Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.
– Henry David Thoreau
I have heard so many people tell me I should do this immediately after working out, and I am sick of hearing it. This tip/practice/ritual is false. It does not help you make gains, or any sort of progress, but people are still convinced it’s true. I used to follow this ritual every time I would work out too – and I regret it. I regret all of the time I wasted adding this to my workouts. I regret all of the time, money and effort just wasted – thrown down the drain. What post-workout ritual am I talking about you may ask? I will tell you – it is the anabolic window.
You see fellow young heavy lifter and fitness enthusiasts alike – the anabolic window is a myth. It is like Santa Claus, astrology, and every mythical creature that goes along with it (my apologies to every basic white girl who is in love with astrology who is in the United States). Yes, I used to practice my post-workout protein shake like it was a religion because I was told it was necessary, and if I didn’t I would be losing “gains.” Fortunately, one day I wizened up, and you should too. Here is why the idea of the post-anabolic window is B.S. and why it absolutely does not matter that you consume protein directly after your workout:
- Research does not support it
Research and has shown time and time again that it does not matter whether you consume your protein directly after your workout. What actually matters is your total daily calorie intake. As long as you get the minimum required protein for the day, it really does not matter when you get the protein in. There are also a ton of other myths out there that are fake as astrology, such as you can only digest a certain amount of protein per each meal, you need 300+ grams of protein to build muscle, and if you don’t eat protein every three hours you’ll lose muscle too. All of this is nonsense. What really matters are your total numbers for the day – the timing of your meals doesn’t really matter.
2. Your wasting calories on something you’re not even enjoying
Think of the last time you slammed your post-workout protein shake 15 minutes after your chest workout. You probably inhaled that thing faster than you could even taste it – let alone savor it. You did this because you were so afraid that if you didn’t consume protein right away you would lose tons of precious muscle. Why not save those calories you inhaled from that shake for a meal you can actually sit down and enjoy? I don’t know about you, but when I actually sit down and enjoy a meal of some chicken or other high-quality protein, I enjoy it much more and I feel much more satisfied and happy.
3. It’s expensive
When I was in high school and early college I used to spend a fortune on protein powders. I believed in the anabolic window myth and thought I had to buy these powders to get big and gain muscle. I spent a fortune on these and I miss that money right now. I wish I would have spent it on chicken breast, high-quality free-range organic eggs, or better yet – some actual chickens that lay eggs for me (my mom now has those today, and that’s where I get my eggs). Oh well, I guess you live and learn.
4. It’s a waste of time
Think of how inconvenient and a waste of time it is to have to carry a big tub of protein powder with you every time you workout, or the inconvenience of having to go home and make your post-workout shake every time you got done with your workout. When I work out now, I have the freedom of doing what I want after my workout, and am not a slave to the anabolic window. I can play with my corgi puppy, go to the store, meditate, or eat dinner. I have the freedom to do what I want, and that’s a great thing.
5. It can be hard to digest
I can remember all of the times I would down a protein shake right after my workout in college and then have to run to class afterwards on a full stomach – this was not a good thing. It left me feeling bloating, anxious, and full while I sat in classroom trying to learn college-level biology. I also would feel lethargic because I tend to feel relaxed and tired at a time when I needed to feel energetic, awake and alert – I mean I needed to learn about biology which is something I knew nothing about (high school biology was kind of a fail).
6. You’ll gain just as much muscle without it
Like I said in my first point, research has debunked the myth of the post-anabolic window and participants in the studies gained just as much muscle when they ate at other times of the day. You don’t need to eat at a certain time of the day, you just need to make sure you eat, and the gains will come. You will avoid wasting your calories on protein shakes you don’t even enjoy, save your money, time, and digestive system, and will make gains without your post-workout anabolic protein shake. Then you can focus your time and efforts on making progress in your workouts, in yourself as a person, and get over your breakup so you can ultimately become a better man.
Like this post? I highly recommend you check out my other similar post, Workout Post-Breakup – The Perfect Workout To Help You Get Over Your Ex-Girlfriend, which describes an effective workout to help you get over that girl who broke your heart. Also check out my post The Best Workout For Getting Over Your Breakup, which in my opinion tells you the single most important workout you can do to help you get over your ex-girlfriend that you probably haven’t thought of.
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Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical professional. Please do not take my advice as if I was a doctor or medical professional, as I am not qualified to give that kind of health advice. Please be smart, and use your best judgement when starting a new diet/health/exercise plan and consult your doctor before starting a new diet/health/exercise plan. Thank you.
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