What is a good protein to take before bed?

[change4good]

I am 38 years old. My goal is to lose bodyfat. I have read several articles on taking protein right before you go to bed since your body wont be fed again for 5 to 8 hours. I am looking for input on anyone who has tried different proteins designed for short and long term absorption so I wont waste my money on something that tastes horrible or has alot of "fillers" in it.

[barrymac]

I just have a shake made with water instead of milk.

[Snook Man]

Fast digesting protein - Whey
Slow digesting protein - Casein
As for taste you will have to try a few brands to find one that suits you.

[Roger035]

Or you can have whey isolate with milk. Milk contains casin protein which will slow down the digesting process ( M&F: 01/2008 )

[Tifflex]

Cottage cheese is a good protein source before bed. I add a fat source such as natural peanut butter or almonds.

Good luck with your goals!

[fvogel67]

12oz of milk with a scoop of whey isolate and a couple tablespoons of natural pb

[StartinOver-68]

^^^
What she said. I also throw in a few peach slices (rinsed off with water) to make it more palatable.

[JOHN GARGANI]

Change: right now, the last thing you need is ANYTHING before you go to bed, protein or otherwise......


Our bodies have other things to do and maintain while we sleep and digestion is NOT a priority.....it is another push by the supplement companies to take advantage of our enthusiasm.

Many of us are eating 5 to 6 times a day......good and bad....our digestion system, like our Brains, and the rest of the body, can use the rest....trust me.....


but no: the supp companies have convinced people that they need a SLOW DIGESTING Protein in their alimentary tract all friggin' night long....


how wonderful!

right now, your priority is ridding the body of fat.....it is HIGHLY UNLIKELY that the exclusion of one protein "meal" is going to make much of a difference to your training......


nothing wrong with having a snack at night but no need to have it right before retiring.......

[bodyhard]

I have to agree with John anyone looking to lose weight should not be taking in protein before going to bed, now if you were looking to gain mass/size and you had a high metabolism I would say take in a slow digesting protein before retiring.

[m1k3g0rd]

Have to agree with the above. Protein shakes before bed are definitely not needed and won't help with weight loss. I have enjoyed a nightly bowl (small) of cottage cheese, low fat plain yogurt & a drizzle of honey every evening for a couple of years now, usually about 1-2 hours before bedtime. I consider it my last 'meal' of the day.

[jtroster]

Cottage cheese.

[erod13]

Question for John,
I eat some cottage cheese before bed & was under the impression it does not matter if I eat before bed as long as I dont go over my calorie count for the day, can anyone explain further? Great to be back by the way, been gone a few months
Ed

[change4good]

Thanks for the replies, John makes alot of sense. Follow up Question for John or anyone else. I was told not to eat any carbs with my last meal of the day. Therefore only taking protein for the last one. How soon before calling it a night do you think the last meal should be consumed. I only sleep about 5-6 hours a night ( due to scheduling not by choice)so I have been going about 7 hours from last meal of Protein to first meal of Protein and carbs.

[markymark69]

Change4good,
This is just my opinion...
The body with all its complexity in many ways is very resilient and absorbs change pretty well.
That being said..the body for the most part is not going to care if you consume carbs your last meal, your first meal, your 3rd meal, etc.

Your body wants X amount of calories each day to maintain body weight. There is no getting around that fact.
If your body needs 3000Kcal/day to maintain your body weight, its not going to care if you get it in 6 separate meals, or if you consume most of your protein right before bed, etc.

Tweaking the time you consume meals may make a very slight difference....
But the bottom line...if you want to lose body fat, then you must consume less calories than your body requires.

I have never dieted a day in my life. But I do pay attention to my hunger levels.

If I am not hungry at 7 pm..I don't eat. it doesn't matter if my last meal was at 11 am, if my body says its not hungry, I'm not going to force myself to consume calories.

If you genuinely listen to your body, instead of relying on eating regimens and visual cues, you will be amazed at the results.

