When to eat?

NadiaMayl
NadiaMayl Posts: 496 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Please someone explain to me...
-why trainers say you should eat up to 45min after workout.
-why you burn fat calories in zone 3 vs sugar if you spend your entire workout in AT burning muscle (truth?)?
-why, if workout in the am, breakfast or meal should be low sugar and more protein? Will workout burn fat vs sugar (related to first question, I guess)?

So much information... do all these kinds of tips actually enhance weight loss? Sooo confusing sometimes ... hehehe

Replies

  • Mycophilia
    Mycophilia Posts: 1,225 Member
    None of these things matter for weight loss.
  • gen39
    gen39 Posts: 36 Member
    edited April 2017
    * Nutrient timing is not relevant towards rate of weight loss. With that said, during a weight loss phase, it's suggested to eat some protein within 2 hours (before or after) the workout. However, nutrient timing matters little in the grand scheme of things.
    * Fat burning zones is meaningless.
    * Total calories is what matters for weight loss, you're overthinking it. Whether the workout burns more fat or more glycogen is irrelevant. Say your workout is burning mostly glycogen and less fat - that means, later in the day, your body's BMR will need to burn more fat to make up for the depleted glycogen caused by the workout, so in the end it doesn't actually matter.
  • NadiaMayl
    NadiaMayl Posts: 496 Member
    @gen39 thank you! I have always struggled with not obsessing about, either food or exercise, when wanting to focus on weight loss. Unfortunately, often becoming a bit obsessive (without falling into a dangerous line); but I feel like I am starting to 'get it'! I feel like I've reached a happy balance, of enjoying life, while staying healthy and continuing my "last lap" in getting to the 'fit' that I want to be.
    And this goes for exercising as well, doing exercise that I enjoy... so I wanted to debunk some of the myths... surely for some muscle building purposes, or extreme athletes, dietary specifications are important. But I figured for a 'regular girl', trying to hit the las 5-10 pounds, who just wants to be healthy, balanced and happy, all of those extra 'selling fads' from the gym instructors, might not necessarily apply to me!
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    Eat on Tuesdays. Only on Tuesdays.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    gen39 wrote: »
    * Fat burning zones is meaningless.

    False. Fat burning zone means you're fueling your activity mostly with fat, which is virtually unlimited in humans (even lean ones) versus glycogen, which is very limited. This is important for pacing endurance activities like running a marathon, because you can't sprint for 26.2 miles, but you can run them at a moderate pace.

    "Fat burning zone" has nothing to do with weight loss, but it's very meaningful and true. People misunderstanding it, but that doesn't take the value or truth away.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    NadiaMayl wrote: »
    Please someone explain to me...
    -why trainers say you should eat up to 45min after workout.
    -why you burn fat calories in zone 3 vs sugar if you spend your entire workout in AT burning muscle (truth?)?
    -why, if workout in the am, breakfast or meal should be low sugar and more protein? Will workout burn fat vs sugar (related to first question, I guess)?

    So much information... do all these kinds of tips actually enhance weight loss? Sooo confusing sometimes ... hehehe

    All bro science
  • gen39
    gen39 Posts: 36 Member
    NorthCascades wrote: »
    gen39 wrote: »
    * Fat burning zones is meaningless.

    False. Fat burning zone means you're fueling your activity mostly with fat, which is virtually unlimited in humans (even lean ones) versus glycogen, which is very limited. This is important for pacing endurance activities like running a marathon, because you can't sprint for 26.2 miles, but you can run them at a moderate pace.

    "Fat burning zone" has nothing to do with weight loss, but it's very meaningful and true. People misunderstanding it, but that doesn't take the value or truth away.

    Thanks for correction. I meant specifically pertaining to weight loss, the idea that the trainee needs to keep his/her heart rate within a specific zone in order to lose weight is a myth.
  • amtyrell
    amtyrell Posts: 1,447 Member
    Eat when hungry. Try a glass of water first as some people including me can confuse thirst and hungry but eat when hungry. Eat within calorie goals. Some foods like protein rich foods help more with not feeling hungry then others.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories