Eating After Post Workout - How Important?

Hello,
I want to ask the question of how important it is to eat post workout.

I arrived at the gym and did an hour of various chest and back workouts. My workout was cut short by an hour as my my mum told me to go shopping with her which took two hours!

When I came home, I carb-loaded straight away but I'm worried I lost muscle mass because I ate two hours after the end of my workout. I was told that the body takes the protein away from the body before the fat when you don't eat.

Please advise as in worried I lost muscle mass due to eating two hours later than post workout.

I'm 15 and trying to lose fat and gain muscle. Also been going to the gym 4 times a week for 4 weeks so far.

This question may seem ambiguous or incomprehensible. If so, please tell me and I will try to make it clearer.

Many thanks,

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Reply 1

Straighthate

its useless and makes no difference
same with meal timing
just hit the required calories and protein requriements daily, doesnt matter when you eat

you wont lose muscle after a gym session, if your running a marathon you would but lifting is far less hard on the body
carb loading is also irrelevant, glycogen stores stay intact from the previous nights sleep

Reply 2

The1AndOnly1

So why am I told to eat past and post workout? I was told due to the calorie deficit, the body takes the protein from my muscles to make up for this?

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Reply 3

ChrisHarris1

Original post by The1AndOnly1

So why am I told to eat past and post workout? I was told due to the calorie deficit, the body takes the protein from my muscles to make up for this?

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It's optimal but you won't lose muscle from 1 day sub optimal

Reply 4

The1AndOnly1

Original post by ChrisHarris1

It's optimal but you won't lose muscle from 1 day sub optimal

Is it noticeable? Or will it change how much weight I use

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Reply 5

Tomifyy

The supposed optimal amount of protein to eat soon after a workout is 20g protein (as well as a small amount of carbs to restore lost glycogen levels). Lots of supplements will tell you that needs to be consumed within 30mins for it to be optimal, but the actual window is probably any time within a few hours to stimulate optimum protein synthesis. So you have nothing to worry about! In terms of calories, a calorie is a calorie no matter what time of the day you consume it.

Reply 6

It's****ingWOODY

Original post by The1AndOnly1

I arrived at the gym and did an hour of various chest and back workouts. My workout was cut short by an hour

So you normally take two hours?? Show us your program mate, I think you might need pointing in the right direction there.

really imp.

Original post by WoodyMKC

So you normally take two hours?? Show us your program mate, I think you might need pointing in the right direction there.

😂😂😂 I'm a beginner

I do various machines at 5 sets
I also do half hour cardio
So In terms of muscle workout it's actually 1 and a half

But I was asking if I will lose muscle due to not eating post workout.

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Reply 9

The1AndOnly1

Original post by Tomifyy

Ok thanks, that was the info I needed. Looks like I'm Ok then.

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Reply 10

Greg Jackson

you're way overthinking this, just make sure you get your required calories/macros by the end of the day, when you eat doesn't make any significant difference

Reply 11

It's****ingWOODY

Original post by The1AndOnly1

All that fussing on the intricacies of diet, and yet from what you've told us about your workout program it sounds like you don't know your arse from your elbow in terms of training mate. Happy to give advice if you want it but thought I'd ask first so I don't waste either of our time :wink:

Reply 12

jimbles

Keep it simple

hit your daily macro targets. That is all you need to do. Don't overcomplicate things. I train IF 16hr fast, 8 hour feed, doesn't affect me and I train halfway through my fast so can't do this 'optimal feeding time'. It hasn't caused any negative effects for me.

Reply 13

The1AndOnly1

Original post by jimbles

Daily macro targets? What's that?

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Reply 14

jimbles

Original post by The1AndOnly1

Daily macro targets? What's that?

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Carbs, Protein and Fats. Those are your macros.

Reply 15

Angry cucumber

Have a meal with a few hours of finishing your workout.

Meet your daily macros.

If none of this makes sense, read the FAQ

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Reply 16

username1500433

Original post by The1AndOnly1

No, you will not.

Also you should get yourself on a proper beginners workout programme. There are plenty, look up "ICF 5x5" that is imo one of the best.

Reply 17

cacra

Original post by The1AndOnly1

So why am I told to eat past and post workout? I was told due to the calorie deficit, the body takes the protein from my muscles to make up for this?

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If you were a pro body builder then it would make sense, but for amateurs it's going to make little difference.

That being said, I'm always starving after a workout so I pack a banana, a few eggs and a protein shake to munch on the way home.

Reply 18

VannR

After a workout I'll always eat due to having low blood-sugar afterwards - I like to do 5-mile runs regularly. As for lifting days, I drink a protein shake afterwards, but I tend to think this is more a part of the gym-ritual than something you must do straight after lifting.