Diet on Cardio Only Days

[gbrice75]

Up until this week, I was weight training and doing cardio 5 days a week, Monday through Friday. I decided my body could use an extra day of rest (with the exception of cardio), so I shifted some stuff around and was able to free up Wednesday, which I feel is optimal as it's right in the middle of the week.

On normal workout days, I've been eating an hour before my workout - a multi-source protein shake (30g protein) and 1/2 cup oats (5g protein, 25g carbs). PWO is a whey shake in 1 cup skim milk, 2 slices of Ezekiel Bread and 1tbsp. Natty PB. Meal 3 comes 3 hours later and consists of lean ground turkey, kidney beans, and 1/2 cup oats.

Today was my first cardio only day. Obviously my eating was a bit different from what it usually is, and I want to make sure it's ok:

An hour before cardio: 4 whole eggs (24g protein, 20g fat)

An hour after cardio: multi-source protein shake (30g protein) and 1/2 cup oats (5g protein, 25g carbs). The remainder of my meals are the same as normal workout days.

So i've dropped the oats and protein shake in meal 1 but added 4 whole eggs, dropped the whey shake, bread and PB immediately following the gym but an hour later added a protein shake and oats. What do you think?

[mg1228]

gbrice--i would def do the cardio when u get up on empty stomach then do ur first meal

[gbrice75]

gbrice--i would def do the cardio when u get up on empty stomach then do ur first meal

So not even eggs then... just get up and go?

[D7M]

I would do BCAA's and possibly some caffeine before your am cardio, then have your first meal.

[FireGuy]

So not even eggs then... just get up and go?

That's how I do it, I have 20 minutes in before my eyes are even all the way open.

[D7M]

That's how I do it, I have 20 minutes in before my eyes are even all the way open.

Best thing I ever did was investing in a home elliptical.

I just roll out of bed and I'm done before I know it.

[FireGuy]

Best thing I ever did was investing in a home elliptical.

I just roll out of bed and I'm done before I know it.

Same here, I have a commercial stairclimber and a treadmill in my bonus room. Roll outta bed, put my shoes on, turn on ESPN, sweat. Plus I get to watch Mrs Fireguy do cardio in her thong.

[D7M]

Same here, I have a commercial stairclimber and a treadmill in my bonus room. Roll outta bed, put my shoes on, turn on ESPN, sweat. Plus I get to watch Mrs Fireguy do cardio in her thong.

Sounds like we have the same set up...minus the hot woman in the thong

I'll have to make that my next addition to my in home cardio station....

[mg1228]

Same here, I have a commercial stairclimber and a treadmill in my bonus room. Roll outta bed, put my shoes on, turn on ESPN, sweat. Plus I get to watch Mrs Fireguy do cardio in her thong.

sweet

[gbrice75]

Thanks guys, i'll drop food all together (before cardio) on my cardio only day and eat my first meal (oats and protein shake, is this ok?) an hour after cardio.

PS - I have to do the shake as i'll be sitting in my truck in the gym parking lot.

[mg1228]

just did cardio--now doin protein shake and oats--i eat right after

[gbrice75]

just did cardio--now doin protein shake and oats--i eat right after

Right after as in immediately? Same as you would for a PWO meal?

To me this seems kind of counter-productive... I certainly could be wrong but wouldn't you want to remain in a 'fat burning' mode as long as possible? If you're eating (especially oats/carbs) right after, aren't you just fueling your body with immediate energy vs. the body using stored fat?

[scared1]

by eating RIGHT after he is replenishing the lost glycogen in his muscles to help repair damage...i suspect any fat burning affect would continue as he is not OVER fueling he is replenishing nutrients

[mg1228]

Right after as in immediately? Same as you would for a PWO meal?

To me this seems kind of counter-productive... I certainly could be wrong but wouldn't you want to remain in a 'fat burning' mode as long as possible? If you're eating (especially oats/carbs) right after, aren't you just fueling your body with immediate energy vs. the body using stored fat?

within 15 min--prob been up for an hr before i do cardio(i like to drink coffe in the am)--they say at a moderately low bf(which i am) that u need to have carbs after cardio so ur body doesnt use muscle(haaving less bf to burn)--in ur case i could see having a pro/fat meal to let the burning process to continue---that being said, thru my cutting diet i ate carbs after cardio and it didnt seem to matter----and unless ur doing hiit cardio i dont see the burning process continuing anyway