^^ I wouldnt worry too much about what it says in terms of how much liquid to put with 1 scoop. 99% of the time if you follow those guidlines, you wont get all the powder to mix.

the timing of the shakes really depends on your goals, taking it before your workout with a moderate amount of carbs (dextrose/maltodextrin) will help muscle output. While taking it with a generous amount of carbs post workout will help muscle recovery.
(I would suggest doing both)

from a dietary stand point, if your trying to increase lean body mass, it would be helpful to use shakes whenever you cant get in solid foods, in order to hit your total protien intake for the day.

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