Maintaining/gaining muscle and meal times

cafeaulait7
cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
My specific question isn't nearly as interesting as the whole topic, so feel free to veer off subject :)

I'm trying to maintain muscle/gain muscle at a slight caloric deficit. I'm a newb gainer again, but we'll say I'm trying to keep all the muscle I can while gaining strength and not worry about my hopes ;)

But I keep running into days where I haven't eaten very much (relatively) and then have to lift. After working out, I feel like eating a lot. So the day's totals work out great, but I do worry about what to eat when.

I take it I should still try to eat protein all day, no matter what? Is it OK that my protein is fairly low when I go to lift? My intake after that is much higher. And is it OK to lift when feeling hungry, or should I have some food (carbs?) before doing it? Does the body need anything specific while actually lifting?

I like to have dinner right after lifting, and I eat more later, too. I just don't feel like doing it with much in my stomach, and I wonder if that's OK.

Replies

  • gym__bound
    gym__bound Posts: 13
    i think thats good. try it for a month and if you see results then continue if you don't change it uP!
  • vjohn04
    vjohn04 Posts: 2,276 Member
    meal timing is irrelevant. if you enjoy working out on an empty stomach and don't feel it impacts your sessions, then go for it.

    as long as you're getting sufficient protein when you do eat and you're hitting your macros, you should be fine.
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    Oh, good. Thank y'all! Yeah, things seem to be going great on the muscle front, both in strength and when I feel or see the muscles. I'm not really losing weight (a pound a month or longer), but I'm losing inches and that's all I really need.

    I just hate eating enough protein, so I'm glad to hear I can at least eat it when I feel like it!

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