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Should you have protein shakes when cutting?

Author

John Kim

Published Apr 17, 2026

As long as you're eating a healthy diet, adding extra protein — either through protein shakes or other sources — isn't necessary. Remember, the key to losing weight is burning more calories than you consume.

Thereof, do you still take protein when cutting?

If you're on a cutting diet, you need to eat more protein than if you're merely trying to maintain weight or build muscle mass. Most studies suggest that 0.7–0.9 grams of protein per pound of body weight (1.6–2.0 grams per kg) is sufficient for conserving muscle mass on a cutting diet ( 4 , 10 ).

One may also ask, what happens if I only drink protein shakes? The concept of the protein shake diet is pretty straightforward. Advertisers claim that by drinking two protein shakes per day over a period of several weeks, you will lose weight and jump-start your metabolism. Replacing meals with shakes may result in a scientific process called thermogenesis.

Then, which protein is good for cutting?

The 7 Best Protein Powders for Weight Loss

  1. Coffee-Flavored Protein. Share on Pinterest.
  2. Whey Protein. Whey protein is probably the most popular protein powder today.
  3. Casein Protein. Casein, the other milk protein, is digested much slower than whey but shares many of its weight loss properties.
  4. Soy Protein.
  5. Protein Fortified With Fiber.
  6. Egg White Protein.
  7. Pea Protein.

When should I drink protein shakes for weight loss?

When to Drink Protein Shakes for Weight Loss For those trying to lose weight, you may benefit from drinking protein shakes in the morning when your body needs fuel. You can help your metabolism to work more quickly by consuming a morning meal packed with protein.

Related Question Answers

What happens if I take protein and don't workout?

"Protein has calories, so if you eat a little too much, and don't exercise, it can get stored as fat." In addition to heart disease, studies suggest that eating high amounts of protein can contribute to high cholesterol levels, gout and may put a strain on the kidneys, especially those who suffer from kidney disease.

How do I cut without losing muscle?

How to Lose Fat Without Losing Muscle
  1. Cut fewer calories.
  2. Perform total-body strength training.
  3. More from Tonic:
  4. Maintain or increase protein intake.
  5. Pay attention to carbs.
  6. Smith-Ryan explains that you don't need to go as low as the study did retain muscle mass while losing fat, though.
  7. Rethink pre-workout carbs and post-workout protein.
  8. Prioritize recovery.

How do I maintain muscle while cutting?

My 7 Best Tips for Maintaining Muscle On A Cut - YouTube
  1. EAT ENOUGH PROTEIN. [00:18]
  2. CUT ON AS MANY CALORIES AS POSSIBLE. [00:40]
  3. TAKE THINGS SLOW. [00:55]
  4. 4. MAINTAIN STRENGTH / WEIGHT ON THE BAR. [01:07]
  5. REDUCE VOLUME IF NECESSARY. [01:51]
  6. Don't Cut Carbs. [02:23]
  7. INCLUDE SCHEDULED REFEED DAYS. [02:54]

How do bodybuilders cut fat?

Here are 10 of our favourite cutting tips to help you shred body fat.
  1. Up Your Water Intake.
  2. Cook Your Own Meals.
  3. Avoid Catastrophising Cheat Meals.
  4. Increase Your Calorie Deficit With Cardio.
  5. Increase Lean Muscle Tissue To Help Your Cut.
  6. Avoid Sugar.
  7. Drink Caffeine – In Moderation.
  8. Cut Down On Cooking Oil.

How much protein do you really need on a cut?

Nutritional Guidelines suggest a daily intake of 1.6 and 2.2 grams of protein per kilogram, or . 73 and 1 grams per pound to lose weight. Athletes and heavy exercisers should consume 2.2-3.4 grams of protein per kilogram (1-1.5 grams per pound) if aiming for weight loss.

Should I bulk or cut first?

If you are new to working out and are at a healthy body weight, you should bulk first. This will make it much easier for you to cut body fat after the bulk, as you will have a lot more muscle mass compared to if you started out by cutting.

Do protein shakes make you fat?

Protein Shakes May Increase Metabolism That's in part because a high-protein diet — especially when combined with strength training — may help you build muscle. This can speed up your metabolism because muscle burns more calories than fat.

What does protein for cutting mean?

When cutting, do it properly! Overall calories are most important; eating a decent amount of protein will help preserve muscle tissue. The bottom line is that a cut refers to a period of training when calorie consumption is below that needed to maintain weight and therefore causes the body to lose weight.

What do I take to get lean and cut?

Here are 10 of our favourite cutting tips to help you shred body fat.
  1. Up Your Water Intake.
  2. Cook Your Own Meals.
  3. Avoid Catastrophising Cheat Meals.
  4. Increase Your Calorie Deficit With Cardio.
  5. Increase Lean Muscle Tissue To Help Your Cut.
  6. Avoid Sugar.
  7. Drink Caffeine – In Moderation.
  8. Cut Down On Cooking Oil.

What supplements for cutting?

  • Glutamine. The most abundant amino acid in the body, glutamine not only fuels our immune system, but it also regulates muscle protein synthesis for muscle recovery—and it's especially important when your body is under the stress.
  • L-Citrulline.
  • BCAAs.
  • CLA + Carnitine.

What supplements should I take to lean out?

