.A.T. conversation is three-time Ms. Olympia Andrea Shaw.

Comparisons to Murray pop up whenever Shaw competes today, and it always spurs the same question: What would happen if the two of them ever met on the stage in their primes?

Unfortunately, we’ll never get those answers since Murray retired nearly 20 years ago. But there are aspects of their careers that we can put head to head, such as the titles they’ve won, their popularity, and the competition they faced in their primes. With that to go on, let’s compare these two titans of the stage below.

POWERBUILDING

Useful Overlap?

Credit: UfaBizPhoto / Shutterstock

Every gymgoer chooses to walk a certain path when they first set foot in the weight room. Your “why” — that is, what got you into exercise as a health habit in the first place — dictates what you want out of lifting.

Are you an aspiring bodybuilder who wants biceps peaks that rival Arnold Schwarzenegger’s?

Perhaps you’d rather prioritize your performance.

Powerlifting is the pursuit of strength above all else, and few things are as satisfying as setting a new personal record in the gym. To determine your path, you need to understand the nature of both sports. And there’s always the desire to combine the two — just how realistic is that for us normal folks?

THE DROPSET

Hardest Muscles to Train?

GIF: Giphy