When to take whey protein is probably the most commonly asked question by anyone who is just starting to exercise and take whey protein. And rightfully so.
While any whey protein supplement you buy will usually come with directions as to when to take it, these directions are usually broad and don’t really tell you much.
If you are looking to gain a lot of muscle mass, check out our high calorie protein shake recipe.
If you haven’t bought a whey protein supplement yet, check out our top 10 protein powders list and find the right one for you!
So when is the best time to drink a protein shake?
There is no one best time to take a protein shake, it all depends on your goals and what is most convenient to you.
There are, however a few crucial times during the day where your body is in need of more protein than regular.
Crucial times to drink a protein shake:
1.) Breakfast time
Breakfast is called the most important meal of the day and rightfully so. Without a properly balanced breakfast, you will feel less energized throughout the rest of the day. It’s kind of like trying to run your car all day on an empty tank. It’s just not smart.
Adding a protein shake with your breakfast is going to ensure that you get a boost of protein and more importantly a caloric boost that is going to feed your muscles and keep you from burning unnecessary nutrients throughout the day that could be going towards your fitness goals instead.
I typically drink my shake along with my breakfast instead of coffee.
2.) After a workout or any strenuous activity
This is one of the best times to drink a protein shake! Also one of the most cruicial. And its pretty obvious why. I’ll go back to my car analogy again, imagine if you just spent all day in your truck towing materials up and down a hill and burning fuel and then you try and go on a road trip with said truck, think you’ll get far without refueling? I think not.
Same with your body. During a workout you burn a lot of calories and nutrients that need to be replaced before your body can get back to its normal functioning state.
I try to take my protein shake within an hour after my workout.
Tip: Just keep some whey protein and an extra shaker bottle in your gym bag, that way you’ll always have it around after workouts!
3.) Before going to bed
This is one that I try not ever miss taking! Reason being is: Most people forget that your body does not get built in the gym, it gets built while resting, no matter what your goals are (fat loss, muscle gain etc..)
During sleep, your body is usually using up nutrients to repair itself and build muscle, if you starve it of these nutrients, especially protein, it wont be able to do its job probably, in turn you will be sabotaging yourself from reaching your goals.
4.) Any time when you can’t get a meal in
If we are being real, most people just don’t have time to upkeep a proper diet and eat healthy and plentiful at any given time of the day. This is when a protein shake comes in handy!
It’s quick, nutritious and wont get in the way of really anything.
Keep some protein around your office, work space or anywhere you are the busiest and make a quick one anytime you are feeling malnourished but don’t have time to eat a full meal.
Note: I am not condoning that you replace your regular scheduled meals with protein supplements, just when you are in a bind!
Most people that are taking protein supplements are looking to gain muscle, so extra protein is a cruicial step in achieveing that goal. 1-2 shakes a day at any of these crucial moments will help you maintain a solid diet and as long as your workouts match suit, you will be on the right track no matter what you want to accomplish!
Hopefully this post has answered some of your questions on when to take a protein shake and check out our other health and fitness tips here.
