Eat before or after a workout?

MandaKayMakesIt

What do you guys think?

I workout in the morning, before breakfast. Fine. Great. Then I work until about 4pm and head straight to the gym, not getting home, showered, and sitting down with dinner until 6:30 or 7pm. I do try to eat a fairly substantial snack about an hour before I go to the gym in the afternoon, but when I should be eating dinner? I'm afraid that if I wait to go to the gym until after dinner has settled (like around 7pm), then I just won't go.

What do you do? What works for you?

SpecialKitty7

I am an eat before exercising kind of person. I can't seem to work out well on an empty stomach. I eat dinner, wait about 45 minutes and then hit the treadmill. But, I work out at home. Its easier to get off the couch if i only have to walk to the basement. One motivator i use is to change into my gear before i make dinner, then i don't have to change twice and i feel shame if i don't work out.

blessedsuccess

I've tried both and eating 1-2 hours before a workout works better for me (for my evening cardio).

I workout twice a day 6 days/week.
- Mornings: Weight training 3-4x/week - on the off days, it's HIIT cardio. Morning workouts are in a fasted mode (no food before).
- Evenings: I do Zumba. Evening workouts are 1-2 hours after I eat.

MandaKayMakesIt

Bump

Bob314159

I used to intentionally eat after a workout based on something I read - about supplying nutrients to help build muscle. My trainer said to skip it, and since I'm usually not the least bit hungry after a workout, I was just stuffing in calories I didn't need.

JustJennie1

I have a protein granola bar pre workout and then I make a protein smoothie with fruit post workout. It's important to get something that has protein in it in your body post-workout to help the muscles recover.

I don't see anything wrong with your dinner time.

MandaKayMakesIt

Thanks, Jennie. I think you're right--a decent snack before and then a lighter, protein-based dinner after is what I'm going to stick with. Thanks everyone!

Carolyn_79

Thanks, Jennie. I think you're right--a decent snack before and then a lighter, protein-based dinner after is what I'm going to stick with. Thanks everyone!

This is what I do as well.