I have read this book and recommended it to all my friends:
http://www.amazon.com/Mindless-Eatin...0540336&sr=8-1

it talks about why Americans as a whole are so over weight in comparison to our counterparts in Europe. You travel to Europe and then come back to the US, and you will be shocked at the difference.
You will be amazed to see women in the 60's eating fat ladened food, yet are trim, wear heels and climb up 180 steps every day...
Why? because they eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full.

It really simplifies your eating habits.

[Bando]

I was in your shoes awhile back and am not a diet guru but I did lose 35 lbs.

If you're weight training you should change your schedule so that you get at least 7 hrs of sleep, really when you break it down, what are you doing that is more important than your long term health?

As I understand it, you need carbs to survive, just not a muscle milk shake before bed. To this day I don't eat bread, rice, pasta, potato's as a last meal, those carbs linger.

At breakfast, eat like a king, (King's don't eat Cap'n Crunch) A nice omlet, dry whole wheat toast, lean steak - all good options.

There's so much good diet advice here, read read read. I'll pm you my weightloss blog, I walked in your shoes not long ago.

[BoiseLifer]

I throw 1/2 a cup of fat free cottage cheese, 1/2 a raspberry fat free yoplait, and 1/2 cut of skim milk in the blender and mix it up. Works GREAT!

[tomdana]

Lots of good ideas. I just started a new one this week for me that is a nice change. Usually vanilla whey or casein or cottage cheese/yogurt. This week, I have been having 1 scoop ON strawberry Whey with one scoop ON vanilla Casein with a few ice cubes blended. Tastes great and a good mix of proteins. Good luck.

[Getsum]

Originally Posted by change4good

I am 38 years old. My goal is to lose bodyfat. I have read several articles on taking protein right before you go to bed since your body wont be fed again for 5 to 8 hours. I am looking for input on anyone who has tried different proteins designed for short and long term absorption so I wont waste my money on something that tastes horrible or has alot of "fillers" in it.

Cottage cheese.

[change4good]

Bando, I would love to be getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night and if I could tweak my schedule to find it I would love to. My problem with the sleep is I work 12 hour shifts from 1800 hours to 0600. with travel time I leave my house at 1700 hours and get home at 0700. I have 3 kids 15, 12, 4. I have to take the 15 year old to school and then dress the 4 year old. I then take the 12 year old to school and drop the 4 year old off at daycare. ( I know the kids could walk but morning temps here have been in the 12-17 degree range and it would not be good for them). By the time I get home from that I can get to bed about 0930. If I plan to get in an hour workout and then get ready for work I have to get up at 1430. So right now it just doesn't work. I appreciate your input though. I am new to this and am looking for input from people like you who have already been successful. My breakfast is usually eggs and Ezekiel toast. LOL on the Captain crunch.

[namtrag]

How about just eating 4-6 eggs or egg whites. The king of protein, and whole food besides.

[JOHN GARGANI]

for EROD and CHANGE: what I am saying is basically this: that eating ANYTHING IMMEDIATELY BEFORE GOING TO BED is not really that healthy.....


your body has an agenda while you are sleeping and breaking down food in the stomach is certainly not one of them.


There is no reason why you can't have your last snack about one hour or so before retiring, this way, if it is light enough, it will probably at least get past the stomach, where digestion is more subtle and more in the assimilation stage.


digestion in the stomach is PHYSICAL! we are talking contractions of smooth muscle along with highly acidic release of enzymes...Why do you think you feel so uncomfortable after a big meal????


in fact, you should not even be prostrate immediately after eating, period.....you should be in elevated position.


I usually train about 9 PM at night....by 10 or 10:30 the latest, I will have the shake.....I am in bed by 12 pm......that hour, hour and a half is much better for you.......


so: the last meal of the day, nighttime, should not be IMMEDIATELY before retiring........

[911medic]

I understand some of the logic here for nothing right before bed, but I've had good luck dropping body fat while maintaining my weight with a night time shake of casein and protein. I usually mix Muscle Milk light with ON whey and 2% milk. I usually want something sweet late at night anyway, and this will appease those urges.

All I can say is that it works for me.