Don't sweat it: Here are six research-backed supplements you should strongly consider on your quest to reach peak levels of health and fitness.
  1. Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)
  2. Creatine.
  3. Protein Bars and Powders.
  4. Conjugated Linoleic Acid.
  5. Glutamine.
  6. Multivitamins.

What is the best supplement to get lean and cut?

The 6 Best Supplements
  • BCAAs – Your body needs sufficient quantities of all amino acids in order to maximise muscle growth.
  • Creatine – One of the safest and most-researched supps available, creatine is vital for aiding short bursts of muscle contraction and explosive power.

How much protein do I need to lose weight fast?

If you want to lose weight, aim for a daily protein intake between 1.6 and 2.2 grams of protein per kilogram (. 73 and 1 grams per pound). Athletes and heavy exercisers should consume 2.2-3.4 grams of protein per kilogram (1-1.5 grams per pound) if aiming for weight loss.

Is creatine good while cutting?

Creatine can help support and protect your muscles during cutting by bringing water into your muscles. One study found 4 weeks of intense training during the cutting phase with creatine supplementation improved body fat percent, muscle strength, and power performance.

How many protein shakes a day?

Whilst you can spread your protein shake intake throughout the day, you should always drink them with a meal. This means that you can therefore enjoy a maximum of 3 protein shakes per day.

Will I lose weight if I only drink protein shakes?

In short, yes, you can lose weight with protein shakes. And since the protein shakes usually have fewer calories than the meals you would typically consume, you will probably see results. In addition, when you boost your protein intake with shakes or smoothies, you help your body to maintain muscle mass.

Are protein shakes good for breakfast?

Most protein powders recommend using one scoop of protein per shake, which is usually equal to about 25 grams of protein. For those trying to lose weight, having a protein shake for breakfast will provide a high level of protein while keeping your breakfast calorie count low.

Is it bad to drink 2 protein shakes a day?

Advertisers claim that by drinking two protein shakes per day over a period of several weeks, you will lose weight and jump-start your metabolism. Any weight loss experienced from a protein shake diet may be temporary and difficult to sustain.

Can I just drink protein shakes all day?

Protein shakes that are high in fat or protein but low in carbohydrates are supposed to reduce your calorie intake while still making you feel full. Protein shake diets should not exceed one week unless as part of a medically-supervised program.

Can I replace lunch with a protein shake?

A protein shake isn't a meal, it's a meal replacement. It can be a shock to your system to go from eating three meals a day to drinking two of them. You should also consider how long you can maintain this type of liquid diet.

Can you live off of meal replacement shakes?

As a product, meal replacement shakes are completely safe to consume. They contain a mixture of healthy and less healthy ingredients, but there isn't anything in them that make them unsafe to drink. But you can't ONLY drink shakes. You won't find enzymes or nutrients such as antioxidants in a meal replacement shake.

How much weight can you lose on shakes?

A protein shake isn't a meal, it's a meal replacement. It can be a shock to your system to go from eating three meals a day to drinking two of them. You should also consider how long you can maintain this type of liquid diet. A sensible diet will result in losing 1–2 pounds each week.

How much weight can you lose on a liquid diet?

Replacing Some Meals With Liquids May Help With Weight Loss After the weight loss period, the participants were prescribed a weight maintenance program that gradually reintroduced solid foods. After one year, women lost 43 pounds (19.6 kg) on average, while men lost 57 pounds (26 kg).

What happens if you only eat one meal a day?

One 2007 study connects eating once a day to an increase in blood pressure and cholesterol. So if your one meal a day consists of highly processed fried foods or too many simple carbs, you'll feel pretty bad, even if you're losing weight. Other risks of fasting may include: feeling extremely hungry or binge eating.

Do protein shakes help you lose belly fat?

Protein Shakes May Help You Lose Weight and Belly Fat Researchers generally agree that high-protein diets can help you lose more fat, especially fat from the belly area ( 22 , 23 ).

Which shake is best for weight loss?

Here are the 7 best protein powders for weight loss.
  • Coffee-Flavored Protein. Share on Pinterest.
  • Whey Protein. Whey protein is probably the most popular protein powder today.
  • Casein Protein.
  • Soy Protein.
  • Protein Fortified With Fiber.
  • Egg White Protein.
  • Pea Protein.
  • Protein Powders Are Just One Weight Loss Tool.

How can I reduce my stomach fat?

20 Effective Tips to Lose Belly Fat (Backed by Science)
  1. Eat plenty of soluble fiber.
  2. Avoid foods that contain trans fats.
  3. Don't drink too much alcohol.
  4. Eat a high protein diet.
  5. Reduce your stress levels.
  6. Don't eat a lot of sugary foods.
  7. Do aerobic exercise (cardio)
  8. Cut back on carbs — especially refined carbs.

Is whey protein good for losing belly fat?

Protein Shakes May Help You Lose Weight and Belly Fat In another, participants given an extra 56 grams of whey protein per day had lost 5 lbs (2.3 kg) more at the end of a 23-week study period, despite not consciously changing anything else in their diet ( 25 ).

Is it better to drink a protein shake before or after workout?

Protein is necessary for muscle repair and growth. For this reason, many people consume protein supplements in the form of shakes along with their workouts. Some believe it's best to drink a protein shake before a workout, whereas others argue that after a workout is ideal.