Posted on 18 Sep 2013
4 min read
There are a few things in life which I find overwhelmingly mundane.
Washing up, baby photos, the Victorian era (it’s just too long), Hugh Grant, anything by Jane Austen…
Another is dieting.
It’s just so difficult to summon up the enthusiasm to eat couscous and carrots, day in, day out.
It’s comparable to someone confiscating all of your high-def niche pornography and forcing you to rub one out over an old oak tree instead.
It’s just not the same.
Having said that, during my last foray into dieting/cutting/getting spectacularly shredded, there was one oasis of flavour, one meal which I genuinely looked forward to guzzling down each day.
That was PhD Diet Whey.
PhD Diet Whey is a well-regarded protein supplement designed to help with lean muscle and fat loss goals.
Essentially it acts as a healthy, low-carb snack alternative or a convenient source of protein post-workout.
Per serving, you’re looking at about 35g of protein (whey protein, milk protein concentrate, soya protein isolate), 7g of low GI carbs, and 2g of sugar.
This blend of ingredients helps keep you feeling full throughout the day and should help eliminate those pesky sugar cravings.
PhD Diet Whey also contains added nutrients to help boost fat loss and maximise performance and energy levels, such as green tea, CLA, l-carnitine, waxy vol and flaxseed.
Personally, I’ve never heard of some of those ingredients – they could well be made up:
Marketing Exec 1: “Paul, how can we make this supplement more appealing?”
Marketing Exec 2: “Have you tried making up a load of impressive sounding ingredients? They fucking love that.”
Marketing Exec 1: “What about… Waxy Vol?”
Marketing Exec 2: “Bingo!”
At the time of writing, PhD Diet Whey is available in five different flavours: vanilla, strawberry, Belgian chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate orange.
I usually opt for the vanilla flavour, which, although quite sweet, tastes tremendous.
So much so I found myself having cravings for it.
The shake mixes well with no lumps in sight, but it is a little grainy, which is apparently due to the flaxseed.
I blended it with semi-skimmed milk (always tastes much, much better than with water) and would often throw in a banana or some other frozen fruit for a great tasting protein shake.
Over the course of a month, I lost quite a few pounds, ‘leaned up’ considerably, and felt much more energised during training while using this supplement.
This was alongside three weightlifting sessions and three HIIT cardio session per week, as well a wholesome low-carb diet.
Obviously, it’s paramount that you use PhD Diet Whey in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle.
If you just spend all day sitting in your pants, playing Grand Theft Auto and eating Belgian buns, this shake is not going to help you lose weight or gain muscle.
The ‘slow release protein blend’ definitely helped to eliminate any cravings I normally have during the day.
Usually I hoover up every calorie in sight, with an appetite as indiscriminate as it is voracious, but PhD Diet Whey satiated this binge mindset considerably.
On a side note, PhD Diet Whey also digests very well.
Unlike a lot of other protein supplements that I have reviewed, it thankfully doesn’t leave a trail of toxic guff gas lingering behind you all day long.
So if you’re consistently smoking your other half out with volley after volley of noxious protein farts, this supplement should help ease tension in the relationship.
The recommended retail price for PhD Diet Whey is usually £30 and £40 for a kilogram, which is a little steep in my opinion.
However, if you shop around online you can normally knock at least £10 off this price, making it much better value for money.
PhD Diet Whey is the ideal supplement for those looking to maintain muscle tissue while cutting down on fat.
It works perfectly as a low calorie snack between meals and/or post-workout protein fix, and helps keep those pesky sugar cravings at bay.
In addition, its great taste helps take the edge off those ineffably mundane diet plans.
All in all, another excellent product from PhD Nutrition.
Highly recommended!
Typically cheapest place to buy PhD Diet Whey is here at Amazon where it normally goes for well below the recommended retail price.
If you’ve tried PhD Diet Whey and have an opinion on it, I’d love to hear from you.
