Anyone use protien/whey supplements?

I have been trying to control my diet to lose weight and have realised that I dont' actually have alot of protien in a day, and it takes me a fair bit of effort to get in the right amount for me. I usually don't eat enough, which then leads me to eating other things like bread or crackers or junk to try to satisfy myself through the day.
So, I was wondering if it might be worth me getting some protien powder and maybe making a shake out of it or putting it on cerial or something like that, to help me with myintake instead of having to try to be so aware of what I eat all the time.
Has anyone tried them? Is it worth it? Did it help you with weight loss? Would you reccommend it as a regular sort of thing for a normal diet? Whichones should I look at? Are all protien powders created equal??

there will be lots of people far better qualified than me who will hopefully see this but i used protein powder a few years ago while trying to get fitter/healthier & lose weight. i thought it really worked for me - i lost around 15kg over a number of months. i don't believe they are all created equal & i bought one that was recommended by the personal trainer i was seeing at the time who was really into it all & had done lots & lots of research. i used to have a protein shake (well, choc-flavoured protein powder mixed with water or skim milk) each day as a morning snack. i found it filling & satisfying - especially if i had it after a weights session.

i'll have a look for the info & pm it to you :)

I use a protein shake after a weights session for a quick energy boost and muscle development.

I think that you're probably better off looking at ways to increase your protein via diet - cheese, cottage cheese, natuarl yogurt are all good sources of protein. A tuna salad for lunch will boost your protein and give you omega oils too.

ETA - If you use a protein supplement you need to be sure to increase your water intake to reduce the load on your liver and kidneys.

Thanks ladies.

sloane, I would appreciate that link!

Onyx, I have been trying to increase my protien, but I am just really sucky at it, lol. I have brought some cottage cheese, yoghurt and almonds, a month ago, and all 3 are still unopened. So now I have wasted the yoghurt and cheese, I think the nuts should be ok....I am terrible for eating what is easy and quick at the moment. Not that yoguhrt and nuts aren't easy, but I am tending towards stuff I am already making the kids, or their left overs, I am eating things I can just grab and munch on while I do other things, like vegemite sandwiches (or the kids crusts :redface: ) biscuits, bananas, ect. I figured if I could at least get some for of decent protien into me, I shouldn't feel hungry and eat all that stuff I don't really need and wouldn't eat if I was actually full of some sort of decent food. At least if I have a shake, it would have milk and protien in it (and whatever else is in them) which was why I wanted to know if they are all similar sort of make-ups I assume they vary wildly and some are better for you than others.
On the water side of things, I can handle that, I do manage to drink alot of water most days!

I find protein shakes really useful. They fill me up and are quick and easy. I don't have any recommendations as I've only used the ones from the supermarket.

I am however, starting to look into using whey powder with skim milk powder so as to avoid the sugar/artificial sweetners in the premixed ones.

I guess my concern would be that by getting your protein from shakes you are going to miss out form the nutrients you get when you get your protein from food. Things like omega oils, the B vitamin group and so on.

With that in mind I would think that the best option is a woman specific shake. Go to your health food shop and and ask them for help selecting one. Body Science make a women's protein shake. They are an Australian company who make quality products. There is another one with Michell Bridges on the container that has lots of added vitamins etc (maybe nature's way?)

It takes 6 weeks to establish a habit so if you can force yourself to take 10 minutes to make yourself a proper breakfast and eat it sitting down that's a healthy habit that will help you for life - special k with natural yogurt would take moments to make and has fibre, calcium and protein.
I usually make a huge soup for dinner on Sunday or Monday night. I feed the family dinner and then have the rest for lunch through the week.

If you tend to eat what the kids eat, then why not change some of what they are eating? Try increasing the protein that they consume. So rather than vegemite sandwiches, what about ham or boiled egg?

My kids love dippy dippy platters. So hommus, veggie sticks, cheese, boiled egg, deli meat and fruit (various combos of depending on what is in the fridge).

Ricotta spread on fruit toast is another good protein hit. Mix a bit of cinnamon and honey in with the ricotta. Very quick to do and eat whilst standing ;)

Onyx, one geared at women would probably be a great idea, I am taking womens vitamins at the moment, though if they were in a protien shake, maybe I wouldn't have to take them...I will take it all into consideration, thanks!
I do realise it is much healthier for me to be eating my vitamins ect, and that I *should* be creating healthy habbits for myself (for me and to role model to my children) but it is all a struggle and I don't have the energy right now to put into it. I have been struggling with my weight for several years now and if I can make a fairly small change which will help then I will. I do appreciate your suggestions though.

Astrid, thanks for your suggestions! I will try the ricotta on toast for the kids (and me I love ricotta, yummee!) as well as the hommus, though, I don't know if DS1 will eat it or try it at all. I would love to be able to feed my kids platters like you suggest, but my DS1 is terribly fussy. He won't eat much protien rich food at all, basic dairy foods, baked beans, porridge (sometimes) sausages and mince (if you can call snags and mince healthy protien foods!) is about the extent of it for him. It is something which concerns me. But I can't force him to eat. And I don't want to be making 4 different meals at any time of the day, so I guess I'm being lazy again, and I just make them simple sandwiches because I know they will all eat it.