Interesting. That's completely contrary to my own experience and the views of the majority of the body building universe.
What's happened to the 'golden window' immediately after training we've all read so much about? I have always been told that you always have a shake immediately PWO, then a meal an hour or so later.
Myth I'm afraid. Your body doesn't suddenly go into musculatory catabolism because you're not having a protein shake within minutes of a work out. If that were true sleeping would cause you to lose lots of mass and muscle - which we all know is wrong.
It's clever marketing by health food suppliers. It's a convenience thing, rather than anything else, and helps get a bit more protein into you. It's easier to sell a magic powder that supplements food and sell it, rather than sell a "meal".
There's nothing wrong at all with a PWO shake, but it's not necessary at all. As I said, I take it for the convenience, but I seldom take shakes anyway, and I've still gained a lot of LBM without them.
Protein synthesis is elevated PWO however, this lasts for hours, it doesn't suddenly vanish.
So the basics are, it's convenient, it's a good way of getting more calories in, a good way of getting more protein in - and the insulin spike helps with protein synthesis - however as mentioned it's absolutely optional.
As for restoring glycogen stores, unless you're doing 120+ mins of intense working on one body part in an aerobic capacity, that's also a little tenuous. However, perfectly valid if doing that sort of exercise and is absolutely necessary.
So for Hux and his riding, it makes sense for him to get some food to get the glycogen back into his body.
If you want to improve protein synthesis PWO and really make a shake work for you, take leucine - and then eat a good meal.
You will get a lot of people selling and pushing the fact that shakes are VITAL - this is not the case - it's basic science which is clouded by "facts". Don't believe the hype!
