Eating after workout?

bex800
bex800 Posts: 26 Member
edited November 29 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi can anyone help me? I usually do my workout around 8-9pm should I be eating after a workout even if it's so late? I usually eat a meal around 5 and then try not to snack untill the morning. Just wondering if this is the right thing to do for healthy weight loss.thanks

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    If you're hungry after the workout, have something. If not, just eat when you would normally eat the next day.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    You can eat if you want to but you do not have to. It's not going to be harmful if you do not eat afterward.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    I would say if your hungry and have some available calories, then you could have a small snack (as long as it won't interfere with your sleep). As far as weight loss goes, as long as you keep to your calories, when you eat doesn't matter.
  • NaturalNancy
    NaturalNancy Posts: 1,093 Member
    If your hungry yes, (protein shake or glass of milk,string cheese, cottage cheese, Apple w peanut butter) if not just make sure you're eating breakfast!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Eating late is irrelevant...eat if you want to or don't. I eat dinner pretty much every night at 8:30 - 9:00
  • dolliesdaughter
    dolliesdaughter Posts: 544 Member
    edited February 2016
    shadow2soul wrote: »
    I would say if your hungry and have some available calories, then you could have a small snack (as long as it won't interfere with your sleep). As far as weight loss goes, as long as you keep to your calories, when you eat doesn't matter.
    I agree with this.

    I exercise late, but not that late, so I end up eating dinner after 7p. Strange, I have been doing that since 2011 when I started losing weight, yet people constantly tell me that I am going to gain weight eating that late. Mmmmmm 100 lbs down and maintaining, sure I will.



  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    For weight loss, when you eat makes no difference as long as you maintain your calorie deficit.

    For post workout nutrition, you want to eat after your workout. :o
  • kcjchang
    kcjchang Posts: 709 Member
    edited February 2016
    Depending on the intensity, one should always have something to kick start the recovery process. Just make sure it's not thirst in disguise. Not sure if this general advice applies to non-aerobic workouts. Intensity is a key factor, the higher the intensity (rate of exhaustion of muscle and liver glycogen), the more you need to pay attention to the food intake. The window is very narrow and generally ineffective two hours after exercise and middle after one hour. Miss that window means a prolonged recovery period. As far as percentage wise, studies only covers subjects that nearly exhausted their glycogen reserves (very intense sessions and/or at prolonged duration) so treat with caution. (Not saying it's impossible to exhaust muscle glycogen reserves in one hour but the workout is very hard and one is unlikely able to repeat it the next day or two at same intensity).

    You can always break dinner into two meals to cover the bases.
  • ChristinaOrr65
    ChristinaOrr65 Posts: 112 Member
    You should eat after you workout, even if it is late. Be sure to eat something that will help with your recovery and results though, not just anything. Things you want to have are
    #1: Lean Protein Source to build muscle
    #2: High glycemic index carbohydrate to refuel glycogen ASAP
    #3: Low or no fat - it slows down digestion too much
    https://www.myliporidex.com/blog/postworkout_nutrition/
  • Marcus_2015
    Marcus_2015 Posts: 119 Member
    edited February 2016
    I agree with the people that said you have to have something. There absolutely is a magic window but it is longer than the hour held by bro science.

    Before bed you want to be careful, though. You don't want to get too full or eat something that is hard to digest.

    I would do a protein shake with banana, milk and a tablespoon of peanut butter.

