It’s early in the morning, and you’re rushing around the house to get ready for work.
Breakfast is your last priority, but you know how important it is to get your day started off with a good, healthy breakfast.
Or, you just finished up an awesome workout with a friend. You’re sweaty, tired, and know you’re going to be sore, but you don’t want to be so sore that you can barely walk up the stairs.
You open your cabinet or gym bag, and reach in to grab a protein shake to fit into either of these scenarios.
But which one are you grabbing? Level-1 or Phormula-1?
If you aren’t sure exactly which one to grab, that’s okay! Let’s say you do decide on one of them, but you aren’t sure exactly why it's better for a particular situation ... that’s also fine.
I had these same thoughts when I was first introduced to the products years ago.
However, I want to help better explain which option is best for different scenarios ... and why.
Let’s start by covering what they have in common...
What do they have in common?
Both Phormula-1 and Level-1 are premium, high-quality protein powders, which lead to them being ultra bio-available.
A huge differentiating factor that makes these 1st Phorm proteins so great is the Low-Temperature Processing.
This means that the protein was never exposed to high heats during processing or manufacturing.
High heats can destroy the bio-availability of the protein before your body even gets the chance to use it.
Think of a burnt chicken breast that looks like a hockey puck, compared to a crock pot chicken breast that is juicy and tender.
Either way, you’re still getting chicken ... but one is more full of protein your body can use, while the other is less full of protein that your body can use due to being exposed to high heat.
In addition, both proteins are Cross-Flow Micro-Filtrated. This means the carbs and fats are filtered out with natural ceramic filters instead of harsh chemicals.
These two methods ensure that the 1st Phorm protein you drink is not only of high-quality, but also the best-mixing and best-tasting protein powder on the market.
What is Phormula-1?
Phormula-1 is a Rapid Assimilation, 100% Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate.
What does that mean?
Basically, a whey isolate is a whey protein that has a high percentage of pure protein (90% or above). They can be virtually free of fat, carbohydrates, and lactose.
Hydrolyzation is a process where you expose the protein to enzymes that partially digest it. When the protein is “pre-digested”, it increases the rate that your body can utilize the protein.
All of this leads to Phormula-1 being a Rapid Assimilation protein source.
In fact, the body digests it more rapidly than whole food, and is best used after moderate or intense training.
This helps to flood the muscle you’ve broken down with amino acids (the building blocks of protein) directly after your training session.
Basically, Phormula-1 can help support better recovery after a workout, to help you get the results you’re looking for, while also helping you get ready for the next training session.
Although Phormula-1 is mainly for post-workout, it’s also a great tool before training, if you’re not able to get in a meal first.
I don’t like to eat anything heavy before I train, which makes Phormula-1 a great option right before my workouts.
What is Level-1?
Level-1 is a Sustained Assimilation Protein. While that might sound confusing when it’s all said at once, let’s quickly break it down for you.
Sustained Assimilation works opposite of Rapid Assimilation. Level-1 digests slower and mimics the digestion of whole food protein, such as a chicken breast.
You’ll sometimes hear it referred to as a meal replacement powder.
The rate your body breaks down Level-1 protein lasts over a few hours, feeding your muscles with a constant flow of amino acids.
This is the blend of several sources of protein that creates the sustained effect.
Level-1 consists of Whey Protein Concentrate, Milk Protein Concentrate and Whey Protein Isolate.
This blend has the amino acids necessary for muscle growth, while preventing muscle breakdown.
Level-1 can be a life saver when you’re busy and can’t eat a meal for an extended period of time. It’s also typically the protein powder that you would add into a smoothie.
Plus, it can serve as your mid-afternoon sweet-tooth fix, since it tastes incredible (Ice Cream Sandwich is my personal go to!)
One thing I always point out is that Level-1 is typically not a full meal replacement. Actually, it serves better as just the protein portion of a meal or mid-day snack.
The carb and fat content are relatively low, which makes it ideal to pair with some fruits, or a serving of nuts to complete your meal (depending on if you prefer a carb source or fat source.)
Which one is better?
So, now that we’ve covered “what” they are, let’s talk about which one is better.
Really, that answer depends on a number of factors, because neither option is better or worse. Actually, they’re both great for different situations!
Let’s go back to the scenarios we talked about earlier as examples.
If you’re rushing out of the house, and can’t eat a whole food meal ... grabbing a Level-1 shake, and maybe a piece of fruit is probably the best option.
That’ll help keep you full and help promote your body being in a state that will maintain and build lean muscle, while using carbs and fats for fuel.
If you’re at the office and someone brings in sweets for everyone, but you have a plan to follow ... you could drink a Level-1 shake instead to knock out those cravings!
When reaching into your gym bag after a good workout, make sure you’re grabbing Phormula-1 or Phormula-1 and Ignition depending on what type of workout you did. That way, you can recover faster, and can optimize the results you earn!
I personally use them both daily. I train hard almost every day, so Phormula-1 after my workouts is a staple to help me get the best results!
That said, I also love to drink a Level-1 shake before bed to help me hit my protein intake for the day.
This helps with aiding in my body’s recovery while I sleep ... and like I said, Ice Cream Sandwich is the bomb!
If you have any questions about protein, your nutrition plan, or anything else to help you get the best results possible, just send us a message at CustomerService@1stPhorm.com, or give us a call at 1-800-409-9732 ... and our team of NASM Certified Personal Trainers & Fitness Nutrition Specialists will be sure to help you out!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
