Do the meals directly surrounding workout mean the most?

[Engineer]

So my habit, which I have found works great for me, is eat directly before working out and immediately after. I have some friends who disagree with me on this. They say that our bodies can't use food that quickly so it doesn't make a difference when we eat it.

Right before I step out the door for the gym I like to eat 6 whole eggs, couple pieces of wheat bread, and a large glass of milk.

I drink a protein shake in the locker room immediately when done lifting.

When I get home I will eat a couple more pieces of wheat toast with natural PB.

Shit I don't know, there may be studies out there that can disprove this with the way our bodies can use the food, but it works great for me. It works so well that I usually won't even go to the gym if I can't get a big meal in beforehand. I know I wouldn't be nearly as strong or have the stamina.

It also seems like when I do this regularly, I don't need to be as strict with my meals the rest of the day to get the same kind of gains.

I'm sure there are tons of people on here much smarter than myself in regards to nutrition. Anyone else have the habit of eating a big meal before lifting?

 

[Southernfish]

Eating before the gym is a must!! Provided you give your body enough time to digest said food. I wouldnt eat and then 5 mins later start lifting, that doesn't make sense at all. I hit the gym 1 hours after I eat, and on leg day its about 1.5 hours, any less and ill throw up.

You want to eat carbs that are low on the GI (brown rice, oatmeal)so you don't get a huge spike and then crash half way through the workout. You want your body to have a source of energy it can slowly utilize so you can have steady energy levels throughout the workout. Post workout, you want a carb source that is high on the GI (dextrose, vitagro)to get your glycogen level back up to when they need to be, and spike insulin to allow for better nutrient shuttling.

Your friends who say it doesn't matter when you eat don't know what they are talking about, your body is like a vehicle, is it going to perform very well without any fuel? or shitty fuel? NO.

 

[3J]

i agree.. i personally eat 1 hour before i train..

eggs are a great choice.. they digest quickly and are very bioavailable

 

[Mr_f]

Agree with eating before and towards the end... Too lazy to cook but I'm big into pumping protein in the muscles... I make a shake of two scoops casein protein, one of whey.. Throw in two packets of emergen-c packets for a bit of flavor and vitamins.. Blend and put it in two bottles... One is for pre workout... The other for end workout... In the second shake I throw it in two "instant breakfast" packets for the sugars and flavor.. Drink that towards the end of the workout while riding the bike.... But, again, whatever works for your body is what you need to do...

 

[MBB]

I tend to eat 2 hours before training, then 30mins pre I take some BCAAs and a few other supps. This has been working well for me for a while now. I also avoid carbs in my pre-workout meal as I feel I function better (from a neurological stand-point).

 

[ksvc]

They say that our bodies can't use food that quickly so it doesn't make a difference when we eat it.

There is some truth to this - a normal whole food meal will still be releasing nutrients into the bloodstream 4-5 hours after ingestion. If you've eaten one within 2 to 3 hours prior to working out, eating again likely won't make much of a difference in terms of workout quality. After that, though, blood glucose begins to drop, and eating again to stabilize it would be a good idea and should greatly aid in intensity.

In the end, if what you're doing works, don't bother changing it.

 

[Engineer]

If you've eaten one within 2 to 3 hours prior to working out, eating again likely won't make much of a difference in terms of workout quality.

I agree that scientifically it doesn't make a ton of sense with what I read about nutrition. But if I eat and wait 3 hours before lifting, I can guarantee that I'll run out of steam within 20 minutes and my muscles will feel flat. Yes mentally I can usually push through the rest of my workout but it's no where near the same performance.

It's interesting to me. I like hearing everyone's opinions. Thanks...

 

[ksvc]

But if I eat and wait 3 hours before lifting, I can guarantee that I'll run out of steam within 20 minutes and my muscles will feel flat. Yes mentally I can usually push through the rest of my workout but it's no where near the same performance.

i wonder if this has to do with insulin sensitivity. there is tremendous variability in the way people respond, in terms of insulin secretion, to food intake. people who are "insulin resistant" tend to have large initial spikes in insulin, leading to rapid clearing of blood glucose that results a short while later in hypoglycemia. these people often have trouble with (especially high GI) carbohydrates, getting fatigued or foggy an hour or so after ingestion if they eat too many. if for whatever reason your insulin kinetics promote a quick clearing of blood glucose, i could see why you'd feel better eating closer to a workout.

 

[Mr_f]

i wonder if this has to do with insulin sensitivity. there is tremendous variability in the way people respond, in terms of insulin secretion, to food intake. people who are "insulin resistant" tend to have large initial spikes in insulin, leading to rapid clearing of blood glucose that results a short while later in hypoglycemia. these people often have trouble with (especially high GI) carbohydrates, getting fatigued or foggy an hour or so after ingestion if they eat too many. if for whatever reason your insulin kinetics promote a quick clearing of blood glucose, i could see why you'd feel better eating closer to a workout.

This.... I think people need to listen to their bodies more and it will tell them what.... and when to eat. I always (don't laugh) explain nutrition to people by comparing it to a pregnant woman... the strange things they crave... well, its the same... kind of... its their bodies telling them they NEED something... to grow... if you crave carbs... eat carbs... if you crave fat.... eat fat... if you're working out hard enough you will be craving protein to no end.... and adjust your diet depending on how your body reacts and what your ultimate goals are... fairly simple... I go through massively long periods of time where i wont even look at a gym.. or a weight... but I still eat every 2-3 hours... even waking up in the middle of the night to do so... its about understanding how your body reacts/processes things... and everyone... everyone is different...

 

[Engineer]

That actually does make a lot of sense! And your example of the foggy feeling after eating fits also. I struggle with bulking during the work day because my career is very technical in nature. So I eat a lot to bulk, then it seems like I don't get a damn thing accomplished. Hmmm, what do I value more; my body or my career? Vanity vs Money... that's another whole conversation altogether.