Eating before Workout or After?

[KingGeno]

I've always been under the impression that I should eat something AFTER I work out. But if I do eat something before a workout, it should be at least FOUR hours before I start.

Any truth to this?

I am trying not to starve myself and workout like crazy when I went from 380lbs to 210lbs. I am up to 260lbs, and I am trying to burn it off quick. I know what to eat and how to work out.

Just curious what everyone does.

Normally I will eat four hours before, and then have a big protein/acia berry shake (http://www.acai-pure.com/dark/?bid=225&aid=CD82&opt=CD63483) (which is phenomenal!),

I WORKOUT AT NIGHT MOSTLY.

[drusilla]

i would wake up & eat something small like an apple or some toast. oatmeal may work too, but i really tried to stay light. but when i was done working out after the 2 hours or whatever i would be starving.

[KingGeno]

Oh crap. I failed to mention I workout at night mostly.

[Annie Waits]

i think you should stop selling your products here.....what's next? a five hour energy?

[extracheese]

Damn - you lost 170 pounds.
How many calories a day did you eat?
What was your weekly loss rate?
What is a typical days menu for you?

I heard you should eat 30 minutes before you excersize and 30 minutes after. Fuel for the workout, and Fuel for the muscle building. nothing big, (ie. a banana and yogurt) as long as its some protein and comlex carb.

I started my diet in September, eating 1200 calories a day with workouts 4 days a week (some weight machines and 30 minutes on the treadmill - light intensity)

I Lost 30 pounds in 3 months, but have since platead and have lost nothing in the last 2 weeks.

[Contra]

When I was actually healthy I was eating before working out and then taking liquid amino acid afterwards for the muscle development. Worked pretty good.

[epo]

What time at night do you work out?

[KingGeno]

I usually start around 6-7PM EST. Go for like two to three hours.,

[epo]

Geno, I've been on that schedule many times and my general rule of thumb is to break up the date into 5 meals:

7am - breakfast
10am-ish - morning snack (yogurt or fruit)
12:30-ish - lunch
3-4pm - afternoon snack - (powerbar)
5-6pm - workout
7-8pm - eat dinner

Of course I would drink water all day. Maybe a single soda with lunch, but water is your priority.

And just a personal note, but I don't understand the 2-3 hours in the gym. If you can't get done in an hour, you aren't doing things right.

[drusilla]

45 minutes of cardio plus the hour weight training. & if i do a lot of leg work i'll skip the cardio, or cut it down. i'm rarely there more than 2 hours.

[Friday]

i exercise in the early morning right after i wake up so i never eat anything beforehand.

on the off chance i exercise at night... which is so rare... i will eat afterwards.

i never eat big before a workout or a performance.... it's just my rule of thumb.
but i have friends who HAVE to have food in the tummy before they exercise... or they get really sick. so i guess it all depends on your own metabolism.

[drusilla]

i usually always wake up hungry anyway. i have to have a bite to eat or i get a headache.

[Thebazile78]

i exercise in the early morning right after i wake up so i never eat anything beforehand.

on the off chance i exercise at night... which is so rare... i will eat afterwards.

i never eat big before a workout or a performance.... it's just my rule of thumb.
but i have friends who HAVE to have food in the tummy before they exercise... or they get really sick. so i guess it all depends on your own metabolism.

i usually always wake up hungry anyway. i have to have a bite to eat or i get a headache.

Yep, count me as one of those who has to have at least a snack before a workout. Even before a yoga video. (And, technically, you're supposed to do yoga on an empty stomach. I get woozy if I don't eat something first.)

Or else I feel like puking during the workout and even worse afterwards ... so it cuts my total workout time down from, say, a planned 45 minutes to maybe 25 minutes.

When I was hitting the gym regularly last year, I found that a 6 or 8 ounce lowfat yogurt was enough to get me through a workout and the drive home.

[boobieman]

You should not eat right before any work out. Eat a hour or 2 before. This way gives your body time to break up the food and start to use it for energy. Also don't eat anything that might make your logy or make you feel sluggish. Protein is always best. Gives you energy for the muscles to work, build up and repair.

Also don't over eat after work out. Best way to loose weight and build muscle, eat small meals around 5 to 6 meals a day.

Also drink water while working out. If you dehydrate while working out you will not have the energy to keep going. Not be able to do as much as your body can do.

Hope this helps and good luck.

SEEYYAAAA

[biggestmexi]

I emailed this to my boss and this is what he had to say. Hes one of those weird body buidler guys.

If you're dieting, you don't want to eat anything at any time (Period) ... especially

Lots of things to factor in.. but assuming you know what to eat and what to work out, you should do it before a workout, preferably minutes before... Reason is to burn up the carbs and nutrients that are shoveled into your tissue from the insulin spike from eating.... otherwise eating afterwards will promote storage of those nutrients into your tissue since you are not immediately using it.

