Protein before or after Cardio?

[Atty]

Until I drop down to my ideal weight I'm going to start adding a spin class after my work outs 4 days a week. 50 Minutes, average of 600 calories burned, and it's a lot more appealing then any other cardio I can do lol.

Now my question is, I'm going to try and time my work outs do be done 10-15 minutes before the class starts, but I'm not sure if I should drink my protein shake before the class or afterwards? I've always been under the assumption that you need to take in the protein 20-30 minutes after your done weight training for optimal effects, would it be just as beneficial after an hour+ or so?

 

[haffey]

if you're trying to drop weight, why are you taking protein shakes?

 

[Ragnarok2]

Have it after your cardio. If you take it before, you're going to use up that protein as fuel, which isn't what you want.

 

[Kipper]

You are not a physique competitor, professional athlete or a physiology researcher. Ergo, you're going quite overboard trying to micromanage your diet (and with the exception of the researcher, it may be overboard for everybody). Stop worrying about the "optimal effects" of taking a protein shake - that's all it is, protein, not some magical concoction that gives you muscles. You have bigger fish to fry, such as getting the other finer points of your eating habits in order, etc. If your objective is sustainable weight loss, the protein shake may be completely unnecessary if your diet is in order.

That said, what is your eating schedule like? If you're not eating a square meal roughly ~90 minutes leading into your workout or a snack ~30 min before, a protein shake might be a convenient way to power through your workout (although whey protein is hardly ideal for "energy"). If you're not eating a square meal until say, 2 hours after you finish working out, the protein shake might be advisable here (but once again, consuming JUST protein is also problematic in this case). Just the same, if you are adequately fed going into a workout, there is really no rush to gobble down food immediately afterward.

If I've described your eating pattern to some degree in this post, I think your main concern should be meal spacing throughout the day, not whether you're drinking your protein 29 minutes after you finish your last rep or 35 minutes after you step off the cycle. Meal spacing is quite important for controlling calories, regardless of your goals.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: haffey
if you're trying to drop weight, why are you taking protein shakes?

Very important that you have a high protein intake when in a caloric deficit to help maintain muscle mass & maximize fat loss.

op, I'd recommend it after.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: haffey
if you're trying to drop weight, why are you taking protein shakes?

Very important that you have a high protein intake when in a caloric deficit to help maintain muscle mass & maximize fat loss.

op, I'd recommend it after.

I would recommend the same due to several research studies showing that a high protein intake after a workout will prevent muscle loss.

And Kipper: this is hardly micromanaging. It allows the body to instantly utilize protein to help repair itself. Google research articles on this. It's fairly important in preventing lean muscle loss.

 

[Atty]

Originally posted by: haffey
if you're trying to drop weight, why are you taking protein shakes?

I'm trying to burn fat and maintain my muscle and strength, last I checked isn't protein intake key to that?

Originally posted by: Kipper
You are not a physique competitor, professional athlete or a physiology researcher. Ergo, you're going quite overboard trying to micromanage your diet (and with the exception of the researcher, it may be overboard for everybody). Stop worrying about the "optimal effects" of taking a protein shake - that's all it is, protein, not some magical concoction that gives you muscles. You have bigger fish to fry, such as getting the other finer points of your eating habits in order, etc. If your objective is sustainable weight loss, the protein shake may be completely unnecessary if your diet is in order.

That said, what is your eating schedule like? If you're not eating a square meal roughly ~90 minutes leading into your workout or a snack ~30 min before, a protein shake might be a convenient way to power through your workout (although whey protein is hardly ideal for "energy"). If you're not eating a square meal until say, 2 hours after you finish working out, the protein shake might be advisable here (but once again, consuming JUST protein is also problematic in this case). Just the same, if you are adequately fed going into a workout, there is really no rush to gobble down food immediately afterward.

If I've described your eating pattern to some degree in this post, I think your main concern should be meal spacing throughout the day, not whether you're drinking your protein 29 minutes after you finish your last rep or 35 minutes after you step off the cycle. Meal spacing is quite important for controlling calories, regardless of your goals.

Uh, really? A bit too over the top of a post for such a simple question.

 

[xboxist]

Originally posted by: iAtticus

Originally posted by: haffey
if you're trying to drop weight, why are you taking protein shakes?

