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The Best Ways to Use Muscle Milk

Protein shakes are a useful nutritional tool for bodybuilders and weightlifters. They're convenient --- usually available in easy-to-store powder or single-serving liquid form --- and offer a meal-sized amount of both protein and calories in a single serving. Muscle Milk, a popular brand of protein shake, comes in several flavors and is found at nearly every mega-store's vitamin or supplement section.

  1. Morning Shake

    • You can consume Muscle Milk immediately after waking up. According to The Fitness Nerd on AnswerFitness.com, drinking a protein-rich shake early in the morning can help those looking to build muscle mass. Since you have not had a meal containing protein since the previous night, your body may begin to break down muscle for fuel in the morning. Muscle Milk replenishes the store of protein for your body to use.

    Post-Workout Shake

    • The Fitness Nerd recommends drinking protein shakes immediately after a workout. By following your weight training with the shake, the muscles are able to quickly absorb and utilize the protein to build muscles that were damaged during the workout. This facilitates muscle growth and an increase of strength as the muscle fibers repair themselves. Also, a weightlifter can immediately replenish any fluids post-workout with a Muscle Milk or general protein shake.

    After-Meal Shake

    • According to Sherdog.com, drinking a protein shake after a meal is a great way to pack on additional calories, since drinking a glassful of a shake is easier than eating an extra 500 calories of dinner. Since bodybuilders who are looking to increase mass need additional daily calories, this is a helpful way to gain a small caloric edge.

    Dessert or Breakfast Smoothies

    • You can use Muscle Milk powder as an ingredient in cold dessert or breakfast smoothies and add other ingredients such as fresh and frozen fruits, oatmeal, nuts and coffee. The official Muscle Milk website (cytosport.com) and TrulyHuge.com both have smoothie recipes available for viewing.

    Pancakes

    • Also on the Muscle Milk and TrulyHuge.com recipe pages are recipes for pancakes that feature Muscle Milk powder. Pancakes are generally carbohydrate-rich breakfast items, and infusing Muscle Milk into them boosts the protein count --- a desirable thing for bodybuilders and weightlifters.

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