Workout recovery meal questions?

cginex

Hey everyone,
I Have been skeptical to eat after a workout. My philosophy has pretty much been if i just burned say 500 calories cycling, why would I then go and eat say 300-400 calories? I have come to the realization that I need to eat after working out to replace my glycogen stores etc. My question is this....is there a proper amount to eat? In other words, is there a formula? If i burn say 500 calories, should I be consuming 250 calories, 300 calories, 400 calories? Is it based on calories burned? How much do you guys eat after a workout and WHAT do you eat? What is your post workout recovery meal consist of?

ashreynolds09

I'm curious on this as well. I always try to eat something small with protein in it - usually ends up being either a protein bar or string cheese. I am personally never hungry after a good workout so I find it difficult to eat. As far as calories - you'll probably get a lot of people to tell you to eat back your exercise calories, period end of story. I'm still experimenting with that one.

RobinvdM

I dont know that there is a specific formula to follow. I've always made sure to pack a healthy snack (almonds, apple, and a whole wheat muffin- homemade!) to eat after my 8mile walks. It probably isn't enough, but it helps restore some of the lost calories from the walking I have been doing. If I were going to a gym regularly I would probably make sure to eat a snack then too. I would suggest that you at least try to eat most of the calories you've burned. I know MFP has a built in calorie deficit to allow for weight loss, so eating back some of your workout calories is important- it just makes sense to eat after a workout if you feel hungry, or at least make sure you spread out those calories through the day to eat back.

As I've said once before, working out makes it possible to eat more. Why shun that chance? :drinker:

kdiamond

While a post workout snack is beneficial, a work out MEAL is not. There is a need of food for muscle recovery, but something around 150-200 calories is fine as long as you incorporate protein. I like a greek yogurt, or a protein shake, not too many carbs.

Kupe

After work out, be it a run or weight training, I drink a protein shake. I find that it prevents me from going into "I'm reaallly hungry "mode and then pick at what ever I can find. About 45 minutes after that I will eat either a snack bar - Quaker oatmeal to go or if it is close to meal time then a normal meal.

I don't really worry about how much I eat in relation to how many calories I burnt as long as at the end of the day everything balances out and that I have eaten back some of my deficit?

My diary is open you are more than welcome to have a look.