What is your view on whey powder and protein supplements? Are they safe? I am trying to gain wieght for the next football season. I felt i was being thrown around by other players on the opposing team. I want to be 190 lbs. by my senior year. I am 150 lbs. right now. Is my goal reachable?

I know of many people who have made incredible progress when they begin a quality training program. Gaining forty pounds in one year is tough but it's possible if you are really dedicated to training hard, eating well, and getting enough rest. However, whey protein powders and other various protein drinks like Myoplex or Met-Rx can definitely help from a convenience standpoint. Let me explain. I always recommend that a person who is trying to gain weight must first make sure that they are eating enough “whole” or real foods. By whole foods I mean things like oatmeal, potatoes, chicken, fish, eggs, fruits and vegetables, low fat milk and dairy products like yogurt, etc. Remember, you can’t survive on supplements alone! That said, you must also eat at least 6 times per day. Now, this can be tough to do unless you want to carry around tupperware containers and sandwich bags with you all day long. This is where supplements, and in your case protein powders, can be effective. They simply allow you to bring in quality nutrients more consistently throughout the day. This is what I meant when I said they are convenient. You can easily carry around a packet or two of Myoplex or a small container of Designer Whey protein to help fill in the gaps between meals. Protein powders, as a whole, are probably the most popular supplements because it is hard to get enough high quality protein like chicken or fish throughout the day. Notice that I said “high quality” protein. There is protein in pasta and in vegetables but it is almost always of an incomplete source that for many people is harder to digest and absorb. Click on this URL to find our nutrition section. In this section you will find all of the basic information you will need to eat properly. In your case, you will have to add in some extra protein (25 grams), carbohydrates (100-200 grams) and fat (25 grams) to the recommendations that I make in this section. Here is the address: http://www.fitrex.com/nutrition.shtml You should also sign up for the 4 Day High School Football training program. This program will give you everything you need to develop as a football player. Train hard, get enough good food (and supplements), sleep at least 8-9 hours every night, and you will be successful!