Just hit me up with your thoughts in the comments section below.
Also, if you happen to find anywhere cheaper than Amazon, please get in touch.
Until then, stay strong and stay shredded!
Harrison is the founder and editor of GymTalk. He spends most of his time sat at a computer shovelling peanuts into his mouth while trying to think up new ways to end sentences with the word “vagina”, but occasionally can be found at the squat rack or playing piano in Luton’s “second best” rock band.
Hi Harrison
What do you know about the credentials of the people who make this stuff?
Are they trained pharmacists/physicians or pretending like Dr Dre?
Not 100% sure, but I doubt they boast any expertise that sets them apart from the multitude of other supplement companies on the market.
They’ve just got a legit sounding brand name which conveys authority.
Just like ‘UK Best Kebab’…
Hey I just read your blog and found it really uplifting.
I’m quite miserable with my weight – I had two babies within 16 months then if things couldn’t get any harder developed gall bladder disease.
Glad you’ve enjoyed it, if there’s anything I can help with please let me know.
You can get it cheaper at dolphinfitness.co.uk.
£32 for a 2kg tub!
I’m seeing it for £37 – regardless that’s still a good price 🙂
Discount Supplements standard price £29.99 for 2 kilos, but wait until end of the month and you get 20-25% off, works out at £12 per kilo.
Thanks, will look out for that.
Purchased PhD Diet Whey at Holland & Barrett 19/11/16 for £14.99/ kg bag
Thanks for the heads up, great price!
Amazon £29
Ebay 2kg and a shaker fo £39
Thanks for the heads up, Danny.
Hi, I’ve lost a load of weight this year and am now looking to lose the last bit and tone up.
Is this the correct supplement to use if I have it as my post-workout snack?
Yes, PHD Diet Whey should definitely help you tone up and lose weight, provided your diet and training are up to scratch 🙂
Why is the cookies and cream no longer available
I am a Gym Instructor at a female only gym and with it being the new year have just started a massive health kick.
I have always struggled to find a protein that I enjoy as I hate milkshake and this is all they remind me of!
However I have just started on the Belgium Chocolate PHD Diet Whey and I am so impressed I love it!
I also find myself craving the shakes and I normally have a sweet tooth for chocolate and haven’t touched a single bit since I started on the shakes.
If I have a heavy training day I do not use it as a meal replacement but I use it in-between to stop cravings and snacking and it does exactly that.
I am now currently recommending this product to all my ladies at the gym as it is fantastic!
Great to hear from you!
Haven’t tried the Belgian Choc flavour myself, but will definitely give it a go after reading your comment.
Nice to see you’re getting some good results too 🙂
I’ve been cycling supplements for years and used to be PHD all the way.
Then I found Optimum Nutrition and never looked back.
But then Diet Whey by PHD was on offer so I bought a couple and I wish I hadn’t.
I found the vanilla flavour one of the worst tasting, bad mixing blends I’ve ever had.
Even worse than the cheap stuff.
Tastes like it has some synthetic thickening agent throughout – yuk.
So back to Optimum Nutrition we go.
Ps. If you head over to PHd-fitness or Monster Supplements you see that PHD win pretty much every award going.
What they don’t mention is that both PHd-fitness & Monster are owned by PHD.
Funny that.
Hi Marcus.
Gotta disagree with your comment about the vanilla flavour.
Personally I find it delicious, but then I guess everyone’s different.
I also love Optimum Nutrition – have you tried their Gold Standard Whey?
Definitely agree vanilla flavour tastes awful.
Also, on the back of the pack, it says you have to mix it with ice cold water, I thought I’d give it a try anyway, but it just doesn’t blend unless its either ice cold or straight out of the (very) cold tap.
Just bought PHD Diet Whey from Holland and Barrett.
They’ve got a sale on – 1kg bag £24.99.
Get yourself down there!
Hi Dane, thanks for letting us know!
£14.99/kg now!
Hi Harrison.
