How important is protein B4 workout?

[Al--1961]

I've seen from several posts that quite a few folks drink a protein shake BEFORE working out. Is this important?

I drink a protein shake AFTER working out. I wouldn't mind adding some muscle, but my primary goal is to stay fit and lean.

Thx,
Al

[soundcheck129]

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=272067

Basically, if the rest of your diet is in check and you've eaten a reasonable amount of time before working out, adding a protein shake prior to your workout isn't necessary.

[scoot557]

Eating before your workout helps to stop the muscle protein breakdown that occurs during workout.

quick study:

The effect of a carbohydrate and protein supplement on resistance exercise performance, hormonal response, and muscle damage.
Baty JJ, Hwang H, Ding Z, Bernard JR, Wang B, Kwon B, Ivy JL.

Exercise Physiology and Metabolism Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether resistance exercise performance and postexercise muscle damage were altered when consuming a carbohydrate and protein beverage (CHO-PRO; 6.2% and 1.5% concentrations). Thirty-four male subjects (age: 21.5 +/- 1.7 years; height: 177.3 +/- 1.1 cm; weight: 77.2 +/- 2.2 kg) completed 3 sets of 8 repetitions at their 8 repetition maximum to volitional fatigue. The exercise order consisted of the high pull, leg curl, standing overhead press, leg extension, lat pull-down, leg press, and bench press. In a double-blind, posttest-only control group design, subjects consumed 355 ml of either CHO-PRO or placebo (electrolyte and artificial sweetener beverage) 30 minutes prior to exercise, 177 ml immediately prior to exercise, 177 ml halfway through the exercise bout, and 355 ml immediately following the exercise bout. There were no significant differences between groups relative to exercise performance. Cortisol was significantly elevated in the placebo group compared to the CHO-PRO group at 24 hours postexercise. Insulin was significantly elevated immediately pre-exercise, after the fourth lift, immediately postexercise, 1 hour, and 6 hours postexercise in CHO-PRO compared to the placebo group. Myoglobin levels in the placebo group approached significance halfway through the exercise bout and at 1 hour postexercise (p = 0.06 and 0.07, respectively) and were significantly elevated at 6 hours postexercise compared to the CHO-PRO group. Creatine kinase levels were significantly elevated in the placebo group at 24 hours postexercise compared to the CHO-PRO group. The CHO-PRO supplement did not improve performance during a resistance exercise bout, but appeared to reduce muscle damage, as evidenced by the responses of both myoglobin and creatine kinase. These results suggest the use of a CHO-PRO supplement during resistance training to reduce muscle damage and soreness.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17530986?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez. Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.P ubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=4&log$=relatedarticles& logdbfrom=pubmed


As Soundcheck said - if you eat a meal a reasonable time before lifting - the protein shake doesn't matter. I thought the question was eating pre-workout in general.

[Al--1961]

So I workout on an empty stomach.

[scoot557]

So I workout on an empty stomach.

If that's the case, I'd have something small (1/4 cup oats/1 scoop protein) immediately upon waking up, or if that isn't an option - I'd start sipping your post-workout shake mid-workout.

[Al--1961]

Thanks for the feedback

[Neopragmatist]

A good meal(s) anytime before the workout is more important than pre-workout shake.

[Neopragmatist]

So I workout on an empty stomach.

lol. Ignore my previous statement.