Protein Shake Before or After Workout?

A friend gave me a tub of Herbalife Nutritional Shake. It's not a protein shake alone, as it has carbs as well (6g fat, 20g carbs, 17g protein) but it's a general health shake and has loads of vitamins etc.

Should I take it before or after a workout? I think I'll definitely take it as a recovery-shake after a muscle tone class as it's then that my muscles are shakey and I feel really low on energy. But I find I run out of energy whilst doing cardio running, so was thinking an hour before would sustain my energy?

And I'm going to a karate class tonight which is a balance of both. I don't get tired throughout as its not intense cardio and it does my work my muscles as I'm constantly holding a position, so am thinking it would be better to take it after for repair rather than energy before?

At 200 calories, 25% from fat, that's a pretty hearty "snack", IMO.

If you want to use it as a recovery drink, that might be OK, but I would only use it after a really strenuous workout.

It is definitely not something you would want to consume immediately before or, god forbid, during a workout--unless you consider projectile vomiting a type of core training.

Original Post by azdak:
unless you consider projectile vomiting a type of core training.

Works the abs!