Hi guys, when im in the gym i do my weight routine first, then usually half an hour of cardio after, my question is this....should i have my protien shake immediately after weights and then run or wait till after ive finished the whole session? Thanks alot

If it were me, I'd be doing my weights and cardio on separate days.

If you can't swing that, then I'd start sipping your shake 30-40 minutes into your weight routine, so its gone by the time you start cardio. Will keep you in positive nitrogen balance (anabolic) so you shouldn't be hurting your muscle development while doing the cardio.

The way I see it, you need some kind of exercise every day, or at least 5-6 days per week to keep the engine running hot.
Since only professional bodybuilders and athletes have hit the point where they can manage weight training 5 days a week without doing more harm than good.

So for all of us 'amature' enthusiasts, 3-4 days a week of weights is all you can really do effectively, which leaves 3-4 days open for cardio (or just general exercise like shooting hoops, playing flag football, tennis lessons, judo class, etc...etc...)

If you try to pile it all into three workouts a week, you just won't see the same results as someone who spread the same workload out more evenly.

Teh body really works on trends, not day to day activities. If it worked day-to-day, you'd be able to gain or lose a pound of fat in 24 hours just by taking in or restricting 3500 calories...and we all know it ain't that simple

Thanks alot for taking the time to reply, i kinda thought as much in the back of my head that doing cardio right after weights probably wasn't an ideal situation. I think i'll just try to do them on seperate occasions!

I'd recommend you take it afterwards. I personally don't like doing cardio in conjuction with weights, but thats me. Its hard enough doing cardio while drinking water. Nevermind a protein shake, thats sure too make you vomit or feel nausea the entire time. So id play it safe. Take it afterward.

I do a similar routine. I take 10 grams protein before hitting the iron. Then after the iron I do 20 grams protein, wait 10 mins, then hit cardio. After cardio I do another 10 grams protein. Spare the muscle.

I think it depends. If the purpose of doing cardio is for overall fat burning, do it after weights. If the purpose of doing 'cardio' is because of a road race, etc., then do mix it up, one day do it after, another day do it first. My thought is this... if you are trying to burn off fat, do the cardio LAST. Try to work out on a mostly empty stomach. If you are trying to burn fat, then why do it first or on a separate day when the body goes to the stomach first for energy?? The only way to burn 'fat' is to make the body access the fat cells, not energy from the stomach. If you are hungry and are looking to keep you mind off hunger, or to add some protein during a workout, use part of a protein bar. Just take two bites of it. Sipping a shake is going to cause stitches/cramps. I prefer to do cardio on the same days that I do weights. Why?? More days to rest. More rest equals better muscle recovery equals better workout next time in the gym. Less burn out than if you do something 5 - 6 times each week.... at that pace you WILL hit a burn out phase and dread the gym.

Take the shake, or bulk of your protein after you are done with training.