Snacking after workout?

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Cathlete
Hi there everyone!

My morning routine (when I don't have to be to work before the rest of the world wakes up..lol) starts at 5:15...I have breakfast (oatmeal w/ blueberries, 1 hard-boiled egg white, filled with guacamole, and a cup of coffee) then sit down at the computer to digest. I start my workout around 6:15 and finish up between 7:30 and 8:00, depending on my energy level that day. By 8:30 I'm starving and it's all I can do to stay away from the fridge. I was wondering if I should give in to this craving and have some almond butter and a slice of sprouted grain bread or should I just ignore it? I feel like if I give in and snack I just undid everything that I spent the last 1 1/2 hours working for. I know that, after I'm done with my workout, my metabolism has gotten quite a boost, but would it be more beneficial to not eat and let my body continue to burn its fat stores? I usually have a mid-morning snack of cottage cheese and a banana around 10:30 so should I wait till then to eat?

I'm sorry for all of the sort of stupid, picky questions but I'm just trying to find the right tweak to get those last 5 lbs off. Any help you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank in advance,
Wendi
 
i snack after workouts whether i had breakfast first or not. i try not to pig out but go for a piece of fruit and maybe 1oz peanuts or a cup of yogurt for the protien. your not undoing anything, your body probably went through all the fuel and needs a little something to recover quicker. as long as you keep it reasonable then i don't think there is anything wrong with a small snack after workouts. many encourage it.

kassia

http://www.picturetrail.com/ldy_solana

"And do what thee wilt as long as ye harm none"
 
It's very important, IMO, to refuel after a tough workout, especially a resistance workout, by taking in about 4 parts carbs to 1 part protein. Th e carbs help to start replenish glycogen stores, and the protein helps begin the process of rebuilding muscle.

There was a thread a while ago about people having increased appetites from intense workouts, and one theory, which I concu with, was that if you don't refuel after the workout, and satisfy your body's needs for nutrients at that point, it can lead to increased appetite at other times and overeating.

I say "refuel" instead of 'snack' because that's how I think of it: furnishing the energy to your body that it needs at the right time.

You might want to eat a bit smaller breakfast, and then have a smoothie or some other easily-digested source of nourishment right after your workout.
 
I HAVE to eat after a workout. If I didn't I think I'd pass out!

The best time to eat is the first 30 minutes after a workout, esp. cardio, b/c your metabolism is up & you can burn off just about anything.
 
I too always have a recovery snack after working out (that's not included in my 5 to 6 meals for the day). Is it possible to workout, then have breakfast. I know I have a hard time working out first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, but a couple of days a week it's necessary for me...I do it for a couple of my workouts (spinning class and my early morning run). Then I have breakfast after I get back.

Deni
 
I agree with Kathryn. If I don't refuel with adequate carbs and protein after an intense workout, I am starving all day and night and eat much more in the long run. I actually fuel before a workout and after, which has worked well for me and curbed the beastly appetite.
 
Another one who if she does not eat after a workout goes into garbage disposal mode (will eat anything and everything in sight!). Weight workouts especially.
 
I eat a simple breakfast (2 servings of fruit), then post workout something with more substance (whole wheat tortilla with black beans and fresh salsa, or oatmeal with berries and soy milk)...I need SOMETHING in my tummy to get going...And SOMETHING after or I snack all day long...
MJ in MN
 
Thanks for the input everyone.

Deni - I wish I could skip breakfast before the workout. I tried it a couple of times and got the shakes so bad I stop about 15 minutes into it and had to sit quietly for about 10 minutes before I could get up again. My blood sugar doesn't do well with no food.

Kathryn - Thanks for the tip about 4/1 C/P. The smoothie idea is a good one except that I don't really care for them. I kind of need the "chew" factor or, trust me, I wouldn't stop there and would eat the house down...lol. That's why I can't, for the life of me, understand how people live on meal replacement shakes. How about if I split my breakfast, would that work? If I eat the egg and guacamole first then have the oatmeal and berries after would that be a better option?

Thanks again,

Wendi
 
> How about if I split my breakfast, would
>that work? If I eat the egg and guacamole first then have the
>oatmeal and berries after would that be a better option?

That's a possibility (though it will take longer to digest than a smoothie, so be sure to chew it well enough to make it liquid before you swallow).
 
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