I've been training in kickboxing twice a week for about a year and a half now, and I'm seeing results, but I know my diet is pretty terrible - I basically eat whatever. I've noticed that a lot of people from my gym drink protein and eat sports bars. Does this stuff actually help or is it just marketing?
Don't rush to the store for protein right away - first get your regular diet in order, otherwise sports nutrition just won't work. If you eat haphazardly, a protein shake won't save you; you need the basics: a normal amount of protein, carbs, and calories depending on your goals. Sports nutrition isn't magic or marketing, but it's not a replacement for regular food either; it's convenience and a concentration of the nutrients you need. For kickboxing, protein after workouts will definitely help with muscle recovery, but only if you first sort out your diet and make sure you're eating enough quality food.
First of all, figure out how much protein you're actually getting per day - it often turns out you're getting enough if you just eat normally with regular food (chicken, eggs, cottage cheese), and you don't need extra protein. Sports nutrition makes sense only if you've already built a foundation: you eat regularly, you track your macros or at least understand how much food you need, and then protein or a bar is just convenience, not magic. Without order in your regular diet, any sports supplement is money down the drain, because your body will only absorb what it needs, and the rest will just be eliminated.
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