Gotta quick quetsion about protein. I am wondering if I can mix it the night before and leave it in the fridge?? I work early ass mornings, and am trying to find a way to save time. Thanks.
Elliot
How long does it take to make a protein shake? A minute? Surely you can find this time in the morning. If you make your shake the night before, I don’t think you’re going to like how it tastes in the morning.
I wouldn’t mix it the night before, but you can get it ready in a shaker. Then you will just add water, shake, and go. That should save you a bit of time.
Hope that helps,
Phill
Im guessing your protein powder may not mix very well without a blender? Maybe use TWO shaker cups. Same amount of protein powder, twice the water. Should mix easier. Place one in each hand and run furiously out the door.
Thanks. The two shaker thing sounds like it might work better. Also, a sidenote question, if I do HIIT training first thing in the morning, which will be 4am, should I take my HOT-ROX right then? or just want til before breakfast? Thanks again.
Elliot
what kind of protein powder do you have that doesn’t dissolve easily in water? sounds like you might want to invest in something a bit better next round. Just buy Grow! it’s awesome and the price is great too.
ISS Research Whey Matrix is what I bought awhile ago, GROW! was still pretty exspensive, but when I get paid this coming week, yeah, I’m getting some GROW! Just got my SURGE and can’t wait to try it. Oh, any thoughts on the HOT-ROX, with taking it right before I do my HIIT in the morning??
Elliot
no, i’m not the person to ask about the Hot-Rox… i would say if it makes you feel better for your workouts, sure, take it before. i don’t have experience with how you divide up doses and things like that. maybe you can post a new message with that question or check the archives for more info.
I’ve had a similar problem with the problem with mixing shakes. I found it much easier (and tasted better) when I mixed it the night before put it in the fridge - the next morning it was smooth and well-mixed, plus I grabbed it and ran. I’m the type who gets up early and needs as much sleep as I can get. If I can save even two minutes it is worthwhile to me.
As far as the protein breaking down overnight - you might have to ask one of the nutritional experts about that, but I can’t imagine that being a problem especially with all the MRP shakes now available.
also - I was using the EAS shakes
As far as refrigerating your premixed protein drinks, they should be just fine, overnight at the very least. I mix my morning dose the night before a workday as I have to be up at 4:45am at the latest and I try to get every minute of sleep I can before that, so I understand that even the small things seem to add up when considering time and energy. That being said, my shakes are fine in the morning. I like to use 20 oz. Powerade or Gatorade bottles to do this with. Add your serving of protein, add about halfway with water (or milk), shake well, top off with more water, reshake, then put in the fridge till the morning. Works for me. Hope this helps.
some protein shakes contain an enzyme that will start to break down your drink and those would not be advisable to mix before hand.
other than that, i have only heard rumors that you should mix your shake immediately before drinking. i suppose putting it in the fridge would slow down any reaction and therefor make it less problematic. also, if it tastes bad or smells bad, then don’t do it 
Thanks for all the help. I plan on trying mixing some this Sunday since Monday I’ll be up at 4:30am.
Elliot
ETisu;
You’re NOT saving time. The time it take to mix is the same regardless when you mix it.
I think you just are looking for an excuse to lie in in the morning;-)
Elliot
want to save time? buy a monkey from some shady dealer and train him or her to get up 5 minutes before you do and have your morning shake ready right as you hop out of bed - honestly, you can’t spare that minute?
well, if you are mixing a lot of things in the shake (milk, frozen fruits, non-frozen fruits, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.) than you should blend all these up 2 days during the week so that all you have to do is pour that mix into a shaker with your powder in the morning instead of blending it every morning. i’m not a big fan of having long ago pre-made shakes. there was a number of articles published about glutamine turnover rates when glutamine supplementation was at a peak and keeping it in solution for long severely decreased its potency.
everyone wants to get their sleep no matter how early we all get up. i trained my monkey to brush my teeth, comb my hair, and make me a 5 egg no yolk omelet with red bell peppers and cook a mean bowl of oatmeal. just kidding! he’s not good enough to split the yolk from the white yet!
ETisu,
To answer your Q I dont see any reason not to pre-mix the night before, it’s not as though the protein will degrade or anything. Go for it, it’s up to you how you organise your time.
Old Dax
The answers regarding the protein are very diploamtic and seem to make sense. I’m curious though, have there been any studies on the rate of degradation of different proteins under different conditions? or at what ponint do other factors of “decay” come into play like bacteria? Not that it would matter because the practical soulution is quite easy (mix it on the spot), and its not like it would even be a great advantage to prepare your protein a month in advance. But it does make for an interesting question.