    R
  • QuilterInVA
    QuilterInVA Posts: 672 Member
    I second the protein shake. After exercise you need protein to repair muscle.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    edited February 2016
    There is evidence post worjout nutrition has some benefit. If your regular nutrition is spot on look into nutrient timing around hard workouts. If your regular nutrition is suspect you can get a bigger bang for the buck fixing that.
  • StencilChild
    StencilChild Posts: 60 Member
    I love the Sunnyside Farms low fat cottage cheese with fruit. Fairly decent, light, and yummy
  • kcjchang
    kcjchang Posts: 709 Member
    Rhyalus wrote: »
    There absolutely is a magic window but it is longer than the hour held by bro science

    You mean these bros
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16896166
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18535123
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3577439/?report=classic

    So is this your *kitten* u me or can you provide an counterpoint? Maybe your CV is so substantial we should take it as gospel. Post it up, I'm in a mood for comedy.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    edited February 2016
    kcjchang wrote: »
    Rhyalus wrote: »
    There absolutely is a magic window but it is longer than the hour held by bro science

    You mean these bros
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16896166
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18535123
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3577439/?report=classic

    So is this your *kitten* u me or can you provide an counterpoint? Maybe your CV is so substantial we should take it as gospel. Post it up, I'm in a mood for comedy.

    Did you read the last article you posted? Here is a quote from the summary:

    "For the goal of maximizing rates of muscle gain, these findings support the broader objective of meeting total daily carbohydrate need instead of specifically timing its constituent doses. Collectively, these data indicate an increased potential for dietary flexibility while maintaining the pursuit of optimal timing."

    Just because you can measure something doesn't mean it makes any difference in performance. My car is designed for 32 PSI in the tires. I can measure and find the tires have 31 PSI. Will there be any perceptional difference in performance?

    Again, don't major in the minors, get your overall diet in order.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    kcjchang wrote: »
    Rhyalus wrote: »
    There absolutely is a magic window but it is longer than the hour held by bro science

    You mean these bros
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16896166
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18535123
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3577439/?report=classic

    So is this your *kitten* u me or can you provide an counterpoint? Maybe your CV is so substantial we should take it as gospel. Post it up, I'm in a mood for comedy.

    Sounds like you're in the mood for a debate. Are you aware of our new beta debate forum? http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/categories/nutrition-debate
  • kcjchang
    kcjchang Posts: 709 Member
    Yes, observations and conclusions using scientific principles drawing different conclusions based on objects of the study. Your broad brush is bro science. Good try.
  • lauraebenavides
    lauraebenavides Posts: 14 Member
    I would eat something if I have any calories left. But if I do not and I am hungry, I would have a smoothy, kind bar, or protein shake.
  • bellabonbons
    bellabonbons Posts: 705 Member
    I have worked out with two certified trainers. Plus I have consulted with a registered dietician when needed the last three years. All agree that after a workout eat protein to rebuild muscle. They also recommend drinking a casein whey protein shake at bedtime. Casein whey repairs muscle tissue while you sleep. They all suggest complex carbs before a workout that will provide steady energy.
  • insearchofcheese
    insearchofcheese Posts: 45 Member
    I have a protein shake after my workout as my dinner, since it's almost 8pm by the time I'm wrapping up. It's too late for me to have a big meal because I need to be in bed by 9pm if I want enough sleep. I'm up at 5am every morning.
  • whit37k
    whit37k Posts: 22 Member
    You can try having a smaller meal at 5 to leave some calories for your post workout meal, but I would not skip it
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    The right thing to do is to stay in a deficit, and eat when/at times that best suit you.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    Considering it's going to take several hours for anything you eat to actually get absorbed into your body, the whole eat right after u work out is kind of bunk.
  • benboyd85
    benboyd85 Posts: 60 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    Considering it's going to take several hours for anything you eat to actually get absorbed into your body, the whole eat right after u work out is kind of bunk.

    I have wondered about this myself!
  • kcjchang
    kcjchang Posts: 709 Member
    benboyd85 wrote: »
    rybo wrote: »
    Considering it's going to take several hours for anything you eat to actually get absorbed into your body, the whole eat right after u work out is kind of bunk.

    I have wondered about this myself!

    Depends on the composition. If it takes you several hours to absorb a spoonful of sugar, you got a problem. Not say it's the best supplement but just a example. It's spectrum and one size doesn't fit all.
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