Pre and post workout meals - when wanting to lose weight?
So, I have been hitting the gym for a while now, and really dont know what to eat as before training. What I do is mainly 50mins cardio, either on the treadmill or elliptical, plus around 30min of weight training.
I really dont want to look like those bodybuilders, I just weight train to boots my metabolism as we know muscle does that.. but what should I still eat before and after working out? inputs will be much appreciated!
I don't know about everyone else...but I don't eat right before I work out. I do a similiar work out to what you described and I eat something really lite around an hour or hour and a half before that. If I eat right before or anything too heavy, I am crampy and feel heavy rather than energetic.
I usually eat apple slices or string cheese or yogurt.
I really dont want to look like those bodybuilders, I just weight train to boots my metabolism as we know muscle does that.. but what should I still eat before and after working out? inputs will be much appreciated!
Don't worry, the average woman rarely adds bulk by lifting weights, even heavy. We just don't have the right hormones. Check out the "Weight and Resistance Training" for more info.
I usually eat a snack an hour to hour and a half before I exercise (though if I go first thing in the morning, I rarely eat anything). Afterwards I eat a snack (or if I go after work, a meal) with a carb/protein mix.
I usually have a piece of fruit 30 mins or so before I workout... and then I have lunch about an hour after. I drink lots of water before, during, and after. :]
I work out first thing in the morning so I just drink some water. After, I drink a protein shake (made from 1 cup whole milk, 1 scoop protein, and 1/2 cup of frozen berries). Then I have breakfast about 1/2 hour after.
Anyway, I don't think there is really any magic to what to eat before and after. Only caveat is probably not a great idea to eat a huge meal right before you workout.
It all depends on what time you exercise. I exercise first thing in the morning so I just have water before I go. When I'm done I'll either eat nuts, a health bar, or a banana and then eat breakfast an hour or 2 later (I'm a morning person).
I work out at 7:30 but am up at 5:30 so usually have coffee and a breakfast of Fibre 1, yogurt and fruit before I go. Works for me and I do pretty much what you do in my 90 minute session.
I usually eat a piece of fruit and either a boiled egg or some cheese about an hour before I lift. Afterwards I just have dinner normally. (I lift after work, obviously.)
I tend to be very hungry the day after a workout. I try to have extra fruit on hand and an extra boiled egg or two around on those days.
As for those bodybuilders, they eat a very careful diet including big calorie surpluses during the bulking phase (not to mention unmentionable supplementation). You aren't going to turn into Ahnold while running a calorie deficit. Here's a very helpful page that addresses some of those common myths about weight training: http://www.stumptuous.com/lies-in-the-gym