I'm trying to burn fat and maintain my muscle and strength, last I checked isn't protein intake key to that?

Originally posted by: Kipper
You are not a physique competitor, professional athlete or a physiology researcher. Ergo, you're going quite overboard trying to micromanage your diet (and with the exception of the researcher, it may be overboard for everybody). Stop worrying about the "optimal effects" of taking a protein shake - that's all it is, protein, not some magical concoction that gives you muscles. You have bigger fish to fry, such as getting the other finer points of your eating habits in order, etc. If your objective is sustainable weight loss, the protein shake may be completely unnecessary if your diet is in order.

That said, what is your eating schedule like? If you're not eating a square meal roughly ~90 minutes leading into your workout or a snack ~30 min before, a protein shake might be a convenient way to power through your workout (although whey protein is hardly ideal for "energy"). If you're not eating a square meal until say, 2 hours after you finish working out, the protein shake might be advisable here (but once again, consuming JUST protein is also problematic in this case). Just the same, if you are adequately fed going into a workout, there is really no rush to gobble down food immediately afterward.

If I've described your eating pattern to some degree in this post, I think your main concern should be meal spacing throughout the day, not whether you're drinking your protein 29 minutes after you finish your last rep or 35 minutes after you step off the cycle. Meal spacing is quite important for controlling calories, regardless of your goals.

Uh, really? A bit too over the top of a post for such a simple question.

Or you could, you know, actually thank them for taking the time to respond in detail? No one says you have to agree with what they say.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: xboxist

Originally posted by: iAtticus

Originally posted by: haffey
if you're trying to drop weight, why are you taking protein shakes?

I'm trying to burn fat and maintain my muscle and strength, last I checked isn't protein intake key to that?

Originally posted by: Kipper
You are not a physique competitor, professional athlete or a physiology researcher. Ergo, you're going quite overboard trying to micromanage your diet (and with the exception of the researcher, it may be overboard for everybody). Stop worrying about the "optimal effects" of taking a protein shake - that's all it is, protein, not some magical concoction that gives you muscles. You have bigger fish to fry, such as getting the other finer points of your eating habits in order, etc. If your objective is sustainable weight loss, the protein shake may be completely unnecessary if your diet is in order.

That said, what is your eating schedule like? If you're not eating a square meal roughly ~90 minutes leading into your workout or a snack ~30 min before, a protein shake might be a convenient way to power through your workout (although whey protein is hardly ideal for "energy"). If you're not eating a square meal until say, 2 hours after you finish working out, the protein shake might be advisable here (but once again, consuming JUST protein is also problematic in this case). Just the same, if you are adequately fed going into a workout, there is really no rush to gobble down food immediately afterward.

If I've described your eating pattern to some degree in this post, I think your main concern should be meal spacing throughout the day, not whether you're drinking your protein 29 minutes after you finish your last rep or 35 minutes after you step off the cycle. Meal spacing is quite important for controlling calories, regardless of your goals.

Uh, really? A bit too over the top of a post for such a simple question.

Or you could, you know, actually thank them for taking the time to respond in detail? No one says you have to agree with what they say.

That is, unless they're being a patronizing elitist. Then he's completely in the right.

 

[Kipper]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

I would recommend the same due to several research studies showing that a high protein intake after a workout will prevent muscle loss.

And Kipper: this is hardly micromanaging. It allows the body to instantly utilize protein to help repair itself. Google research articles on this. It's fairly important in preventing lean muscle loss.

Nobody is questioning the necessity to eat/consume nutrients after a workout. That much is obvious. I'm just questioning the wisdom of focusing on, of all things, the timing of a shake...when there may be bigger issues. I am also questioning the necessity of doing so using a "shake" when consuming a whole food meal may be just as good and may have added benefits (+ carbohydrate). Very few, if at all, of the studies compare food to supplements...and I'm guessing that for recreational athletes they may just work just as well.

That is, unless they're being a patronizing elitist. Then he's completely in the right.

Passive-aggressive much?

 

[conorvansmack]

After = no puke from cardio

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Kipper

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

I would recommend the same due to several research studies showing that a high protein intake after a workout will prevent muscle loss.

