Is it ok to eat protein before exercise instead of afterwards?

[Anonymous]

If I eat protein and then do exersise will the protein help build my muscles? Or must the protein be consumed afterwards for it to be of any use?
Like now I just ate a lot of chicken, if I work out (waiting an hour after eating of course) will the protein help build my muscles?

Updates

+1 y

Hmm I mustn't have explained properly, people don't seem to understand the question. I didn't know I would be eating all that protein for lunch and it's a shame to waste all that protein, so I wondered if exercising after the meal would work

[front2back]

Nope.

You can eat carbs before a workout, but really only if you don't have weight to lose or if you want to gain weight (not muscle). Give yourself an hour (preferably 2) after eating a meal to workout. You want your muscles to burn that fat. Pre-workouts like Caffeine or Creatine help give you the energy for your workout, without disrupting your body's processes.

Wait around 45 minutes after a workout for your protein shake and an hour afterwards for a protein rich meal (or any meal). That way your body doesn't create insulin. insulin comes from digestion and will mess up all of your protein synthesis. That's why you don't want to eat directly before or after a workout.

[Asker]

I don't mean exercising directly before, I just wanted to know if the protein I ate in the meal before the workout will be wasted or not

[front2back]

It will have been digested, so technically yes. Only long digesting proteins will still remain. Not all proteins are created equal.

[Asker]

Digested in just 1 hour?

[Vegvisir]

Yeah, you can do. It can actually be beneficial if you're taking shakes to do one before and after if possible. The muscle protein synthesis levels stay elevated for about 3 hours though, so the longer you leave it after you've eaten/drank the shake, the less effect it will have on your gains. If you eat too close to a workout, you will probably throw up also. The most effective way really is to eat a meal with most of your daily carb and protein macros in an hour before you work out. Then after you have finished your workout, take a post workout shake

[hopromantic]

You want to drink it afterwards so that you replenish your body with the proteins and whatever else that youve lost while working out, when you work out your body is taking away nutrients that you have stored so to keep you going throughout the workout so drinking before will do you no good

[Asker]

But surely the protein will still be in your body waiting to be used if you eat it an hour before the workout?

[hopromantic]

I suppose so but the idea of a protein drink is to restore what youve lost during exercise... I once wondered the same thing til I asked someone and he explained it to me... it makes sense if you think about it but it can't harm you so do what u like and try it out!

[Asker]

I'm not talking about protein drinks, I'm talking about eating a high protein lunch

[The_green_machine]

Protein is the building block for muscles yes.
But you don't really get any energy from it.
You'd be better of eating carbs before a workout as they will enable you to have more energy during a workout.
With protein you just need to make sure you are eating the right amount each day,
So to build muscle, you want 1 gram per pound of body weight at least.
So if your 150lbs, you need at least 150grams of protein.
Hope I helped.

[Asker]

Yeah I had potatoes with the chicken so I got carbs too, I was jsut wondering about the protein if it had to be consumed afterwards.. I think one gram per pound of body weight is alot, this is only for people working out alot. The average adult is supposed to get about 80 grams per day I think

[The_green_machine]

That's the point. It's supposed to be a lot of protein. That's how you build muscle. Like I said, as long as you are getting the right amount of protein in each day, I suppose it doesn't matter when you eat it.
With muscle building it's 70% diet 30% exercise.

[Tokana]

I recommend you take your protein within 20 minutes after your workout. Protein is the building block of muscle.

[ieatDaCake]

Drink plenty of water and some bananas before da workout. You wanna take your protein after the workout when your muscles are tired and hungry.

[Zina99]

Afterwards is the proper way