If i were to have a meal with 50g of protein and then lift weights about 5-8 hours later, would the protein still be beneficial for me?

Maybe not: The time it takes for the body to digest the proteins depend on the type of protein. They are made of Amino Acids and the more Amino Acids in a protein, the slower the metabolism will be. But still, it may take about 4-5 hours for the protein to leave the small intestine. I recommend you eat your high protein meal within 2-3 hours of training, can be before or after. www.otwithmd.com.