Question about protein shakes

Dicehunter · 16 May 2010 at 16:27

The Craig said:
Why/how? What do you do each day?

Why ? -

Simple, i want to look and feel better and its worked and id like to keep doing it.

How ? -

Get up in the morning at 6am get ready for work, eat breakfast, get home for 4pm, have something to eat, go to the gym for 3-4 hours come home, eat something very small, i.e. tin of tuna or something similiar, have a shower and then go to bed.

What i do ? -

Ok not everyday i should have been clearer, monday to friday and weekend is for rest, the 5 days i have a split program and i work a different group of muscles everyday.

lemonkettaz · 16 May 2010 at 16:40

Is it negative to mix cardio and weight training in the same session?

Freefaller · 16 May 2010 at 16:48

It depends on what you want for goals. I prefer to mix it on different days.

BennyC · 16 May 2010 at 16:56

3-4 hours sounds like far too much time to be spending in the gym. Unless you mean your total round trip door to door.

For a single bodypart I try and get it done in under an hour and usually do. Legs however get special treatment and I can be in there for upto two, like I was today. Legs aren't your regular muscle and mine respond well to volume training and volume takes time!

Buffman · 16 May 2010 at 17:07

DF1986 said:
...

I wasnt questioning why you want to go to the gym / change body composition, it's just 3-4 hours in the gym seems far too long. What specifically are you doing that could take that long? I'd try lower the volume/rest times.

Dicehunter · 16 May 2010 at 18:37

3-4 hours includes inbetween rest, drinking, going to the toilet and at the end showering

BennyC · 16 May 2010 at 18:46

DF1986 said:
3-4 hours includes inbetween rest, drinking, going to the toilet and at the end showering

Still sounds like far too long to me.

What is your routine like, what are you hitting each day, how many sets, reps, tempo, rest?

If you hit a group with say 5 exercises, each 3 sets, with 10 reps, assuming each set takes 45 seconds, with a 90 second rest time it works out little over 33 minutes (if my maths is right!). Obviously allowing for changing equipment & weights, a toilet break and perhaps a quick chinwag at the end of your workout with another regular and including a shower I think an hour and 30 minutes should be plenty!

Edit: Yes deffinatley doing anything I can to avoid work right now!

Freefaller · 16 May 2010 at 19:09

Agreed sounds absolutely too much. Unless you're a pro. and on certain supplements, training that long will achieve very little.

The Mad Rapper · 16 May 2010 at 19:58

Freefaller said:
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.

If you want to improve protein synthesis PWO and really make a shake work for you, take leucine - and then eat a good meal.

I'll try and keep my mind open about this one. As I said, it's contrary to my understanding, I can't recall anyone ever saying anything similar over at MuscleTalk forums et al.

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!

True

I don't believe they hype from supplement companies, read the side of a MuscleTech product if you fancy a story

shroomz · 16 May 2010 at 20:02

4 hours, that's about the time it takes to run a marathon! I humbly agree with Freefaller and BennyC on that one, as for the protein shakes: they are most effective if viewed as a way of boosting your calorific intake - the amount of protein you can digest and use directly is actually very small (something like 3-5g/hour) which is why protein intake is meant to be spread throughout the day rather than that one spike after a workout. Let me get back to you with where I read that because I can't honestly remember right now.

Freefaller · 16 May 2010 at 20:41

TMR - I don't spend much time on MT anymore. I use different sources for info and study it for myself as well. MT's ok but still has lots of people reading the labels off the back of packets and spouting is as "truth".

Freefaller · 16 May 2010 at 21:09

shroomz said:
4 hours, that's about the time it takes to run a marathon! I humbly agree with Freefaller and BennyC on that one, as for the protein shakes: they are most effective if viewed as a way of boosting your calorific intake - the amount of protein you can digest and use directly is actually very small (something like 3-5g/hour) which is why protein intake is meant to be spread throughout the day rather than that one spike after a workout. Let me get back to you with where I read that because I can't honestly remember right now.

There's a lot to be said about the insulin response spike to increase protein synthesis. Another "excuse" people use for making the "need" for protein shakes after a work out. However, the science is valid, the insulin response works well, and does work, but it doesn't NEED to be taken post workout within 5 mins - you can just have a decent meal when you get home.

I agree that shakes are great for extra protein intake, and hormonal release regulation (if you're that bothered) and calorie intake, but there's never a need for them, or a necessity for them.