So Confused!!!!

jillybean

jillybean

Cathlete
I read an earlier thread where Cathe herself said, "The best time to eat carbs is 2 hours after a workout." I read other posts that say, "Protein will fuel your w/o best!" Others that say, "Only eat carbs before you w/o." What in the world!?! i always thought, eat 5 to 6 smaller meals a day, eat a small amount of carbs 30 -60 min. before exercise to fuel your body and protein 60 min. after to repair muscles. Is this completely off base? Thank you for anyone who can help clear this up!
 
Hey Jillybean........I'm not expert, but I have heard the same thing you have: carbs prior for energy and protein after to rebuild muscle tissue.
 
I can't disagree with the results of their study, but it seems incomplete to me. If they want to prove that carbs are dampening the fat-burning effect of a workout they need to show first and foremost that there is indeed a significant difference in the number of calories burned in a specified time period - both after a workout and not working out. I have read about this (I will post it if I can find it) and some experts feel that although the metabolic rate does increase after a workout, the calories burned afterward is not significantly higher than the calories burned had you not worked out.

I guess the way I see it is, if there's not too much diffence anyway, I'll eat the bread or pasta etc. I've worked by butt off and burned enough calories during my hour of Imax! :)
 
It is really confusing, it seems "theories" change or are updated every other month, but for what it's worth, I follow the advice of Liz Applegate, PH.D., author of "Eat Smart,Play Hard."
She recommends eating a combination of both carbs and protein before and after a workout.
She suggests for people like me that workout within an hour to hour and a half after waking up, to eat at least 100 calories, again being a combo of carbs/protein and to eat within the first 30-60 min after your workout, at least 400 calories of both carbs and protein to replenish glycogen stores. She says the longer you wait to eat after a workout, the less your body benefits.
BTW, she says IF you have 2-4 hours before your workout to eat your breakfast/lunch, then you should have a 400-800 calorie pre-exercise meal.
Hope I didn't confuse you more!
Donna
 
Me too! I don't eat anything prior to a workout but I follow her advice about eating a carb/ protein combo after a workout to replenish glycogen stores. I normally crave some cereal with skim milk so that is what I have. I was suffering from the classic symptoms of sore muscles that Applegate talks about (ie. not even being able to climb a flight of stairs without my muscles burning) and this method of eating within 30-60 mins after a workout has really helped with that. I have also tried not eating after a workout but found that I was burning out really easily.
 
Carbs are terrific!

Don't be confused, Jilly! You should eat carbohydrates before a workout! Carbohydrate is the most efficient energy source for your muscles. It depends on when you work out though. If time permits, I might get up and eat cereal and fruit with milk which is a combination of carbs and protein. But it'll take a couple of hours to empty from my stomach so I do that only if I am exercising later. At times I get up and go and run, then come in and strength train. If done that way, I eat a combination of carbs and protein like an egg white and vegetable omelette,with whole wheat toast or a whole wheat tortilla and I always eat fruit.

I eat 60 percent of my calories from carbohydrate. I eat 10 to 15 percent from protein. Understand that there's protein in fruits and vegetables and even more so in grains. If you track your dietary intake, I bet you'll find you take in as much as you need with out much trouble. If I eat an egg white omelette for breakfast, 1/2 cup of beans for lunch and 3 ounces of salmon for dinner I have more than eonough protein to cover my needs!

The maninstream medical community is no fan of high protein diets and the sceince backs up the high carb diet as the best way to fuel up! Protein in necessary to rebuild muscle and tissue, to synthesize homornes but more than 15 percent is hard for the liver
and the kidneys to process. Whole grain carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables and lean protein; in that order, Jilly! Eat like that and you'll be fit and energetic and you're workouts will show it!


Bobbi http://www.plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif Chick's Rule!
 
RE: Carbs are terrific!

Ok....Lets confuse you some more. Because the way I do it is...no carbs before a cardio workout. That way you tap into fat stores. If you eat carbs before a workout, your body will use the carbs first, then the fat for energy. Now on weight lifting days you can eat carbs first if you choose. But eat protein after your weightlifting workout. You can eat carbs then too if you wish. But hey, that is just my opinion.

Kelly
 
RE: Carbs are terrific!

Kelly makes an excellent point. If you want to get into fat stores, work out on a empty stomach and eat afterward. I was just reading that maximum amount of glycogen we can store is 1800 to 2000 calories. The article was about using gels and sports drinks to replenish glucose during a half marathon. The author ran with a woman who used gels and sports drinks during the 13 mile race and ended up taking in 2000 calories. On average, a runner burns 1300 calories during a half marathon. And since we store 1800-2000, it's not necessary to replenish any, particularly if you do have a fat store to burn! I love breakfast but I also love getting my workout out of the way so I often work out on an empty stomach. You are usually good for up to 90 minutes of vigorous exercise without eating. Eat some carbs within 30 minutes after your workout and also some protein. I know how much I should eat during the course of a day so I have a plan on how to take in all my food. I insert my exercise where it's conveinient to do so which is sometimes eating breakfast and waiting 2-3 hours to workout; sometimes working out and eating after. You have to find what works for you. The most important thing is to eat a balanced number of calories, taking in a number which is equal to what you burn. Jilly, may I ask if you are at a normal weight or if you are trying to gain weight? You never e-mailed me your story! The bottom line is don't obsess; listen to your body and your hunger and eat when you feel like you should. Stick your exercise in so that you workout with no food in your stomach. I am always really hungry after I workout. There's no right or wrong time to eat as long as you have enough stored energy which you will if you eat enough calories every day!

Bobbi http://www.plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif Chick's Rule!
 
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