When is it best to take that protein shake?

[Purdatory]

I apologize if this topic has already been posted, I skimmed through and didn't see anything, so hopefully it hasn't been posted.

 

Anywooh, I was curious about protein shakes and when the best time to take them is. I usually make a veggie fruit shake in the morning and split it into two drinks. One for before my workout and one for after, I usually hear that you should take one before weights and then one after. The problem is this, I usually take one shake in the morning before I go out for a bike ride that usually lasts two hours or so, then I return and have lunch. After lunch I'll do my hour of weight lifting and finish it off with my other shake. So the question is, should I hold off on that shake before my bike ride and down it before I do my weights? And how important is it to take a protein shake before your exercise?

 

As you can tell I'm still a wee bit new and uneducated when it comes to fitness nutrition and weight lifting. Any advice would be muchly appreciated,

-Purdy

[Neven]

How hard do you ride that bike?

Before bike ride take bigger amount of carbs.

[Guest]

For the bike you really need carbs and fiber more than protein...this will make the carbs last longer. Oatmeal is great for riding. As for the protein shake its best to take it an hour or two after training. Right after training you want high carbs....low fiber...and protein isn't really important. This is very important for recovery. Also what are you trying to get out of training. If cycling is what you want you really don't need protein shakes at all unless you have been training to be a sprinter. And if lifting for strength is to help you ride then you don't need any either.

[Neven]

For the bike you really need carbs and fiber more than protein...this will make the carbs last longer. Oatmeal is great for riding. As for the protein shake its best to take it an hour or two after training. Right after training you want high carbs....low fiber...and protein isn't really important. This is very important for recovery. Also what are you trying to get out of training. If cycling is what you want you really don't need protein shakes at all unless you have been training to be a sprinter. And if lifting for strength is to help you ride then you don't need any either.

 

?????

[Guest]

Unless you want to gain tons and tons of muscle you don't need a lot of protein. I'm trying to lose muscle by over training and eating less than 50g a day(I weight 200lbs) and its not working so well. I tried 30g for months and I barely lost a pound. Protein is in everything and unless you aren't getting many calories...protein is one of the last things you need to worry about.

[kailla]

drink your protein shake after weight training. That's when it's most effective because it helps with muscle repair.

[Zack]

I don't even do protein shakes. I make a smoothie loaded with carbs (fruit) for post-workout. That is what your body needs after, after that digests I have a meal with protein in it.

[Neven]

I think it needs fast carbs and fast protein.

[Guest]

There's no such thing as fast protein...only fast carbs. Take in the carbs right away. Take in protein later when your body isn't doing anything...breaking down protein isn't easy and its better to do it when you aren't really tired. I used to take protein right after when I first went vegan and I felt fine but after a quit training for over a year and came back I did it the right way with taking in carbs right after...I recovered so much faster than before.