If you have any other question feel free to ask.

He now wants me to ask what exactly is your goals.

Weight loss?

Maintain figure?

Build Muscle?

He said you cannot do all three. Also he said only listen to people that can change their body figure/type in 3 months.

[KingGeno]

Thanks for all the opinions.

Normally, if I work out in the morning I will take a meal replacement shake or whey protein shake about 20-30 minutes before my workout. I then drinks the right amount of water for my body weight for the rest of the day. Meals usually are fruits, vegetables, yogurt, granola, tuna/whitefish, and/or chicken. I like hal whites/hall full egg omelettes.

If I work out at night, which is the most common time for me to work out, I will try to eat something four hours before I workout, so my tummy is partially empty and I have the energy from the food running through me. I work out for about two hours (45 mins weights, 1-1.25 hours cardio). Afterwords, I have a protein shake or an acia berry shake.

I just wanted to know if I would be wasting energy if I had a meal before a workout, meaning that I am not getting a full workout because my tummy is spending energy to digest whatever I ate.

Thanks for all the info though.

As far as when I lost 170lbs. I did a combination of the Sugarbusters Diet and eating/meal explanations from various sources. One source was Sylvester Stallone's workout and meal plans from when he was in Rocky III and Rocky IV. He was a brick shithouse in those movies, and the man knows what the hell he is talking about when it come to that. I took in about 1200-1500 cals a day, depending on what kind of workout I was going to have that day.

[biggestmexi]

Thanks for all the opinions.

Normally, if I work out in the morning I will take a meal replacement shake or whey protein shake about 20-30 minutes before my workout. I then drinks the right amount of water for my body weight for the rest of the day. Meals usually are fruits, vegetables, yogurt, granola, tuna/whitefish, and/or chicken. I like hal whites/hall full egg omelettes.

If I work out at night, which is the most common time for me to work out, I will try to eat something four hours before I workout, so my tummy is partially empty and I have the energy from the food running through me. I work out for about two hours (45 mins weights, 1-1.25 hours cardio). Afterwords, I have a protein shake or an acia berry shake.

I just wanted to know if I would be wasting energy if I had a meal before a workout, meaning that I am not getting a full workout because my tummy is spending energy to digest whatever I ate.

Thanks for all the info though.

As far as when I lost 170lbs. I did a combination of the Sugarbusters Diet and eating/meal explanations from various sources. One source was Sylvester Stallone's workout and meal plans from when he was in Rocky III and Rocky IV. He was a brick shithouse in those movies, and the man knows what the hell he is talking about when it come to that. I took in about 1200-1500 cals a day, depending on what kind of workout I was going to have that day.

my boss.
To answer his direct question.

Having energy to work out would come from blood sugar levels which is effected by insulin and carb intake, only. And having enough blood sugar to feel strong depends largely on your carb intake, and its effects are immediate for simple sugars and much longer lasting from complex carbs... but spiking you insulin for a good work out would result in no extra colories burnt; so not really promoting weight loss... again what are the goals.

[KingGeno]

I'm going for weight loss right now. So I'm doing tons of toning now, with my end goal being heavy lifting for muscle mass.

[biggestmexi]

I'm going for weight loss right now. So I'm doing tons of toning now, with my end goal being heavy lifting for muscle mass.

I would eat just enough carbs right before the gym to get you through a good weight workout and then cardio afterwards. When I say enough carbs, i would say no more than 20grams of carbs. like one ricecake and a protein shake.
__________________________________________________ __________________________

That was all him.

[KingGeno]

Thanks for relaying the message to me, and thanks to your friend for the info.

[biggestmexi]

Thanks for relaying the message to me, and thanks to your friend for the info.

no prob. I think he likes helping people out like this.

[SP1!]

Yeah if you eat always try to eat at least an hour before or eat after if you have time, but you do need something for fuel during the workout.

Also is there a supplement thread around here? I am getting back into being a gym rat after two rotator cuff repairs and want a little boost for muscles, I know andro is gone now but thats what I used to take when I was at my max lift and it was great.

I just need something to burn a little weight and build my muscle back up, shouldnt be hard for the muscle since muscle memory has already kicked in and my arms have gotten pretty big the last couple of weeks. I thought about taking some phentermine to burn weight, I just dont know what goes good with that or if that is still safe to take now.

[danner1515]

Geno, I've been on that schedule many times and my general rule of thumb is to break up the date into 5 meals:

7am - breakfast
10am-ish - morning snack (yogurt or fruit)
12:30-ish - lunch
3-4pm - afternoon snack - (powerbar)
5-6pm - workout
7-8pm - eat dinner


That's exactly what my schedule is. If I try to work out on an empty stomach, I have no energy or motivation.

[STC-Dub]

I usually have yogurt and a granola bar an hour before I work out -- lifting weights and swimming a half mile -- then eat a small meal after wards then diner a couple of hours later. Probably not the way to do it but it works for me.

