Many people choose to have protein after a workout, and I think that is the correct way too. I have seen many times in the gym itself that people start preparing the protein straight after they finish their workout.
There is a scientific reason why people do that
To understand why people have protein after they finish the workout, I think you should read, or at atleast know, what protein actually does to your muscles during a workout.
Let me keep this simple and explain
Whenever you do a workout at a gym, you tear muscles slowly at a micro level; a small tear forms in your muscle whenever you complete a rep.
This tear is filled with the nutrients called “protein,” which help fill that gap in turn building your muscle. That means the more the tear, the more protein helps fill that gap with an extra layer. Repeat this every day, and you’ll see your muscle getting built slowly.
Now, for many people, the common logic is that when you complete your workout, you should have protein because that is the time your body is trying to recover from the tear; hence, the protein you take will help your body to recover from it.
So why do some people also have protein before the workout?
Yes, I too have seen people having protein before the workout too, but for me atleast I don’t usually have my protein before my workout because
- It makes me feel kinda bloated before my workout
- It also makes me kinda nauseated when I am trying to do a heavy workout
- You cannot run on the treadmill just after you had your protein; it has that pinching effect on your stomach
- I tend to sweat more.
These are the effects that I have personally felt when I had my protein before my workout.
So after much trial and error, I tend to have my protein after the workout.
For now, I have changed the way that I have my protein. I do calculate the protein intake with the protein calculator we have; this just gives me the right amount of protein that I should consume to build muscle, and then I pair it with our how many protein shakes a day tool, which gives me just the right amount of protein to have in a day.
So is there any fixed time to have protein?
There is no fixed time you can have protein, but obviously a right time. The right time is anywhere after you finish the workout. It just makes perfect sense that you give your body the material to recover when you stop working out.
I found my ideal protein time through trial and error, and I encourage people to do the same
For the next 60 days, try having your protein supplement before the workout for 30 days and after the workout for 30 days, and you can get your ideal time yourself; you can analyze what might be the right time