Just bought this PHD Diet Whey, have not yet got a diet plan.
I need real help never dieted before and now I’m ready to do so.
Any tips or advice would be great.
Hi Darren, try this article as a starting point, and let us know how you get on!
Hi, been using PHD Whey Diet for 2 weeks now and love it – white chocolate and strawberry delight my fav.
Using it 4 x a day, 1 scoop in the morning, 1 scoop pre work out (30 mins before), 1 scoop post work out, and 1 scoop before bed (1 hour before).
Holland and Barrett – buy one get one half price.
Hi Louise, thanks for letting us know about that deal.
Good luck with your training!
Hi, I’ve been recommended to try PHD Diet Whey to help shift a bit of extra fat/weight but maintain where I am at the moment (which I am sort of happy with) and the reviews seem good.
I eat fairly healthy, currently cut out processed and junk to help me.
But would I use this as a meal replacement (for 2 meals for example) OR would I continue to eat 3 healthy meals and drink in between as a snack OR use pre-workout and post-workout?
I want to buy this but just no where explicitly says when/what times to use it?
Hi Nicole.
PHD Diet Whey is first and foremost a supplement – that is, something to complement your daily diet as a healthy snack between meals or as a convenient post-workout protein fix.
But it can, by all means, be used as a meal replacement.
However, I wouldn’t make this a habit.
Do it at your discretion and make sure you’re still meeting your daily macros.
Hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions.
Hi Harrison
Could you tell me the best times to take this as I’m training at 5am, so would like to know whether to take before or after training?
Thanks
Hi James, I would use it after the morning workout to help your muscles repair and rebuild.
So long as you have replenished your glycogen stores with carbs the night before you should be fine with little food before your morning workout.
But don’t train completely fasted – I usually have a little snack to help me alleviate hunger.
Also, don’t get too hung up on when to take protein shakes.
Timing isn’t really relevant provided you’re meeting your macros throughout the day.
Hope that helps, let me know if you have any more questions.
I bought the PHD Belgian Choc flavour which is yummie, gonna try the strawberry flav next.
When I started bootcamp on 7th Jan been drinking it since and in 10 weeks have lost 43lb in weight.
I have 2 a day and one evening meal…
Awesome stuff Michelle, congrats with your weight loss 🙂
GNC PHD Diet Whey, it says buy a 1KG bag and get one for £1, but it actually just knocked £23.59 off the total price.
Not bad though.
32.79 for a 1KG bag.
Got two bags for £41.99.
Better than H&Bs prices anyway.
Hi Karen, thanks for alerting us to that deal. Bargain!
Hello,
Just a quick question, I have recently purchased the white choc and vanilla protein and I am looking to get leaner and more toned and lose a bit of fat also.
I have started training 4x a week with cardio and weights.
I am about 5.7 and weigh about 60kg stone but my goal is to tone up and lose fat, do you have any tips on when is best to take protein and how much I should take as I am a bit of an amateur lol?
Hi Georgia, there is no real optimum time to take a protein shake.
Take PhD Diet Whey whenever you like between meals, or as the very occasional MRP, to help you hit your daily macros.
A lot of people will take it straight after a workout as it’s a convenient way to get a quick protein fix to help your muscles repair and recover.
But a regular nutritious meal will also work here too.
Good luck with your training!
OK, should I use Diet Whey as a substitute meal or a snack?
I’ve been spinning for the past 12 months and have recently started on the weight circuit to try and get a better more toned figure (6 pack abs would be nice).
I really started to see a difference in my body then I started on the white wine.
I drink a bottle of wine a night and as I own a bar, I finish work, come home and open a bottle of wine at midnight, drink it and go to bed.
All the sugars are lying in my stomach, hence I have gained a wine belly and love handles.
I know the wine has to stop for me to lose the flab.
My diet is a small bowl of Special K for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch (always on brown bread), then as a main meal in the evening it’s either salad or veg with either chicken or fish.
