When Should I Drink Muscle Milk?
Muscle Milk provides many benefits for your muscle gaining goal and post workout recovery but you should use it wisely in order to get the benefits that this protein supplement provides. Many beginners wonder at what time they should drink Muscle Milk, before a workout? After a workout? Find out here.
Before Workouts or During Workouts
If you want to drink your Muscle Milk before you start your workout be sure to take it at least 30 minutes before your workout so your body absorbs the nutrition it provides for your workout. Don’t take it a minute before you start working out because you may end up feeling nauseous. By taking Muscle Milk before and during your workout you fill your body up with the nutrients it needs to grow lean muscle mass.
After Workouts / Post Workout
It’s immediately after your workout that your body is craving vitamins and minerals to grow muscle. That is why if you drink Muscle Milk after your workout then be sure to take it within an hour or less after you finish workout out. After workouts, your body is in a catabolic state. By drinking Muscle Milk after your workout you help reverse this muscle breakdown by “tricking” the body into muscle synthesis.
Before Going to Bed/Sleep
Muscle Milk also suggests that drinking this protein supplement before going to bed is beneficial to help increase muscle mass and weight. When you sleep you go into a catabolic period. While you sleep you also fast and your body can break down your hard earned muscle tissue for energy. Drinking Muscle Milk before going to sleep gives your body the energy it needs while you are sleeping without breaking down your muscles and therefor you wake up more anabolic. This is not recommended if you are trying to lose weight and best for those who are trying to gain weight.
Taking Muscle Milk as a Meal Replacement
Muscle Milk also works as a great meal replacement because it contains a high amount of calories. Of course you shouldn’t replace all your meals with this supplement as you should also have a healthy diet rich in veggies and fruits. It is best used as a replacement for your lunch either before or after a workout. This is the best choice if you want to use Muscle Milk to lose weight.
marvin on Fri, 26th Mar 2010 2:50 am
I’am 100lks right now and trying to loose weight. 80 or 85kls is my goal weight. Been working out 3x a week for 3weeks, alternating it with playing basketball or freesbie with my pals , any suggestion on my gym program? thanks.
And also can i add fruits when I’m going to use it as meal replacement ? (muscle milk)
and since Im here at the Philippines,can you recommend a store on where to buy it?
thanks and more power.
ciao!
admin on Wed, 14th Apr 2010 9:35 pm
Hi Marvin,
Thank you for your question. Your workout plan is looking good, keep up the good work and always try to vary your weight lifting routine a bit as well as increase how much weight you can lift when you feel ready.
Eating fruits is perfectly fine. Remember though to keep hydrated, in fact it is recommended that the first thing you do when you wake up is drink half a liter of water.
Muscle Milk can usually be found in stores around Gyms but if it is not available locally to you then I suggest you buy Muscle Milk at Amazon.com.
trevor on Tue, 20th Apr 2010 11:13 pm
im around 116 pounds and on the mission to gain muscle mass. i work out 5 times a week, sometimes seven (switching muscle workouts eachday). i drink muscle milk before and after workouts. i also drink it before bed after 100 pushups. is this a good routine to accomplis my goal? or what because im looking for ultimate results
admin on Wed, 21st Apr 2010 1:28 am
Hi Trevor,
Thank you for your question. Your workout plans is looking good, remember though that quality is more important than quantity. Men’s Health Magazine has many great tips on muscle building workouts and Muscle Milk will definitely help you get faster results. Remember to keep a healthy diet, maintain your workout and keep on drinking Muscle Milk! Best of luck!
Kenyatta on Thu, 13th May 2010 8:29 pm
when should i consume mucsle milk. Before or after my workout.
admin on Thu, 13th May 2010 9:20 pm
Hi Kenyatta,
Thank you for you comment. You can drink Muscle Milk both before and after your workout. It mainly depends on how much your workout and what your muscle building goals are. If you only do a light workout then only drink either before OR after. If you are really looking to pack in weight and muscle then drink bother before AND after. Best of luck!
cory on Tue, 13th Jul 2010 1:35 pm
Hello.
I’m about 6’3 295 lbs.
Which way of consumption of muscle milk will add muscle.
cory on Tue, 13th Jul 2010 2:13 pm
This is a add on to the post above.
I take animal m stak and animal pump pre workout.
