Not enough time in the day...

KendraElmendorf
KendraElmendorf Posts: 837 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I think everyone is with me when I say that there is not enough time in the day. I work a full time job and go to school. I go to work at 5:30 and leave around 6. I don't get home until about 6:30 or 7 and I would really like to fit working out and dinner in after work before I go to bed. Should i eat dinner before working out and then go to bed OR workout then eat a late dinner before bed?

I have heard that you should eat after working out but I have also heard that you shouldn't eat right before bed. I'm kinda torn here, as I would like to do both instead of one or the other.

I also cook for my family so I need to cook at some point after work. Right now my freezer is full of frozen food for them but I know it is not healthy and it is really tempting me.

Any ideas to help me out?

Thanks

Replies

  • dragonbug300
    dragonbug300 Posts: 760 Member
    I would eat before working out. It's been a long day at work: replenish your energy so that you can get more out of that workout.
  • Jessaamine
    Jessaamine Posts: 111
    Eating before makes me sick to my stomach. Is it possible to have more of a snacky dinner? That doesn't help with the family, but maybe someone else can cook. Don't know the exact details of your situation...
  • abbie017
    abbie017 Posts: 410
    I'm in the same boat as you... I'm out of the house by 5:30 am, work all day, and in grad school at night. It's hard to get in exercise time. I try to have a protein rich snack before working out (yogurt, string cheese, milk with protein powder, etc) to keep me focused on working out and not starving, and then have a balanced meal after the gym.
  • blueeyedtraveler
    blueeyedtraveler Posts: 209 Member
    You should eat a little bit of carbs BEFORE working out and then protein AFTER working out. Eating before you go to bed not being a good thing, I'm starting to think could be a myth. I go to my Zumba class at 7, after all the chatting & laughs, I'm getting home around 10 and I still eat my protein (or drink a shake) and then go to bed.

    That's the rules of my personal trainer :)
  • hozik
    hozik Posts: 369 Member
    I actually do both. I eat a half portion of dinner before I workout and then the other half or some kind of snack after I've exercised.
  • TS65
    TS65 Posts: 1,024 Member
    I can't eat before I work out, but I do try to eat about 1/4 protein bar about 30 minutes before (to give me energy). Then, I'll eat about 1 hour after working out.

    That might be hard for you to do, but if you can... on the weekends, make up individual portions of healthy food and freeze it (kind of like your own "lean cuisine"). You can microwave it when you get home from working out.

    Eating healthy takes planning (menu planning, grocery shopping, preparation, etc.) What's funny though is 10 minutes of planning can really save you time in the long run (and LBS! :wink: )
  • naebear99
    naebear99 Posts: 73
    I spend three hours daily commuting, work a full 8 and then some, look after five pets, a huge garden, and a teenager. What works for me is to grab a cheese stick and maybe some fruit before working out, eat a quick dinner (make ahead and freeze your own - less salt, better flavor). In my case, I'm lucky to have a husband who often cooks. Even when he doesn't that's pretty much how I do it. The late dinner's a challenge since I have to be in bed by 10 to do it all over again, but it keeps me energized through the workout.
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