So would the Diet Whey be better as a breakfast or lunch substitute and used again after my workout?
Hi Mark, thanks for dropping by.
As you point out, your first goal should definitely be to cut out all that wine, as a bottle a night is definitely doing no favours for that six pack!
I would keep your diet as it is and introduce the PhD Diet Whey twice a day as a snack between meals.
This should top up your daily protein intake to above the RDA which will help with lean muscle gains – provided you are still killing it in the gym!
Good luck – and let me know if you have any more questions!
What would be the best time during the day to drink this shake?
Considering my aim is to lose fat and a little bit of weight, and I go to the gym 3-4 times a week?
Hi James, it doesn’t really matter what time of the day you take your shake.
Have it between meals or as a quick protein fix post-workout.
As long as you’re meeting your daily macros you will be fine.
What is the difference between PHD Pharma Whey and PHD Diet Whey?
Thanks.
Hi Luke
I’ve never taken Pharma Whey, but it seems to chiefly comprise a protein blend with some added BCAAs and glutamine.
This is essentially a standard protein shake with a few added ingredients to help build muscle.
PHD Diet Whey, on the other hand, is geared towards people who are trying to loose excess weight and get lean, hence the added fat burning ingredients such as Green Tea Extract, CLA, etc.
Hope this helps buddy, good luck with your training and let me know if you have any more questions 🙂
Hiya Harrison,
Great review and forum.
I’m 41, 5″10 bloke and weighed 16st 7 5 weeks ago.
Started using static exercise bike for 40mins 6 days a week before work with a mostly natural foods, low carb & fat, high fruit and veg diet.
Weighed today 15st 8.
I am going to start body weight resistance w/outs in the evenings after work, I really don’t want to pay a gym membership so am aiming to do varying push and pull ups, squats and core exercises at home.
I don’t want to bulk up like a bodybuilder but don’t want to lose muscle mass either.
Bought the Vanilla Cream flavour today, haven’t used it yet.
What/how would you suggest to use it to tone up, maybe add a little mass?
My diet plan is:
Breakfast 40g shredded wheat with a handful of blueberries & 125ml almond milk
Lunch is a warburton thin with some wafer thin ham and salad inc tomato and cucumber slices, a golden delicious apple and a satsuma, and possibly a mini baybybel light or a pack of snack a jacks.
Dinner is either grilled chicken breast with salad or grilled Mediterranean veg and some brown rice – or Quorn mince as a healthy bolognanse with some pasta and grilled veg.
Snacks are apples, satsumas, bananas etc.
Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Cheers
Dave
Hi Dave
Thanks for the kind words 🙂
Your diet seems fine, no need to change anything there.
You can take Diet Whey between meals as a healthy snack – this protein boost will help with lean muscle gains and the added ingredients should expedite fat loss.
However, from what I can tell, your workouts are what need stepping up a gear.
First of all, drop the steady state cardio and start introducing some high intensity interval training (HIIT) (read more here).
Not only will these max effort bursts be more conducive to fat loss, they should also be a lot more fun.
So train harder and smarter, keep the diet on-point, BE CONSISTENT, and you should see some good results!
Hope this helps – let me know if you have any more questions!
Quality review… “wanking over trees” … winner!… lol
I use the strawberry delight – tastes the mutts nuts better than bsn syntha-6 and that’s the best tasting up until the Diet Whey, ad mixes well.
I’ve not used with milk as I prefer council juice for my shakes.
Price wise I’m currently paying 14-19 quid a kg depending on what offers are on – I’ve not yet paid more than 19 quid, most of the time it’s 15 quid a kg, just Google for current discount codes.
http://www.discount-supplements.co.uk – delivered within 4 days… free.
Hi Wingy
I’m not usually a fan of strawberry flavoured shakes, but I’ll be sure to give this one a go in light of your comments!
Best price I’ve found this week goes to Discount Supplements – they have a 3kg tub + 1kg bag for £42.99.
