Eating after exercising
 

Exercise and I have been total strangers until recently. I've read on this forum that you are supposed to exercise on an empty stomach. But how long after exercise should you wait to eat?

My schedule is such that I can only exercise after work. So, how long after the workout should dinner be?

It depend on the type of exercise. If you're lifting weights you want to eat pronto - within 45 minutes of putting down that last weight. If you're doing cardio, then wait an hour after and try to have eaten not more than 2 hours before you workout.

If at all possible, try not to workout too late in the day - exercise changes your hormonal profile, raising cortisol levels and it can interfere with sleep patterns and consequently fat burning.

If you do HIIT (high intensity interval training) it's best to workout as early as possible to get the maximum metabolic boost.

-Nat

I do the Curves 30-minute workout. Would that be considered cardio?

And I'm usually done by 6 pm. Nat, does that sound too late? I've been waiting an hour to eat but eating at 7 seemed a bit late. Any opinions on that or is it a YMMV thing?

Definitely. I routinely eat a meal at 8 pm, but keep it light - If you're not going to bed before 9 pm then finishing a workout at 6 and eating an hour later should be OK.

Cardio = raises heart rate to at least 60-70% of maximum, so would curves qualify? (Sorry, I have no clue what a 'curves 30 minute workout' entails)

-Nat

The Curves workout would be cardio. The routine alternates working on different resistance machines with jogging in place or whatever cardio movement you want to do. You try to stay around 70% maximum heart rate for the duration.

Thanks for your insight on this :)

Sounds like circuit training - higher reps, lighter weights, aimed at fat burning. Definitely cardio. Wait a good hour post workout to eat, but not too much longer, while you're lifting lighter weights you're still using those muscles. Make sure you get a good dose of protein in that meal!

And you're very welcome :)
-N

In my case, I have begun weightlifting (very easy going to start with as a newbie) on an empty stomach and then this is immediately followed by 45 minutes step aerobics class...so no time to eat between the weights and the class. I decided to eat immediately after this, as it by then getting late in the morning, a high protein meal, including a shake with glutamine in it...does this sound right to you?

Thanks,

Val

Val, it sounds "OK" - but try to keep the workouts as close to 60 minutes as possible. Once you go over that, especially if you're trying to maintain lean mass, cortisol gets unmanageable and starts to eat away at muscle tissue. This is even more of an issue if you're not ingesting carbs post workout.

-Nat

Thanks Nat..I could of course carry some glucose jelly beans and eat 2 after weights and before the aerobics class. Would this be a good habit to start? At the moment I doubt if I am depleting much as I am pretty weak at this point..it will take a few months to build up a bit.

Val