Pre and Post Workout

nickhamed
nickhamed Posts: 1 Member
edited November 13 in Fitness and Exercise
How important is it to implement a pre and post workout meal?

Replies

  • foursirius
    foursirius Posts: 321 Member
    edited February 2015
    Not as important as some make it out to be if you're sufficiently fueling your body throughout the day. Ill do a pre workout just to pep up after sitting on my *kitten* all day from work. Pwo is kinda up in the air if my workout is bumping up against a meal or not.
  • njfitnessmom
    njfitnessmom Posts: 345 Member
    I will usually have something pre workout only because I'm working out at 4:30 in the morning. I usually don't have any post unless I'm working out at night.
  • TBargar101
    TBargar101 Posts: 30 Member
    I've read that a pre meal isn't important unless your workout is particularly long and strenuous. The glycogen stores in your muscles should be enough for the typical workout. Now, don't ask me what would be a typical workout.... :)
  • Marcillene
    Marcillene Posts: 484 Member
    i will throw up if i eat pre-workout. I work out in the evenings, and drink an amino acid complex drink before-hand, but usually eat dinner right after lifting.
  • jms14letgo
    jms14letgo Posts: 138 Member
    I agree that it's not necessarily as important as some would make it out to be. (Some make it out to be a matter of life or death.) It really depends on you and how you feel.

    I personally take a preworkout because I roll out of bed and get moving. As far as post workout, I don't take a separate supplement, I just have my regular breakfast as part of my normal routine after my workout.
  • biodigit
    biodigit Posts: 145 Member
    I workout fasted every morning at 4:30 am and don't eat until 11 am because I'm doing IF. But when I do eat I ensure I fuel up sufficiently. Its mind over matter really when it comes to feeling the need to having pre and post workout meals. I've been doing fine for 6 months :)
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    nickhamed wrote: »
    How important is it to implement a pre and post workout meal?
    Not very important.
  • joneallen
    joneallen Posts: 217 Member
    I know people that workout fasted, and some that workout with a full stomach (me). Both yield the same results.

    I'm hungry as hell afterwards, so I always eat a big meal then.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Just focus on your overall diet. Worrying about pre and post workout nutrition is really not necessary for your typical workout..i.e. you're going to the gym to go run for an hour or lift some weights, etc...at most I have an apple about 30 minutes before a lifting session.

    This kind of thing becomes more important when you're doing endurance training, competing in races or other events, etc.

    For example, if I'm going to be out on my bike for 4 hours or something...at that point, pre/during/and post nutrition is going to be fairly important. If I'm doing a century ride, it's important...if I have a cyclocross race, it's kind of important, etc. If I'm just doing a workout, it's not that big of a deal.

    I would add to that, I usually have dinner shortly after I lift....if that's not the case for you, you may just want a little something to tide you over to your next meal...so you're not starving hungry.
  • Holly92154
    Holly92154 Posts: 119 Member
    It really does depend on what kind of training you are doing, the duration and your overall diet. I workout about 10 hours a week so for me, pre and post nutrition is important. I don't do anything special for pre, I usually just time my dinner time to be an hour prior. Post workout I immediately drink chocolate milk and before bedtime I drink a smoothie (with 1 scoop muscle milk).

    No, your body won't collapse if you don't do a pre and post but if you are depleting your glycogen stores you will know. Trust me. Your hormones go crazy, you are irritable, tired, lethargic and you feel like you can't take another step. Which would mean you need a pre, during and post nutrition plan. However, for me, that has only applied to a 40+ mile bike ride or a BRICK training day. For the casual exerciser, not so much ;)
  • zipa78
    zipa78 Posts: 354 Member
    nickhamed wrote: »
    How important is it to implement a pre and post workout meal?

    Not anywhere as important than it is to have that workout between those meals.
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