How long do you wait to eat after a workout?

[gbrice75]

Excellent answer as always GB!

To add a bit:

1) typical body building splits and even weight training in general does not fully deplete muscle glycogen. Usually the people who fully deplete glycogen stores are athletes, especially endurance athletes. Secondly, what is the significance of immediately replenishing the stores you did use if you only train once a day? Those who train 2x a day or have 2 events would benefit but not many of us lift twice in the same day. Whether we restore glycogen immediately post workout or 5hrs later is of little significance to us as a population, do what's convenient for you and as GB pointed out...CONSISTENCY.

2) the elevated protein synthesis response to training is not a 1hr window. The elevated response is up to 24hrs post exercise.

3) if you have a well balanced meal pre-workout (with carbs, fats, and protein), that meal will still be digesting up to 6+hrs later. Post workout nutrition becomes much less 'important' in this light.

Like GB I eat afterwards or have a shake bc training leaves me famished. I stopped freaking out about forgetting my shake at home (turned around 20min one time for forgetting it lol) and no more rushing to eat if time is limited. Convenience in dieting is extremely under-rated.

Thanks brother. Needless to say, ditto on all points made above.

Good info in this thread. I don't feel worthy to post, but will anyway.

I still do fasted cardio, usually 45mins... drinking water.

Hit the lockeroom and drink a protein shake immediately after cardio and before hitting the floor. I usually bullshnit for 15mins after cardio and before lifting. I swear I feel the shake or feel my blood sugar rising or whatever and feel great when I'm ready to start lifting. I don't feel starved leaving the gym. Then I eat 2-3 hours after working out.

Have you tried to,do your cardio AFTER lifting? I understand it's a lot to do with personal preference but personally I cannot give the weights my all if I've done cardio prior, unless it was a few hours prior.

Definitely agree with doc here. When I train fasted (as I'm doing currently), I hit my cardio PWO. There is just no way that your training session will be all out balls-to-the-wall if you're doing fasted preworkout cardio, even if it's low-moderate intensity. You're already running on empty, and then burning up glycogen etc. on top of that with the cardio. What's left to train with? I don't care about a shake in between, it's doing nothing (other than maybe a psychological boost) for your training. I know you 'feel' the shake - I know exactly what you mean. But it's not benefitting your training session at all, there's just not enough time.

Just my .02

[likelifting]

Thanks brother. Needless to say, ditto on all points made above.





Definitely agree with doc here. When I train fasted (as I'm doing currently), I hit my cardio PWO. There is just no way that your training session will be all out balls-to-the-wall if you're doing fasted preworkout cardio, even if it's low-moderate intensity. You're already running on empty, and then burning up glycogen etc. on top of that with the cardio. What's left to train with? I don't care about a shake in between, it's doing nothing (other than maybe a psychological boost) for your training. I know you 'feel' the shake - I know exactly what you mean. But it's not benefitting your training session at all, there's just not enough time.

Just my .02

Thanks G!

Your .02 cents are always worth at least a buck to me. And your .02 are always welcome.