So protein builds muscle, but eat before or after?

Fatvaporizer
Fatvaporizer Posts: 139 Member
edited November 19 in Food and Nutrition
They say protein builds muscle, and that after a strength training workout, in order to retain the muscle you build during that workout, you have to eat protein. But, what if you eat protein BEFORE the strength training workout to build muscle? Will you still retain that muscle you build? Or does it always have to be after? Thanks for the clear-up!

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  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,992 Member
    Fatvaporizer wrote: »
    They say protein builds muscle, and that after a strength training workout, in order to retain the muscle you build during that workout, you have to eat protein. But, what if you eat protein BEFORE the strength training workout to build muscle? Will you still retain that muscle you build? Or does it always have to be after? Thanks for the clear-up!
    Who is they? Magazines and the fitness industry? It's true that protein builds muscle, but drinking a protein shake doesn't instantaneously do it.
    Ask any knowledgeable person who actually knows about muscle gaining and they will tell you it's at rest the NEXT DAY. You've just broken it down (microtears). Rebuilding doesn't happen immediately.
    As for before or after, it doesn't matter. Those calories are basically just for supplementing more protein to the diet. If you meet your requirement of protein intake needed, drinking or consuming more ISN'T giving you EXTRA CREDIT for doing it.

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  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Fatvaporizer wrote: »
    They say protein builds muscle, and that after a strength training workout, in order to retain the muscle you build during that workout, you have to eat protein. But, what if you eat protein BEFORE the strength training workout to build muscle? Will you still retain that muscle you build? Or does it always have to be after? Thanks for the clear-up!

    That's what the supplements industry wants you to believe.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    You don't like...build muscle within a single workout like that. Yes, you should eat protein. Nutrient timing does not matter for the most part, until you are at elite/competition levels. But I believe studies have shown that it is beneficial to spread protein intake throughout the day.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    edited June 2017
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    You don't like...build muscle within a single workout like that. Yes, you should eat protein. Nutrient timing does not matter for the most part, until you are at elite/competition levels. But I believe studies have shown that it is beneficial to spread protein intake throughout the day.

    Pretty much.


    There is evidence to support nutritional timing (either pre or post workout) and to spread protein through out the day but it's not as important as total intake.

    And what really builds muscle is a progressive overload resistance training program where you have an increase in volume/tension over time.
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