I know this question came up before but couldn't find it. So what works best? Before or after? and is it bad to use if I'm trying to lose the little bit of fat I'm trying to lose?
advice would be great.
sounds like you should spend some more time understanding nutrition, rather than zoning in on "when" you should ingest protein.
generically speaking, as long as you are consuming protein at every feeding thruout the day, it will be a non-issue. (this is the concept geoforce illustrates above)
for most, it is not preferable to drink protein
immediately prior to training (as criticalbench mentions above)..but a great many ppl will tell you it IS preferable immediately after, as you need to replenish after strenuous activity.
when someone wonders if protein will make them fat, that is a glaring indicator that you do not grasp nutritional concepts.
overall caloric intake is what will determine whether you will contribute to fat stores..and then, finitely, follows the construction of that caloric intake (ie, macros).
for the record - protein in itself will not make you fat, in fact it is the most thermogenic macronutrient we can consume..logically, follows then that if we want to lose bodyfat, we increase our protein intake (while simultaneously lowering carbs and/or fat intake)..going further, we have the micronutrient construction of those macronutrients..(ie, the difference between the carb known as dextrose or sugar, and the carb known as, say, a sweet potato)..
if i can give you one bit of advice, it would be to study nutrition and dietary concepts.
good luck.