Eating Protein After Your Workout To Build Muscle Mass Faster

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So you hit the gym hard, made progress on all your sets, and you’re ready to get your post-workout meal in. Digesting whey protein after a workout is essential to give your muscles the fuel they need to repair and grow bigger. Sure, you can go for solid food too, but a liquid meal is best after a heavy weight training session.

Why a liquid meal? Because your body can digest the nutrients easier and faster! It’s important to get both protein and carbs into your system immediately after your workout because your body is in a catabolic state and breaking down your muscle tissue for energy. The sooner you get nutrients into your body the quicker your body can switch back into an anabolic state and begin building muscle again.

Ideally you want to have your post-workout meal no more than half an hour after your training session ends. It’s easy to bring a whey protein shake with you to the gym and just pound it in the locker room after you’re finished with your weight training.

Time-saving tip: I always get the big tubs of whey protein powder. I grab a bottle of water, dump half of it out, and funnel 2 scoops of protein in. Give it a shake and it’s ready to go. Now I can take it to the gym with me, gulp it down after my workout, and toss it in the trash. That’s one less thing I have to carry around with me - and one less “dish” I have to wash.

You should get 1.5 – 2 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight. Some research suggests that your body can’t use more than 20 – 30 grams of protein at one sitting. But there hasn’t been enough research to make that argument 100% valid. Most bodybuilders still consume 40… 50… 60 grams of protein after a workout. I say it’s better to go on the high end and take more than you need rather than not enough. If you’re trying to build muscle you don’t want to waste a workout by not feeding your body enough of what it needs. And it needs protein!

Well, it depends how much money you want to spend. There are 2 main kinds of protein you can look at taking after your workout: Whey protein concentrate: This is a lower-quality protein but it’s cheaper. It’s got more lactose and fat than isolate and may cause some people to get gassy and bloated.
Whey protein isolate: This is a more pure form of protein, which of course makes it more expensive. The good thing is, it’s more effective than the concentrate and you won’t be farting all over the place or feeling bloated which is always a plus.There are other forms of protein like casein, but for your post-workout shake, you’ll want to use either concentrate or isolate. Casein is a slower absorbing protein and we want something that will quickly replenish our muscles after a workout.

There are many different brands of protein available to choose from. And to tell you the truth, the brand you use really comes down to personal preference. Some taste good, others taste horrible. I’ve been using Nature’s Best Isopure Whey Protein Isolate and I like it. I get it in both chocolate and vanilla flavors.

Just look at the ingredients before you buy. The more “hyped up” it is the more unnecessary junk they usually add to it. Take a look at the sugar and carbs on the nutrition facts. A good whey protein shouldn’t have more than 5 grams of carbs. And ideally it would have 0 sugar.

We’ve covered why it’s important to take protein after your workout, how much you should be taking, the different kinds of protein, and what you should look for when you’re shopping around. Put this info to good use and start taking a protein supplement after each workout and you’ll start to grow faster.

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