My son (15year old athlete ) currently takes First String Vanilla Protein Shake but we are looking for a product that can help him gain weight. He is too active and does not consume enough calories and loses weight very easy.

Answer:

You summed up your answer in your statement: “He is too active and does not consume enough calories and loses weight very easy”. The answer is more calories including proper increments in protein. FirstString is exactly the product to help since you can easily add more calories in every shake he drinks and making sure he adds a last one before bed. You can make the shake with whole milk, add peanut butter or other high calorie low volume foods to help raise the calories including ice cream if necessary. Have him consume a shake 3-4 times daily including before and after the workout/training. The shakes before and after training would lighter ones (protein powder, low/non-fat fluid and fruit) but the other 1 or 2 can be the high calorie supplements he needs and easier than eating that many calories in foods. That said, he needs to consume traditional foods 4-6 times daily making sure to get at least 1 gram/LB/d of protein split between meals (including from shakes).

Below is an ideal supplement program for a 15 year old growing high school athlete. 

And finally, if you and your son’s doctor approve, he could use creatine as shown in the other attachment – but this is only if he’s still have trouble gaining weight. The facts are that creatine is safe for healthy users, but we always say that anyone not thru puberty, should get their doctor and parents permission and read our and the International Society of sports Nutrition (ISSN) position (also on the attached supplement program with creatine -just click the link in the document). Hope this helps. Let us know if you need anything else.

Youth (12-15y) Performance, Development & Health Supplement Program 

Multivitamin Mineral Formula

Active multivitamin mineral formula (ages 12-17) Multivitamin and Mineral Formulas and Active MV Pg8

• Take 1 daily immediately following breakfast or any other larger meal

First String FirstString

• Take 2-scoops 30-45min before workout or use favorite dotFIT® bar for convenience

• Take 2-scoops immediately post workout

• Use anytime throughout the day to add calories or protein as necessary to maintain weight gain

o Note: use as directed above but also to make sure you get at least 1gm of protein per pound of LBM (or weight if not overweight) daily from all sources divided 5-6 times daily. FS can be used as a supplement to a meal or by itself (or mixed with desired supporting contents) to shore up total daily protein needs

As Needed

SuperCalcium SuperCalcium

• Do the best you can to get 1000-1500mgs from the diet. Using your FirstString pre- and post-training shakes as directed (one serving mixed with milk has 400mgs) and consuming your recommended diet should help you achieve the goal. If you fall short use the SuperCalcium+ formula as directed

SuperOmega SuperOmega-3 Fish Oils

• Take 1 daily if not consuming 2-4 svgs/wk of fatty fish

Meal Timings 

• As possible eat every 4-hours

• Large pre-training/event meal 2-3Hr before training

• Large post meal ~30-60min after last post workout supplement

Early morning training

• Eat a large pre-training type meal the night before

• Consume only the pre-workout snack/shake before training (as shown above) & follow workout day supplement schedule above

Tournament play (multiple games) 

• <1.5Hr break: bars and hydration/electrolyte recovery drink

• 1.5-2.5Hr: small pre-training-type meal

• >2.5Hr: normal pre-training meal

Fluid Recommendations*

• 16 oz 2Hr before activity (extra 8-16 oz 1hr before on hot days)

• 4-8 oz every 20 minutes during activity

• 20 oz for every pound of weight loss post-activity

*Use electrolyte formula (e.g. Gatorade) and water as directed


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