Then I buy the muscle milk at the gas stations afterwards. When should I drink it?
admin on Thu, 29th Jul 2010 8:17 pm
@Cory – The best way is to drink muscle milk is either before or after workouts and you can also drink it before going to bed as well to make sure your muscles get the nutrients it needs while you are in anabolic state.
Thomas on Fri, 15th Oct 2010 9:30 am
hi, so i drink the same amount of muscle milk before work out as same as after work out? thanks
jay on Sun, 24th Oct 2010 9:02 pm
Hey I’m jay I’m 137 and I’m looking to put on mass fast . Should I take muscle milk before I workout or before bed or should I do both
jay on Sun, 24th Oct 2010 9:11 pm
Also should I drink it with water or milk . Which one gives better results
jay on Sun, 24th Oct 2010 9:20 pm
Also is taking muscle milk better with water or milk?
Wes on Mon, 3rd Jan 2011 5:36 pm
If I do the P90x routine is Muscle Milk good to drink before and after?
Danielle on Wed, 19th Jan 2011 8:55 pm
Is muscle milk light (the shakes) a good source in using when trying to loose weight, or only to gain
admin on Sun, 23rd Jan 2011 4:00 pm
A few questions to answer… here we go!
Thomas: While we recommend that you do take the same amount, we also recommend you consult with a nutritionist to be sure that you are taking the right amount for the workouts you are doing. Best of luck!
Jay: We recommend you do both, but remember to take Muscle Milk along with a good workout. To gain muscle it is better to take it with Milk.
Wes: Great routine choice! We recommend you take before and after.
Danielle: Muscle Milk can also be used to lose weight. Muscle burn MORE fat in your body, even while you sleep! A note to all women, don’t be afraid of getting buff, women can’t build bulky muscles by lifting regular weights, you need lots of testosterone and supplements for that.
Hope this answers all your questions, thank you for visiting!
SAL on Tue, 8th Feb 2011 8:09 pm
HI MY QUESTION IS IM 5″10 247.6 POUNDS IM ACTUALLY TRYING TO ACHIEVE A GOAL TO RETURN MY REGULAR WEIGHT 187 POUNDS AT LEAST JUST LAST NIGHT I DRANK MUSCLE MILK BUT I SEE THAT IN MY WORK OUT I DO ALOT OF REPETITIONS NOT HEAVY WEIGHT LIGHT WEIGHT BEACAUSE I FEEL THAT IF I START WITH HEAVY WEIGH UMA GAIN MUSCLE INSTEAD OF MAKING THE MUSCLE LEAN AND CUT CORRECT. BUT TOWARD THE WEIGHTS THEY ARE 20 AND 30 IN BETWEEN AND AT THE END 5 WEIGHT TO DO MORE REPEATS AND 20M TREADMILL AND ABS WORKIOUT BUT I JUST BOUGH MUSCLE MILK IT SAYS IT BURNS FAT WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME OR SUGGEST ON MY GOAL HOW MANY SERVING SHOULD I TAKE I HAVE THE 2.47 LBS (1120G) BOTTLE 35 GRAMS PER SERVING AND HOW MANY SCOOPS DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR WHAT MY GOALS ARE I DO WORK OUT 2HRS AND 30MIN
elaine on Sun, 20th Feb 2011 5:01 am
I have been going to the gym for the past 6 months. I usually go 3 days a week and do 1 hour of weight training. On days in between I walk about 1 1/2 miles. I see improvement in strength and firmness but not much weight loss which is what I’d really like. Is Muscle Milk as a replacement meal 1/2 hour before weight training going to help me loose weight?
admin on Tue, 8th Mar 2011 1:36 am
Hi, remember that weight isn’t the only number you should worry about, muscle weighs more than fat. So be sure to look at your fat percentage and BMI. It is good to start with light weights if you are starting to workout and then move on to heavier weights when you feel comfortable. Building muscle is actually a good thing because muscle burns fat. Do 10-15 reps, rest and repeat 2 more time for a total of 3 sets. As far as what you should drink, check out this statement: “The standard method used by nutritionists to estimate our minimum daily protein requirement is to multiply the body weight in kilograms by .8, or weight in pounds by .37. This is the number of grams of protein that should be the daily minimum. According to this method, a person weighing 150 lbs. should eat 55 grams of protein per day, a 200-pound person should get 74 grams, and a 250-pound person should eat 92 grams.”
