Some nights when I get home from work I'll have a whey protein shake with some flax or olive oil and call it dinner. I've been reading lately that whey protein should only be used after workouts for ideal absorbtion. Since I workout first thing in the morning, is this protein just getting wasted? Supposedly cottage cheese or a casein based protein is a better option at night. But those seem to have so many carbs. What is a better non-solid food and is whey protein okay? I usually try to avoid meat at night because it leaves me constipated for days.

I like a whey/casein mix at night before I go to bed. Met-Rx makes a good one called Protein Plus. I add a sccop of that, and a scoop of whey, some water, and a little cream.

The whey isn't wasted in your shake, but since it is so rapidly absorbed you may leave yourself open to some catabolism during the night.

Or you can always wake up and have another whey shake half-way thru the night ...