How Soon After Working out Should You Drink a Protein Shake? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

How Soon After Working out Should You Drink a Protein Shake?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

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UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

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Get the Basics...
  • Protein is essential when working out.
  • Protein shakes are an excellent way to quickly consume the nutrients your body needs post-workout.
  • Protein shakes are not the only way to consume protein, but their liquid form and lack of added sugar and fat make them convenient and easy to digest.
Whether you feel hungry after a workout or not, you need to consume a post-workout meal.

The easiest way to do this, for many folks, is to drink a protein shake within 30 minutes of your workout.

The faster you consume the protein shake after a workout the better.

This does not mean you have to down it on your way to the locker room, but you should consume the necessary protein and carbohydrates within one hour of completing your workout.

How soon after working out you drink a protein shake is just as important as what you drink or eat.

A protein shake is a good choice because of its contents. However, you can eat anything that is a protein and carbohydrate blend, provided it is not high in fat. You also need to drink water during and after your workout.

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Why Should You Drink a Protein Shake After Working Out?

A protein shake is one of the best sources of protein and carbs that you can consume after working out. The reason is that it is easily and quickly digested, which gives your body what it needs when it needs it.

After a workout, your body needs to repair itself. If you do not give it what it needs to accomplish this, it will take it from other sources within your body.

Protein and carbohydrates work together to help rebuild your newly broken-down muscles.

If your body cannot find new sources to make this happen, it will resort to what it can find. This means it will actually tear down the muscles you have in order to get what it needs, which is the exact opposite effect of what you just worked toward.

As soon as you are done working out, you need to give your body protein and carbohydrates that are easily digested so that they can go straight to work helping repair your torn muscles. A protein shake is one of the best methods for accomplishing this.

Can You Eat Something Other Than a Protein Shake After Working Out?

What your body needs post-workout are protein and carbohydrates. You do not have to get this from a protein shake, although a protein shake is one of the easiest and most effective sources of food after working out.

Protein shakes are convenient, so they do not take a lot of effort to make after you are done working out. They also go down easy, especially if you are not feeling hungry after working out.

The main reason a protein shake is a highly suggested post-workout meal, however, is because it is a liquid source of protein and carbs. Liquids are much easier and faster to digest than whole foods so they go right to work helping your body make its needed repairs.

By getting the necessary nutrients to the source faster your body will not be obligated to rob from other sources that it already has, such as your current muscle tissue.

Another reason a protein shake is a good choice is that it is balanced appropriately for a post-workout meal. This means it does not contain fat or other elements that slow down the digestive process, impeding the quick intake of protein and carbs.

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Should You Drink a Protein Shake Before Working Out?

While a protein shake is a great way to help your body benefit from your workout by quickly repairing damages done, it is also beneficial before working out.

In order to work out efficiently, you need to have the right amount of energy.

To better understand how protein shakes can benefit you, watch the short video below.

A protein shake is a balanced mix of proteins and carbs, which can help to fuel your body and give you the energy you need in order to sustain a good workout.

If you consume a protein shake about an hour or two before you start working out you will have the necessary energy for a consistent workout.

If you try to get your energy off of sugar fuel, you will not make it through your workout effectively. You need to give your body the right kind of energy so that all of your levels stay consistent.

Instead of a protein shake, you can have a small meal that is made up of protein and carbs.

Unlike in the post-workout meal where fat is detrimental, your pre-workout meal can contain small amounts of healthy fat.

However, the more fat you have in your pre-workout meal the longer it will take for your body to digest what you gave it.

Therefore, you should reduce the amount of fat you consume the closer you get to your workout session so that your body has time to properly convert and utilize the protein and carbs you consume.

Protein shakes are convenient, but they are not the only source of protein and carbohydrates that your body needs. However, if you drink a protein shake within an hour of working out you will get the most benefit from your workout.

Start browsing through all the various types of protein supplements now, and then consider signing up for our PRO plan to take your weight training goals to the next level!

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