[Yerdaddy]

A good mix of protein and carbs for breakfast does wonderful things to the metabolism for the rest of the day. I want a high protein meal an hour and a half to three hours before a workout to give the proteins a chance to break down and be available for muscle growth. Unless I still feel full from my last meal I'll eat two bananas a half hour before a workout to give the sugars a chance to break down and be available as energy. I do high intensity/short duration conditioning exercise which increases the metabolism for a longer time - around 36 hours compared to 18 to 24 hours. I'll eat a medium size meal after workout, depending on how hungry I am.

I've set my pre-workout meals based on the advice of my personal trainer ex-roommate and my own performance after tinkering with pre-workout meals. The hour and a half protein and half hour sugars, (depending on their glycogen index - I go with bananas), has gotten me better results at 40 years old than I had at 20. As for post-workout food needs - there have several good studies recently that have shown that there isn't evidence of any benefit of taking in carbs or proteins immediately after a workout. I had heard long ago that your body needs sugar and protein within a half hour. Now I think it's best just to eat when I'm hungry after a workout.

[biggestmexi]

Yeah if you eat always try to eat at least an hour before or eat after if you have time, but you do need something for fuel during the workout.

Also is there a supplement thread around here? I am getting back into being a gym rat after two rotator cuff repairs and want a little boost for muscles, I know andro is gone now but thats what I used to take when I was at my max lift and it was great.

I just need something to burn a little weight and build my muscle back up, shouldnt be hard for the muscle since muscle memory has already kicked in and my arms have gotten pretty big the last couple of weeks. I thought about taking some phentermine to burn weight, I just dont know what goes good with that or if that is still safe to take now.


my boss
creatine and some sort of herbal testosterone booster... all supplement stores will carry them, just ask

[KingGeno]

Thanks again for the information.

I've noticed that as I get older a meal before working out, roughly in the same time frame before that Yerdaddy mentioned, has helped a lot. I used to be able to go workout on an empty stomach, or with a meal replacement shake only. I've been taking these acai berry/banana/other fruits shakes after I work out, and the stuff is pretty amazing. I hardly feel exhausted or in pain if I put in a heavy lifting session.

I've also been drinking green tea in the morning and afternoon. What's your boss think about green tea usage, mexi? I had a professional body builder show guy man tell me about it. Stuff gives me tons of energy and helps detox.

[biggestmexi]

Thanks again for the information.

I've noticed that as I get older a meal before working out, roughly in the same time frame before that Yerdaddy mentioned, has helped a lot. I used to be able to go workout on an empty stomach, or with a meal replacement shake only. I've been taking these acai berry/banana/other fruits shakes after I work out, and the stuff is pretty amazing. I hardly feel exhausted or in pain if I put in a heavy lifting session.

I've also been drinking green tea in the morning and afternoon. What's your boss think about green tea usage, mexi? I had a professional body builder show guy man tell me about it. Stuff gives me tons of energy and helps detox.

I will ask him when he gets back in.

as for my green tea is great. i dont work out or anything though. I just like the flavour. I have tried making iced green tea at home. Its easy and good. the only problem is, is that stuff settles at the bottom. wierd stuff but good.

I usually get the picture fill with water poor into pot. add another cup of water to compensate for evap. and then throught the bags in there. After that i will through some mint into it.(you can usually get it (fresh) from a grocery store)(start with COLD water) then bring it right BEFORE boil then cover it and let it steep. Transfer back to the pitcher.

I myself dont use sugar but if youd like make a simple syrup. Its equal parts water sugar then let it come to a boil shut it off and your ready to go. keep in a separate container so you can add it if you want.

i will edit this post when he responds

[biggestmexi]

Thanks again for the information.

I've noticed that as I get older a meal before working out, roughly in the same time frame before that Yerdaddy mentioned, has helped a lot. I used to be able to go workout on an empty stomach, or with a meal replacement shake only. I've been taking these acai berry/banana/other fruits shakes after I work out, and the stuff is pretty amazing. I hardly feel exhausted or in pain if I put in a heavy lifting session.

I've also been drinking green tea in the morning and afternoon. What's your boss think about green tea usage, mexi? I had a professional body builder show guy man tell me about it. Stuff gives me tons of energy and helps detox.

Since for some reason I could not edit that post.

My boss.
green tea is good for you as far as a little caffeine boost and antioxidant, but that great energy feel is from something else or all in your head

also, don't take advice from professional body builders unless you are one yourself, to talk on the same plane you need to take the same supplements (which is illegal) again - different goals... IFBB guys are on so many drugs, their diet and over the counter supplements account for the least of their body shapes and energy.. and i chat with an IFBB pros every year and have dinner with them as well as hang out with them at promotional shows in Ottawa... guys like, Dexter, Cutler, Gustavo, and Coleman