admin on Tue, 8th Mar 2011 1:37 am
Muscle milk can be used a meal replacement, especially before or after workouts because it will help you perform better and recuperate faster as well. I would recommend you add a bit more to your weight routine to build a bit of lean muscle because muscle burns more fat. Just be sure to use light weights to not bulk up.
myke on Tue, 8th Mar 2011 3:07 am
hey i am trying to burn fat but at the same time i am trying to build muscle, i take hydroxycut and drink cell tech after my workout and for my protein i drink muscle milk should i stack it with cell tech or drink it before my workout? thanks
admin on Wed, 9th Mar 2011 2:31 am
In terms of bioavailability, you are much better off taking protein and creatine at different times. On a molecular level, proteins are huge and creatine is tiny. It’s like asking 5 people to try and get through a doorway at the same time. The bigger person will push his way through and the smaller person will get lost in the mix and won’t make it through as easily. Is it the worst thing you can do, well no. But in a perfect situation, you would take one, let it assimilate, then take the other. Not to mention a protein spike will lower your blood sugar, the exact opposite that is needed to absorb your creatine, i.e. a blood sugar spike. Bottom line, drink your Cell Tech, wait 25min and take Muscle Milk Protein.
Troy on Mon, 14th Mar 2011 7:30 am
@admin
I’m 5’7 120 pounds.
Currently I’m on track on p90x, been doing it for 2 weeks.
Im just wondering if I should take muscle milk still, on my rest day? And on the days of cardio exercises?
Or is bad?
Because I need 120-185 grams of protein each day and food just won’t keep up with that for me so I’d just like to know if it’s safe to drink the muscle milk without working out.
GEORGE on Thu, 17th Mar 2011 1:08 am
CAN I USE MUSCLE MILK AS A BREAKFAST REPLACEMENT?
Mike on Mon, 21st Mar 2011 11:08 pm
Im a sophomore in high school and i am on the football team. I weigh about 210 lbs and im 6″4. im interested in burning fat while bulking up. recently we just finished doing 3 sets of ten on bench press, squats, and hang cleans while doing some extra auxiliary lifts on the side. We are now doing heavier lifting with 4 sets of five while still doing the auxiliary lifts. im wondering how i should consume my muscle milk in order to achieve my goal. By the way we workout 4 days a week
admin on Wed, 23rd Mar 2011 10:46 pm
Hi Troy. You can definitely take Muscle Milk on your rest day because it is also used as a meal replacement.
admin on Wed, 23rd Mar 2011 10:52 pm
Hi George, Yes!
admin on Wed, 23rd Mar 2011 10:57 pm
Hi Mike, for your weight your protein intake should be around 315 grams. I suggest you take Muscle Milk either before or after your workouts and before bedtime.
juan on Fri, 25th Mar 2011 7:40 pm
im trying to get rip and i was wondering if is houls take muscle milk and how long do i have to work out??and wat kind of routine should i do?? thanks
admin on Wed, 30th Mar 2011 1:04 am
Hi Juan, as far as workout routine, I recommend this: http://musclemilknutrition.com/go/no-nonsense-muscle-building.php. And muscle milk will definitely be a great addition to your workout routine to get ripped. If you are trying to gain weight and muscle mass then I recommend you take muscle milk before or after working out and before going to bed.
Alvin on Tue, 5th Apr 2011 10:52 pm
Right now i weigh 140lbs. I am trying to get up to 150 155 over the next four or five months. I am currently stacking creatine monohydrate and branch chained amino acids. I was wondering if adding muscle milk is a good idea?
Daniel Collins on Wed, 6th Apr 2011 2:06 pm
I am very active, i workout seven days a week and i was wondering if taking muscle milk before bed is ok to try and gain weight and muscle mass? Please i need to know, it tastes great, i just wanna try and refuel my body before bed? Does it work if u drink it before bed?
jennifer on Sun, 10th Apr 2011 4:02 pm
@admin….i have muscle milk light and am wanting to lose weight. i understand you can drink it as a breakfast supplement, but should i be drinking it still if i am not going to be working out that day? i am worried about gaining more weight. and also, serving size is 2 in the 17 ounce bottle, when you do a meal replacement, should i be drinking half or is it safe to drink the whole 17 ounces and still avoid gaining????
