So i'm on a 3 day a week workout schedule until my schedule permits 5 day - which will probably be sometime in june. anyway, until then i'm still doing the 6 meals a day eating habit and i'm curious as to how often i should have a protein shake. since i only work out 3 days a week, do i just have it on the days i work out? or do i have one every day? what do you people do?

Thanks!

Protein shakes are supplements. They add protein to what you're already doing.

If you are getting quality protein in all 6 meals, you don't even need the shake ... save your cash.

Otherwise, have them when it makes sense ... if you are in a rush to get out the door in the morning, make the protein shake your breakfast (add a carb, though) ... if you workout late and need a late night meal that's fast and easy to digest, have it then.

No special requirements.

A lot of people mistakenly believe they need a protein shake right after a workout. Not true ... the misguided notion is that you are suddenly building muscle right after and the protein supplies this.

The fact is that you do need some protein to recover from the workout, most likely a few grams worth with some BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) but the major recovery nutrient is carbohydrate. Most post-workout shakes are engineered to provide a modest bit of protein and then lots of carbs because of this. Protein is something your body needs over the entire day and it can take days to recover from a workout ... but glycogen (carbohydrate in your muscle) is depleted during training and there is quite a bit of research to suggest having this will help restore depleted glycogen levels.

Jeremy

I've always gone by a 1:1 ratio for whole food meals and supplements. So if I'm eating six meals per day I will use a maximum of 3 protein shakes and have whole food protein sources for the other 3 meals.

thanks for your replies. personally, i've felt stronger and less sore after my workouts which, as of now, seems like it is in large part due to the protein shakes since thats one of the bigger changes in my diet from past instances.

i guess my real question would be: even days you aren't working out, you want to keep your protein level equal to your weight in grams? or is that "overkill?"