I'll echo what nocternus said Simon.
In all honesty I think that whey protein supplements are overrated. I have not taken a protein powder (or "any" supplement aside from a multi-vitamin) since 2006; all of my protein is from food.
I used to sell supplements for a living (worked for General Nutrition Center as a store manager for a couple of years) and used to use supplements for over 15 years before I stopped taking them. You name it, I took it: protein powders (egg, soy, whey), creatine (powder and liquid), glutamine, amino acid tablets, pre-workout drinks, post-workout drinks, and God only knows how many different weight loss pills.
I've decided they are all much more hype than effective results. You can get the same results with proper food.
Really things like protein drinks or bars are much more about convenience than a necessity. When you are on the run, it's much easier/quicker to mix up a shake than cook a chicken breast.
I also believe the amount of protein you need is overblown too. The old saying that you need 2 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight is A LOT to ingest on a daily basis.
I weigh about 152lbs (well... today
) and I'm lucky if I eat around 75 grams of protein a day. I would have to
force myself to eat more protein.
That being said, I do understand that you need a fair amount of protein to build muscle, and that if you don't back up your workouts with a proper amount, you could be headed for overtraining. Overtraining can and will eventually result in muscle weakness (as opposed to getting stronger), strains and even muscle tears.
However everyone is different and the amount of protein you need is pretty much up to the individual. Try to stick around 1 gram per pound of bodyweight and dial it up or back as you see fit. Remember that experiments of "how much you need" is done over the course of months (even years) and not measured in days or weeks.
Tony: great job on the weight loss! Keep it up man!
Vicky: "Eating when bored" is probably one of biggest reasons people over eat: we have blurred the lines between food being a source of nourishment, and a form of entertainment. So yes, if you can keep yourself occupied you should be able to avoid that unwanted snacking.
Kevin