How late can post-workout Protein work?

[Dibidoolandas]

I've heard a lot of experts say that consumption of Protein is key within a 45-minute window of working out. Normally that's not a problem, getting in a shake after just driving home from the gym. But I got to thinking today, I work my chest Monday for about thirteen sets, and then move on to triceps for the next nine. Now, even though some of the tri exercises might hit the chest a bit, it prolly is over forty five minutes before I'm done with my tri's and drinking my shake, meaning my chest is sitting there with no protein for a very long time.

Normally I'd shrug it off saying that as long as I'm still working it's alright, but I'd like some opinions. I normally eat a chicken breast an hour after I down the shake, so I was thinking maybe I could bring a shake in, down it after chest, then do tri's and eat the chicken once I got home about an hour later. Any thoughts on this?

[TR'05]

I, personally, sip on a shake throughout my workout.

On a side note, how long do your workouts usually last? While it's debatable, many (myself included) will tell you that anything over an hour is overkill.

[Renesis]

I used to think about something similar. After my workouts I would go on light jogs to burn off some extra fat and wonder if I was being detrimental to my other muscles by not taking protein. I haven't exeperienced any muscle loss this way and my problem was extended in terms of time much longer than yours, so im sure you will be alright. Also someone said that as long as you keep some muscle in your body working the other won't heal right away (can't remember who though sorry).

[stacked566]

Since when did protein absorbtion and catabolism be site specific? For some reason we think that if you work out chest then drink a protein shake, the protein is being absorbed by the muscles in your chest...now how effed up does that sound? Personally, I would hit chest and tris (to exceed no longer than an hour for cortisol spikes, e.g catabolic side effets) and down a pwo shake right after your done lifting at the gym, which has protein and carbs (dextrose or derivative). I remember reading there is a 15 minute span after workout that your are in full anabolic state, after anaerobic excercise of course, since cardio (aerobic) isn't breaking down the myofibrils in the muscle through creatine phosphate exhaustion/ATP ***letion, and lactic acid buildup from lack of O2 (hence the anaerobic name). So you get your pwo shake in, then when u get home about an hr later, chicken and rice, or oats or similiar.

[TR'05]

^^I don't think anyone was making the contention that protein absorbtion/catabolism is site specific bro; rather, he was wondering- presumably- that after working out chest, for however long (an hour maybe), if hitting tris for another 45 minutes would be counterproductive, as he would be working out in a glycogen ***leted state; hence, increase the likihood of catabolism. This is what I am assuming...

IMO, long workouts are counterproductive for that reason- i.e. ***leted glycogen stores. Further, I think the T.S. should be primarily concerned with his pre workout nutrition, which many believe is just as, if not more, important than PWO.

[Dibidoolandas]

^^I don't think anyone was making the contention that protein absorbtion/catabolism is site specific bro; rather, he was wondering- presumably- that after working out chest, for however long (an hour maybe), if hitting tris for another 45 minutes would be counterproductive, as he would be working out in a glycogen ***leted state; hence, increase the likihood of catabolism. This is what I am assuming...

IMO, long workouts are counterproductive for that reason- i.e. ***leted glycogen stores. Further, I think the T.S. should be primarily concerned with his pre workout nutrition, which many believe is just as, if not more, important than PWO.

That's pretty much what I was wondering. Basically, my pec.'s are stewing for possibly over forty five minutes doing nothing while my body is starving for protein.

Renesis, that's what I would hope to be the case. I mean, sometimes I'll be working for two hours, but it's all a solid block, so if that were true it wouldn't matter.

[stacked566]

***leted glycogen stores won't lead to catabolism unless intensity is super high and there is a lack of exogenous protein, which is why you eat before you work out. Anyways, I think we can all agree to shorten up the workout to an hour or so just to be safe.

[stacked566]

I see you lurking PB, waiting to hear your thoughts!!!

[TR'05]

^Agreed on all accounts, stacked.

[GrimmReaper]

I've read through several articles in various mags that its best to drink a shake while your in the gym lifting....just like tr05 said.

[flyguy7]

i've wondered about this too, including the sipping on protein throughout the workout. I've heard before though that is sending more blood to your stomach, and it becomes more difficult for your body to cope with the weight (obviously i can't quite remember the explanation). I'd be curious to hear some other opinions on this, as my lifts are almost always at least 1 1/2 hours long. dibidoo you have a pm

[stacked566]

Flyguy is on the right track. This is why you don't eat directly before you workout (30minutes + before a workout it ok), because blood is being used to digest food instead of exchanges wastes from muscles at a higher level. As far as sipping on protein during a workout, why would you do that? The goal is to stimulate a massive insulin spike (greater when you are in a 'starved' state, such as just after a workout) and give it protein and carbs to allow increased glycogen uptake into the muscle. People drink creatine while training, and that's fine, since you are replacing intramuscular ATP stores/CrP stores...but protein during a workout, that's just a hinderance IMO.

[timtim]

there is no magic window after training for youre pwo shake. there is also no need for an insulin spike as whey protein alone blunts cortisol release just as much as a simple carb.

search giants11 posts. he has it all summed up. any doubters, do a search.

[flyguy7]

there is no magic window after training for youre pwo shake. there is also no need for an insulin spike as whey protein alone blunts cortisol release just as much as a simple carb.

search giants11 posts. he has it all summed up. any doubters, do a search.

I love these forums. you can know an awful lot about diet/bodybuilding, walk into a thread and have someone completely turn an obvious 'take for granted' type idea on its head. I have to go with stacked and say that i've always understood it's important to have that spike after a workout (thus the need for dextrose, etc.) but i will search for these posts by giants in a bit and see what he has to say

[stacked566]

Firstly, there is a magic window, which is different for everyone, ***ending on insulin sensitivity, pre workout meal, training intensity, etc etc. Basically you will start absorbing fatty triglycerides for energy, and not replenshing glycogen stores in mucles, and your insulin spike from training will be gone, since you are essentially in a starved state.

Giants11 posts from what i saw were mostly related to dextrose as a pwo supplement. I couldnt find anything from him explicitly stating there is no magic window.

The debate seemed to be about a need to enhance the insulin spike with a simple carb or just use a low GI carb to replenish glycogen stores. I prefer the big insulin spike to get the glycogen stores full as fast as possible and enhance my anabolic state and keep it going as long as possible.
I also don't think anyone was talking about blunting cortisol

[muscle_20]

shakes prior during and after for me just like Milos has stated.

[S.P.G]

I've heard a lot of experts say that consumption of Protein is key within a 45-minute window of working out. Normally that's not a problem, getting in a shake after just driving home from the gym. But I got to thinking today, I work my chest Monday for about thirteen sets, and then move on to triceps for the next nine. Now, even though some of the tri exercises might hit the chest a bit, it prolly is over forty five minutes before I'm done with my tri's and drinking my shake, meaning my chest is sitting there with no protein for a very long time.

Normally I'd shrug it off saying that as long as I'm still working it's alright, but I'd like some opinions. I normally eat a chicken breast an hour after I down the shake, so I was thinking maybe I could bring a shake in, down it after chest, then do tri's and eat the chicken once I got home about an hour later. Any thoughts on this?

You can cut some of the training down on that day, 6 sets on triceps, 9 on chest is fine if the intensity is there, try to get done in bout an hour and a half then get ya shake down. You’ll be fine.