Strength training and eating

HM2206

I do strength training about twice a week, an hour each time. I usually go in the morning (7 am) before work, so I am not really eating a lot before - just a handful of nuts usually.

At the gym the trainers always urge us to not wait too long after the workout before eating. They say in order to get stronger you should refuel your muscles within reasonable time, and get some proteins after your workout.

It seems to me there are so many different opinions about these things. So I was wondering if some of you (whom have successfully built muscles) have any experience? What are your eating habits in regards to strength training?

SezxyStef

I eat 4x a day regardless of my when I do my workouts.

I do get in plenty of protein but meal timing in this instance I don't think is that important.

Building muscles tho is more about the amount of calories you take in and doing a progressive load lifting program not when you eat.

quiksylver296

Unless you are an elite bodybuilder or athlete, meal timing is pretty much irrelevant.

DancingMoosie

I lift after work, then go home and make dinner. In the summer, I might lift after a smoothie, but before lunch. Either way, I go home and eat after. My body generally feels kind of run down or twitchy after lifting, so I figure a meal is in order.

lorrpb

My trainer says to eat a little protein & a lit y let carbs 30-60 min before workout and the same after. Plus have some protein each time you eat during the day. This has worked well for me.

not_a_runner

I like to eat shortly before and after the gym because I'm starving and bad things will happen if I don't.

Having your daily/weekly calories in line with your goals is going to be more important than meal timing.

ndj1979

my largest meal tends to be post training, but that is just personal preference...

as others have said unless you are an elite athlete or body builder meal timing is irrelevant..

Is your strength training part of a structured lifting regimen?

deputy_randolph

I have a decent breakfast about 2 hrs before the gym, a protein shake after lifting (sometimes half a pb sandwich too if it's a long day) and have a decent size lunch about an 1hr after I leave the gym. Then usually scrambled eggs before dinner, dinner, and 2 servings of pistachios for dessert.

Powerlifting coach nags me to make sure I'm eating enough (I'm smallish)...I secretly laugh on the inside, if she only knew how much I eat.

trigden1991

ndj1979 wrote: »

my largest meal tends to be post training, but that is just personal preference...

as others have said unless you are an elite athlete or body builder meal timing is irrelevant..
/quote]

Same here. I consider myself an elite gym bro so try to take on board the occasional lesson from the pro's.

rainbowbow

ndj1979 wrote: »

my largest meal tends to be post training, but that is just personal preference...

as others have said unless you are an elite athlete or body builder meal timing is irrelevant..

I do the same as this. ^ I also workout around 8-9 PM at night so i eat around 10 or so and go to bed full and satisfied. If i try and eat anywhere in the couple hours before the gym I will feel sick while working out.

sijomial

For me.....
Overall diet = worth bothering about.
Timing of eating around strength training = unimportant apart from avoiding training on a full stomach as that impacts my performance and may lead to a Technicolor yawn.

Their statement is actually so vague as to be meaningless.
How long is a reasonable time? An hour? Same day? Next day?
How much is some protein? Context to your entire diet?

You could ask your trainers to actually be more precise and then quantify the difference they believe their suggestion could make, 0.1%, 1%, 10%? And then get them to explain why.....

To get stronger you need to stress your muscles and have an overall diet that's adequate enough to support gym performance, recovery and growth. "Optimal" may be more complex, but only slightly more complex to approach optimal.