And Kipper: this is hardly micromanaging. It allows the body to instantly utilize protein to help repair itself. Google research articles on this. It's fairly important in preventing lean muscle loss.

Nobody is questioning the necessity to eat/consume nutrients after a workout. That much is obvious. I'm just questioning the wisdom of focusing on, of all things, the timing of a shake...when there may be bigger issues. I am also questioning the necessity of doing so using a "shake" when consuming a whole food meal may be just as good and may have added benefits (+ carbohydrate). Very few, if at all, of the studies compare food to supplements...and I'm guessing that for recreational athletes they may just work just as well.

That is, unless they're being a patronizing elitist. Then he's completely in the right.

Passive-aggressive much?

I agree. However, if you compare the palatability of a shake compared to that of a solid meal after a workout, the shake will often times win. Also, most people take their shakes with milk, oats, fruits, etc. That gives a fair amount of carbs as well. I'm saying that getting the protein shake in soon after working out will be easier than packing a meal into your mouth soon after working out.

Also, I'm glad you noticed that. Tone down the holier than thou attitude a bit, man. I'm suffocating in arrogance over here

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I don't think xtreme cardio is conducive to your goals - weight reduction/muscle retension and I don' t think shake placement will impact that.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
I don't think xtreme cardio is conducive to your goals - weight reduction/muscle retension and I don' t think shake placement will impact that.

Actually, it does affect muscle retention to a certain extent, but it clearly won't eliminate lean muscle loss. But I believe the OP is already doing resistance workouts so that is the most important part. He talked about "adding a spin class after [his] workouts 4 days a week."

I just realized I hadn't actually given my feedback on this... To be perfectly honest, I would either drink half my protein shake after lifting and finish it after the class or I would drink the protein shake after lifting and then eat a meal whenever you feel like after the cardio. I'm always ravenous a bit after cardio anyhow so that meal after might be a good option.

 

[presidentender]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: xboxist

Originally posted by: iAtticus

Originally posted by: haffey
if you're trying to drop weight, why are you taking protein shakes?

I'm trying to burn fat and maintain my muscle and strength, last I checked isn't protein intake key to that?

Originally posted by: Kipper
You are not a physique competitor, professional athlete or a physiology researcher. Ergo, you're going quite overboard trying to micromanage your diet (and with the exception of the researcher, it may be overboard for everybody). Stop worrying about the "optimal effects" of taking a protein shake - that's all it is, protein, not some magical concoction that gives you muscles. You have bigger fish to fry, such as getting the other finer points of your eating habits in order, etc. If your objective is sustainable weight loss, the protein shake may be completely unnecessary if your diet is in order.

That said, what is your eating schedule like? If you're not eating a square meal roughly ~90 minutes leading into your workout or a snack ~30 min before, a protein shake might be a convenient way to power through your workout (although whey protein is hardly ideal for "energy"). If you're not eating a square meal until say, 2 hours after you finish working out, the protein shake might be advisable here (but once again, consuming JUST protein is also problematic in this case). Just the same, if you are adequately fed going into a workout, there is really no rush to gobble down food immediately afterward.

If I've described your eating pattern to some degree in this post, I think your main concern should be meal spacing throughout the day, not whether you're drinking your protein 29 minutes after you finish your last rep or 35 minutes after you step off the cycle. Meal spacing is quite important for controlling calories, regardless of your goals.

Uh, really? A bit too over the top of a post for such a simple question.

Or you could, you know, actually thank them for taking the time to respond in detail? No one says you have to agree with what they say.

That is, unless they're being a patronizing elitist. Then he's completely in the right.

Being a patronizing elitist is a terrible idea. You won't get anywhere that way.

Back to the OP- I tend to take half my protein before and half after. If you take too much, or drink too much water, there's danger you'll puke. However, having the protein available as soon and your muscles demand it is wonderful. You won't be as hungry after your cardio, either.

 

[Atty]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
I don't think xtreme cardio is conducive to your goals - weight reduction/muscle retension and I don' t think shake placement will impact that.

Why do you say that? I thought a cardio class like Spin would be a good idea, I get bored too quickly with conventional cardio and from what I've been told, Spin classes are great, especially when added with resistance training.