Eat before or after lifting?

justjenny
justjenny Posts: 529 Member
edited January 5 in Fitness and Exercise
One more question regarding working out with weights. I have heard you should eat before a workout...a banana or something light, but then also you are to eat protein after. Will a yogurt do the trick? Or are we talking like grillled chicken? And how soon before you workout should you eat?

Replies

  • Ge0rgiana
    Ge0rgiana Posts: 1,649 Member
    BOTH. I eat about an hour before I work out and have a protein shake roughly an hour later. Nom nom nom.

    ETA: I do work out at night, so I'm eating supper before.
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    I strength train in the morning and don't eat before unless I'm hungry. I follow the workout with a protein shake.
  • HeartME511healthy
    HeartME511healthy Posts: 163 Member
    I heard that it's a good idea to eat complex carb such as brown rice, sweet potato or oatmeal then after working out eat protein.
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    Preworkout: Eat when and if you can tolerate it, and figure out what helps you perform the best
    Postworkout: Hit your macronutrient targets for the day, timing is irrelevant
  • johnnys30
    johnnys30 Posts: 64 Member
    I've seen the recommendation to have a protein shake within 15 minutes after a workout if that's what you want to have. The reason given was to help reduce muscle soreness.
  • kelseyhere
    kelseyhere Posts: 1,123 Member
    I prefer not to eat before, but I usually eat first thing in the morning. If I can't make it to the gym until later, I'll just have a little something to give me some energy. A banana is a good option. I try to keep it under 100 calories so I won't have a lot of food sloshing around. A hard boiled egg, a few slices of deli meat, or 1/2 cup of greek yogurt would be good options.

    After workout definitely try and get some clean, lean protein. Protein shakes are OK in a pinch, but real food is always better IMO!
  • hiker359
    hiker359 Posts: 577 Member
    My goal is to get out the door for the gym as quick as possible when I wake up, so eating isn't part of the equation. Then I eat a good meal when I get home. it's working well for me.
  • justjenny
    justjenny Posts: 529 Member
    Thanks for all the feedback! I workout at night. After work, but before dinner. I have a banana or yogurt or such before, then dinner later. Sometimes I am starving and sometimes not hungry at all. Is it ok to only eat 100 or so calories after?
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    i LOVE fasted lifting, but usually I can only do it on the weekends.
    Weekdays, i eat a pound of cottage cheese 2 hours before.
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