Very confused! What to eat after excercise?

mjtbb

I'm very confused. I keep reading some threads about what to eat after I excercise and some say carbs others say protein or complex carbs, yikes, I'm not up on all this stuff and will like to eat the right stuff. There are so many confusing threads in here about do this, don't do that, I'm trying to do the best with what little I can do and it is disconcerting.
I don't do big workouts, I can't as I have metal hips and shoulder. Right now all I do is walk on my treadmill or some of the Wii games (walking/stepping/marching/boxing). I usually workout about an hour or 2 after dinner. Then I eat some cereal with milk after the workout. I don't do protein shakes as I don't really like them. I thought I needed carbs after hence the cereal but I keep reading about protein. Anyway, I'm really confused and wondering if that cereal (usually Special K vanilla almond or cinnamon pecan) is the wrong thing to eat?

stanvoodoo

Protein!!!!! Helps build lean muscle!

Good luck!

sharoniballoni

I read that you need a mix of protein and carbs after a workout, which is why chocolate milk (yum) was touted for a while as the best post-workout drink. Protein in the milk and plenty of carbs (lactose and sugar). If your workout isn't super intense, though, don't worry about it. Just make sure you're replenished with hydration and something to eat.

cabul3

a banana and a cup of chocolate milk!

taso42_DELETED

Don't sweat it too much. Use your calorie and macro targets to guide you. If you're low on protein for the day, eat protein; if you're low on carbs, eat carbs. If you're in balance, eat both. I personally prefer to have both. But don't let anyone tell you one or the other is better. Overall, you really need both. But the timing isn't so important.

The "eat protein after" people argue that you need to protein to build or maintain muscle mass, and they are right.
The "eat carbs after" people argue that you need carbs to replenish glycogen and to provide energy for living, brain function, and muscle-building, and they're right too.

If you can, eat both. If you can't, don't worry.

Continue eating right and exercising and you'll find success.

Missylydia

I have a protein shake and porridge! But I do weights and HIIT or just run a few miles

aviduser

I agree with most of the other comments. IF your workout is not an endurance event (2+ hours), then it is less important. Yogurt, chocolate milk, etc. would be a good post-workout snack. I am a little skeptical about the chocolate milk thing because of the refined sugar. Fruit would be better. You could add some plain nonfat yogurt for protein.

I would also suggest you toss the high sugar cereals and check out the no sugar added stuff, or at least the lower sugar stuff. Try granola or musli.