Andrew on Wed, 13th Apr 2011 11:41 pm
Hey i am trying to bulid muscle mass and have higher numbers for my bench and other lifts to help me for football next year.. i usually have muscle milk asap after working out but what do u think i should do?
admin on Thu, 14th Apr 2011 4:51 pm
@Alvin – Thank you for your question. There are different views on mixing creatine with protein (Muscle Milk). The experts that approving mixing these two claim that protein will help in creatine absorption. The experts that are against mixing these two claim that protein and creatine use the same transport and will therefor compete against each other inside your body. So which is the right answer? That depends on your body. I would recommend you start taking creatine before your workout and protein after your workout. The best way to figure it out is to try it yourself to see what works best. Start off with taking creatine before your workout, and protein after your work out. While amino acids work great with protein, you can just take protein without having to take amino acids. But if a particular amino does something that you’re looking for you can take that separately.
admin on Thu, 14th Apr 2011 4:53 pm
@Daniel – Way to go with the workouts! Short and quick answer – Yes! In your case taking Muscle Milk before bedtime is ok. Just be sure to take it a few hours before bedtime.
admin on Thu, 14th Apr 2011 4:57 pm
@Jennifer – For weight loss you should lower your dose, especially if you are consuming foods that already contain protein through out the day. Be sure to find a healthy and fun eating style, I say style because you should not see it as a “diet”, it has to become part of your life style. Remember to try to spread your meals to 6 through out the day. And workout out at least 3 times a week. Muscle Milk will help you as a meal replacement and also if you incorporate light weight lifting you will gain lean muscle mass which burns fat! Don’t be afraid to lift light weights, you would need a lot of testosterone to get bulky! If you are going to be taking Muscle Milk be sure to stick to your workout routine.
admin on Thu, 14th Apr 2011 5:02 pm
@Andrew – Congrats with the high #’s! If you’ve been taking Muscle Milk after your workouts for several months and are not getting the results you want (increasing muscle mass) then I would recommend you increase your intake. You can take some before working out and then after or after working out and a few hours before bedtime. But if you have been getting results with your current dosage and have only been taking Muscle Milk a few months, then wait a few more months to allow some time for the “visual” results. I’m not sure, but if you are playing high school football then don’t sweat it too much, your body is still growing!
Steffan on Mon, 25th Apr 2011 2:11 am
Hi, I am 6 foot 195 lbs, I’ve been football training 4 days a week for a few months now and just started muscle milk. Now I want to lose some of my body mass but still have the muscles showing, is there anything I can do with the supplement to do so?
Danny on Wed, 27th Apr 2011 5:31 pm
Hi im goal is to lose weight but the sametime build muscle im at 210 and I want to go down to atleast 170 should I be drinking muscle milk like the directions tell me one waking up one mid day one after workout and one before bedtime or should take it upon waking up and after workout?
Brea on Tue, 3rd May 2011 5:16 pm
I am 14, 108 lbs and I drink one 17 oz muscle milk a day. I am looking to gain a little weight and muscle. How do I accomplish this with muscle milk?
luther on Wed, 4th May 2011 10:36 pm
Hi,
Using Muscle milk light for breakfast. Am I going to gain weight before dropping? Of course diet and exercise are in the mix too.
Jared on Thu, 19th May 2011 7:13 pm
Hey, I’m doing P90X right now and am currently on week 9. I’ve been drinking only one muscle milk a day right after my workouts. I drink the pre-made cartons that have 22g of protein. I was wondering if that is enough protein for my workouts to really gain muscle mass. I currently weigh 160lbs and am just under 6’0”. Thanks!
Oscar on Sat, 4th Jun 2011 7:18 pm
So If I’m drinking muscle milk before and after my workout does that mean im qoinq to have to make the shake twice? or is it the same shake throughout the whole day?
admin on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 7:05 pm
@Steffan: Bringing down your muscle mass is something that should be done very carefully, I suggest contacting a physical trainer or learning more about this in forums where others have also taken this path. Best of luck!
admin on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 7:06 pm
@Danny: To lose weight I recommend you take Muscle Milk as a meal replacement. However, be sure to keep constant with your workout (both cardio and muscle building) in order to see results.
admin on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 7:09 pm
@Brea: At the age of 14 your body is still growing, so don’t sweat it too much yet. I would suggest waiting until you are at least 20 to begin using Muscle Milk. In the meantime, definitely load up with foods that naturally provide high amounts of protein along with proper exercises or sports.
admin on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 7:12 pm
@Luther: Be careful at looking at the scale, weight gain may be due to increased muscle mass and muscle weighs more. It is important to take a look at your BMI and body fat percentage as well. You should be able to shed off the fat and gain muscle as long as you are constant with your workout which should include cardio and weights.
admin on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 7:17 pm
@Jared: This is a great question, I suggest you take a look at this page as it provides good info on calculating the amount of protein you should take for your body weight.
admin on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 7:23 pm
@Oscar: You would need to make it twice, or even better you can buy the Ready to Drink version.
