so why do we take protein right after workouts and all this? do they grow during the day too?

After high intensity resistance , weight bearing exercise the body sends out certain hormones telling it to acquire protein and nutrients for repair and growth.
IF you've been sufficiently stressing your muscles correctly they will grow to adapt to the stress you put on them.

Muscles in reality are always growing and repairing, BUT there are two times when they go onto overload.
After the workout , when said hormonal signals to the brain are released, and by ingesting the proper nutrients you start the growth/repair phase.
And at Night. When you sleep, the body releases growth hormone. And that is when most of the repair is done. At night, your body releases growth hormone at its highest levels, and in deep REM sleep is when the repair is at its peak. In the early mornig, the male's body has its highest concentration of Testosterone, hence, morning "wood."

Thus, in order to stay "Anabolic", meaning "muscle building", sufficient ingestion of key nutrients keeps the body in growth phase all day, and is in high gear after the workout and at bed time.
That's why there is the correct advice for bodybuilders to keep eatign small meals throught the day, rather than the three squares. By eating aminos throught the day your body has the basic building blocks to grow all the time, which they do, provided you are working them out sufficinetly.
But over time studies began revealing optimum times for repair and hormone release.
So we just started taking advantage of these times.

who says they grow at night?

muscle growth, like fat loss, is a minute by minute process throughout the day

hormone output is maximised during sleep but protein turnover occurs every second of the day.

thanks guys, ive been workin out for a lil while now and ive just never questioned why this stuff works...

i am me said:

thanks guys, ive been workin out for a lil while now and ive just never questioned why this stuff works...

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don't, just run with it

overanalysing = death to gains

i wouldnt call it overanalyzing, i woulda done this **** anyway

i coulda sworn muscles were afraid of the dark...!

i am me said:

so why do we take protein right after workouts and all this? do they grow during the day too?

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muscles grow & recover after your workout. Working out stresses your body, including muscles. Your body builds muscles to get stronger & better prepare it to an eventual future stress you might apply (which you will by working out again few days later). Protein intake helps the recovery, helps building muscle.