My friend has made terrific gains without the aid of protein powders. Do I really need this extra stuff to grow?

Some guys are easy gainers, meaning they can pack on muscle tissue and body mass with relative ease due to a genetic advantage. But even easy gainers can benefit from protein supplementation. Every bodybuilder benefits from the time-saving convenience and quality of gains you get from whey and soy-based protein shakes and bars. Don't forget that whey protein concentrate is superior to most foods as a source of protein in giving maximum tissue repair at a rapid rate.