John on Thu, 9th Jun 2011 4:42 am
Hi,
Im 5’10″ and 175lbs. I workout 4 days a week with my football team. We run and lift weights but we are seperated into two different groups for an hour each, so if i lift the first hour and run the next hour, i’m in a bind because i cant take it after my workout because i might throw-up when i run, and i cant take it after my run because it work as well because its already been an hour after my workout. If you could let me know what i can do, i would greatly appreciate it.
Ben on Mon, 21st Nov 2011 3:02 am
i have both the regular Muscle Milk powder as well as the Muscle Milk Collegiate powder. im training for crew, and am working to get a scholarship and am about to go into a very intense workout regimen of both running and lifting. im wondering whether i should just stick to one product, or whether i should use one at one time and another at a different time in my workouts. my lifts are mainly olympic lifts, and running ranges from long distance runs to sprints to agility. wut should i use to maximise results. also if i should only use one product, which one?
Ally on Tue, 13th Dec 2011 12:56 am
I really like the idea of Muscle Milk, but I am not fond of the taste! Is there a particular flavor that tastes better than others?
Josh C on Sun, 18th Dec 2011 4:37 am
I need advice on when to drink my muscle milk and how much per day? Currently I work out 3-4 times a week at the gym. I start by lite cardio 10-15mins, weight lift, then more intense cardio 30-40mins after weight lifting. when should I take my muscle milk? and how much at each time. I am trying to lose weight and gain muscle by the way. and I am not rich, so I cant afford muscle milk every 2 weeks, but I do eat egg whites and other proteins during the day too. should I drink it before or after my second cardio session also? Thanks.
bryan on Tue, 20th Dec 2011 7:53 pm
I am about 5′ 9″ and weigh about 125 pounds. I exercise about 4 times per week with heavy weights but I don’t gain any weight or show any results. Does anyone have tips for me? And if I want to gain mass, when should I drink my muscle milk?
Coco on Wed, 28th Dec 2011 6:10 am
So basically I can drink it before or after a workout and still get the same results?
Annika on Fri, 30th Dec 2011 4:10 pm
Hi, I’m 5’4 and 128lbs. I’m going to start working out 3 to 4 times a week like I used to and I’m wondering about how long into starting my workout routine should I start drinking muscle milk?
admin on Tue, 10th Jan 2012 11:20 pm
@John: I recommend taking it an hour before working out and then before going to bed. Best of luck!
admin on Tue, 10th Jan 2012 11:24 pm
@Ben: I recommend that you stick to Collegiate. CytoSport created Muscle Milk Collegiate to meet the needs of college athletes which has been outlined under NCAA® (National Collegiate Athletic Association) bylaw 16.5.2.2 for nutritional supplements.
admin on Tue, 10th Jan 2012 11:26 pm
@Ally: I would suggest you pick a taste of a flavor that you like best. Fortunately Muscle Milk has a huge selection! My favorite is chocolate chip cookie dough or cake batter!
admin on Tue, 10th Jan 2012 11:28 pm
@Josh: You can drink Muscle Milk when you feel it is right or buy consulting a trainer. I would recommend you take it before your first workout and after your last workout or before going to bed.
admin on Tue, 10th Jan 2012 11:28 pm
@Bryan: Take Muscle Milk before or after your workouts and then again before going to bed for muscle building. Also be sure to follow a good muscle building routine along with a healthy diet for your muscles.
admin on Tue, 10th Jan 2012 11:35 pm
@Coco: To lose weight it is recommended to use a meal replacement and to gain weight it is best to use before going to sleep. Using it before/after or during a workout is optional and ok to do. However it is best to use it the best way that you body adapts to the ingredients. If you get nausea from taking a supplement before a workout then use after a workout. If you’ve got time to drink a shake an hour before your workout then that is good too.
admin on Tue, 10th Jan 2012 11:37 pm
@Annika: If you want to lose weight then use as a meal replacement (breakfast or lunch), to gain weight use before going to bed. You can also take this before or after workouts, the important this is to meet your daily protein requirement for the weight that you are targeting.