Time Suggestions
 

Hi all,

Well I'm joining back to the gym in town next week but I'm struggling with how I can control my dinner plans. I can't fit exercise in my schedule until after work. Depending on my responsibilities I either finish work at 5pm or 5:30pm. From there, its a 15 minute bus ride into town.

So my dinner plans and the reason I am asking for your suggestions. Should I:

a) Pack a dinner everyday and eat at work around 4:45pm or before I leave work and then go to the gym, shower, go home and if I'm hungry have a piece of fruit or something.

or

b) Go to the gym after work, get home around 7pm/7:30pm and have dinner then.

Which of these options sounds like the best plan to go with? Just so you know, I do live in South Korea so my food options are limited compared to western foods you can easily find in the u.s. I eat breakfast at home in the mornings right now, and then pack my lunch and snacks everday for work as well. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks so much. :D

Personally, A would be the best option in my eyes as I don't think I could make it to 7:30 without being ravenous.

Another option I'm seeing would be a snack before the gym at 4:30 (some form of protein and a piece of fruit) and then when you get home have your actual supper. This way you're supplying your body with fuel for the workout without working out on a full tummy.

High protein snack before gym, dinner after gym. I don't like working out on a full stomach.

Try both and see which enables you to exercise better. I usually do A in my situation, but sometimes don't eat all the dinner (just the carb/protein parts) and finish it as a snack when I get home, or even sitting outside the gym after exercise. Or if B, I also have an emergency baggie of dried fruit and nuts in my gym bag, and a fiber bar, which can last for months until I happen to need it. Can you get granola bars at a big supermarket? If you have an oven or toaster oven you can also bake something low fat and shelf-stable: google recipes for granola bars or biscotti (types without egg/dairy, only a little oil).

I don't have access to a fridge so I have a soft-sided insulated bag with icepacks, and pack pretty stable meals: sandwich/wrap/homemade sushi, salads with the dressing separate, carrot sticks, snow peas, grapes, apples etc. If I eat the sandwich on time it's ok if the fruit/veggies are left sitting a little longer, they don't go bad.

I usually have an afternoon snack (about 150 cals) of nuts and fruit or a bar at about 3:30 or 4 and then my dinner at 8, even when I don't work out. This works well for me. That way I'm not full when I work out and I look forward to dinner after my shower.

Good luck to you!