Does Protein Powder Make You Gain Weight?

A question we've been getting a lot from customers, as well as a question that's being asked a lot and trending online, is the question of whether protein powders make you gain weight. So we wanted to write a post delving into this topic. While protein powders are more so than ever becoming a staple many everyday people use and add to smoothies, oatmeal, and even pancakes, protein powder definitely still has a reputation as being something used by bodybuilders, power lifters, athletes, and just bigger people. 

While overdoing it with any food can make you gain weight, protein powder isn't necessarily any more likely to make you gain weight than any other food or beverage you consome. For those who are actively looking to gain weight, people often referred to as "Hard Gainers", they typically take a "Weight Gainer" which is a very high calorie protein powder. Most people who are looking to put on weight will likely find that your run of the mill protein powder isn't going to do it for them. 

Another trend we've seen in recent years is protein powders getting leaner and leaner, with many protein powders coming in with around 100 or 110 calories, which is actually substantially less than even a can of soda. 

If you're looking to lose weight you need to eat at a calorie deficit. If you're looking to maintain your weight you need to eat calorie neutral, and if you're looking to put on weight you need to consume excess calories. So the short answer is no, protein powder won't inherently cause you to gain weight, however if you're consuming too many calories in your regular diet, plus supplementing with protein powder, well yeah you'll likely wind up putting on some weight. 

Assuming you found this post because you're not looking to gain weight, we're going to be discussing 3 ways protein powder can cause weight gain, and we'll also be recommending some of our leaner protein powders as well.