After much umming and arring I finally ordred a big tub of Protein powder/shake.

I want to lose some body fat and try to get some lean muscle and definition.

I know alot of it is diet too, but just wondering does it matter when I take the protein shake?

Shall I just have one every morning?

I usually get home from the gym around 8pm and aybe once a week around 10pm

Thanks.

What sort is it? I use a casein shake and you're very much supposed to take it before bed - it's digested slowly. The problem with protein is that your body can't store it like it can fat and glucose so you just excrete what you can't use

It usually tells you on the tub the optimum time to use it.

It's a whey protein possibly isolate or something, this is the thing I'm not very clued up.

be careful, overdoing protein shakes can make you put on weight.... not necessarily muscle

Better warm your family to be on flatulence alert

How hard/often are you training?How many grams of protein are you taking on board through your daily diet? Generally speaking you can cater for your protein levels through your diet alone.When I was at the peak of my training it took me a long time to start using protein supplements, and when I did it was only the one shake a day containing 45 grams of protein.I was only taking it because I was already eating 5 meals a day. I was taking it about half an hour after my session with a few carbs, roughly 30 grams to aid in the processing of the protein.

Unfortunately work got in the way of me training for the last few years but now I'm starting to get into MMA and a lot of the guys I talk to are raving about the Paleo diet for weight loss and toning up . It's also good because protein features heavily.So maybe this would be an idea to help you strip the fat..I've started and within weeks my clothes are feeling loose and not fitting well.

Just found this for you too
http://www.menshealth.co.uk/_mobile/building-muscle/best-supplements/best-protein-shakes

This will also help.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/vinced7.htm

Thanks jon that's great! Ill have a good read of that.

I'm training 4 times a week for around 1hr 20mins. That's a mix of floor/core work resistance machines and around 25-30 mins of cardio at the end.

thats quite a seriuos excercise routine

you must already be loosig quite a bit of body fat

i use "my protein " they have a website and are really well priced but i did use the stuff holland a barrett for a while but it made me gain wieght

i gym it 4 times a week starting with a 3 K run to warm up then about 45 mins on resistance machines ,on a sunday i do an 8 mile rd run and then i always have my shake straight after my excercise (my gym sessions are normally lunch time)

how much weight have you lost 9if you dont mind me asking)

Well I was never really overweight to be honest, but I had no tone or muscle and I was unfit. I was just starting to get a little bicycle tyre around my waist but I have more of a flat stomach now, just want to cut and get defined or as they say 'ripped' but I dont want to be huge at the same time.

I think it does help. I was recommended casein shakes as part of my eating plan for a diet to improve recovery. I'm cycling around 140 miles a week (most of the 1000 miles this year on an MTB with studded knobbly ice tyres) and my legs are gubbed by the end of the week.

Paleo diet all the way in that case mate.With a lot if high intensity/long duration, short rest periods...look up tabatas...

Looked up the Paleo diet - takes a bit of a slating

Horses for courses
Seems to be working for me and quite a few others I know..Any diet is subjective but it's just a recommendation from my own experience. .

Yeah I googled it. To be honest its roughly what ive been aiming for but im not strict enough. Lots of fish, chicken and beef, fruit and veg, snack on nuts. Is that about right?

The only thing is I have porridge every morning made with milk, not sure if I can be bothered to do an omelette in the morning and not sure I would enjoy it, I do like milk in the morning, usually porridge and sometimes cereal.

waste of time

what you need to do is something you can maintain as a lifestyle not a crazy do all or bust fad

I know nothing about nutrition, and have been getting a daily dose of chicken, nuts, bananas, porridge and a glass of milk before the ride home.
The milk really seems to provide a boost.

I've tried a few things.
Berocca type tablets
Vitamin B is supposed to increase your metabolism. I didn't see much of a difference. Good for hangovers possibly?

Whey Protein "Repair" only a few sachets and there are some citrus fruit type supplements - they seem particularly useful when you do something out of the ordinary.

Electrolyte tabs after exercise (Zero) - seem to relieve cramps in the leg muscles.

skimmed milk is one of the best things you could ever have