Ordered the Belgian Choc.
Looking to lose a few pounds and get leaner – 4Kg should do the trick! :p lol
Hi Wil
Thanks for the heads up – I’ve bagged a lot of bargains at Discount Supplements, great store!
Good luck with the weight loss buddy.
Hi Harrison
Just found your site, looking around for the best shakes!
Interested in this PHD thing – like sound of white choc flavour!
I am 5.4 and 106 pounds – my sister’s wedding is 21 June 2014 – is it reasonable to say if I work out every day with beachbody DVDs, 3 times at my gym AND eat sculptress maxitone crunch bar for snacks and breakfast and PHD for lunch with main meal in evening – to lose 1 stone!?
With your experience is that even possible?
Really panicking now… don’t want to take pics looking like fat slob! Pls help!
Any ideas would be really grateful.
To make matters worse I got that ‘big booty’ thing going on complete with huge stomach!
What would you recommend I do?
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!
Hi Veronica
I would recommend against using PHD Diet Whey as a meal replacement too often – you’re better off sticking to good, healthy, wholesome food for your nutrients.
You seem like you’re training well – so alongside a good diet PHD Diet Whey should help with your fitness goals.
Good luck with the wedding!
Hello, I have recently started dieting to loose a few pounds.
I don’t do a great deal of working out but I am fairly active, I spend most of my days in work walking around and lifting fairly heavy trays.
I also do a bit of running and hill walking after work.
I want to know if taking PHD Diet Whey will help me loose weight or benefit me at all?
My ultimate goal is to loose about 15lbs but due to a slight disability I struggle to carry out most workouts other than walking.
My thoughts: if you’re adding in this shake your adding in extra calories, which will gain you weight. Period (if no change in routine).
This is mainly for weight training where you need the high protein intake, but want the various fat burners, and other extras thrown in.
If mainly cardio and walking as you say… I suggest no.
To lose weight cut back calories, and if you want to try the added supplements, get a separate CLA supplement, green tea diet supplement, etc, separate.
This is still a protein supplement as its core. when you meed the extra in diet to hit the heavier needs when lifting heavy.
Flaxseed will actually really help – add to porridge in the am and throw it in foods.
Keep insulin levels low etc but this is for protein – at the end of the day with weight loss as an extra.
It’s not a standalone diet supp bud!
Hi Steve
Thanks for chipping in – agree with your comments!
Hi, I wonder if you can help me.
I am currently on Herbalife meal replacement program – I have lost a good deal of weight but the price of the program is killing me!
I went I to Holland and Barrett to see if there is an alternative and the lady suggested PHD Diet Whey.
Scrolling through the comments you have said not to use it as a meal replacement but that’s what the girl in the shop suggested.
Has she given me the wrong advice – and if so what would you suggest as I’m trying to find shakes to replace my current ones 🙂
Hi Sheralea
Firstly, thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment, it’s much appreciated.
Using Phd Diet Whey as an MRP very occasionally for convenience sake is absolutely fine – however, as I’ve said, I 100% wouldn’t advise on making this a habit, as at the end of day it’s a supplement and shouldn’t be substituted for real food.
Herbalife and all MRPs in that vein are simply not a sustainable weight loss option – and they’re certainly not good for you either!
Yes, you may loose weight at first, but that’s because you’re starving your body of calories!
As this is simply not sustainable, you’ll soon revert back to old habits, and pile the weight back on instantly.
Stick to wholesome, nutritious food where possible and use the diet whey as a snack/post-workout shake to top up your daily protein intake for muscle repair and growth.
Provided your diet is on-point and you’re training hard (and smart) in the gym, this supplement, with its protein and added fat loss ingredients, should definitely help you loose weight and lean up.
Hope that helps, let me know if you have any more comments.
Hi, is it true that a chocolate flavoured whey will take the percentage absorbed into the body down by a good 7-10% as opposed to any non choco