Working out at night, To eat or not to eat afterwards?

[TallGyalNYC]

Hello all,

I am training for a competition this year, and I work two jobs (corporate and a personal trainer), so i usually have to fit my training in at night.
My issue has been whether or not I should consume anything after the workout. If i have to take the train home, I will buy a protein smoothie after my workout (gives me more time to digest before bedtime). However, if i have to wait until I get home, it only leaves me 1 hour between my last meal and bedtime, and even a smoothie's calories arent digested by then. Is it ok to take just a shot of protein, or in your experiences, has a small meal or smoothie been sufficient and not so detrimental? I am currently cutting down the fat, not bulking yet.

Kali

[latverian]

you def want to ingest some protien immediataly after working out.

A spoon full of peanut butter before bed is great too.

[willldabeast]

you definitely need to eat after you work out no matter what.it will not affect your fat loss, it will help if anything. you dont need your food to be "fully digested" before you go to bed, eat after training is a necessity.

[jjdrum06]

Originally Posted by TallGyalNYC

Hello all,

I am training for a competition this year, and I work two jobs (corporate and a personal trainer), so i usually have to fit my training in at night.
My issue has been whether or not I should consume anything after the workout. If i have to take the train home, I will buy a protein smoothie after my workout (gives me more time to digest before bedtime). However, if i have to wait until I get home, it only leaves me 1 hour between my last meal and bedtime, and even a smoothie's calories arent digested by then. Is it ok to take just a shot of protein, or in your experiences, has a small meal or smoothie been sufficient and not so detrimental? I am currently cutting down the fat, not bulking yet.

Kali

what time do you typically train, and what time do you typically go to bed?

cottage cheese and natty PB is an AWESOME meal before bedtime. there's nothing wrong with eating at nighttime. what matters is not WHETHER you eat, but WHAT you eat.

[LayzieBone085]

Post-workout regardless is the most valulable time to repelenish the body why you would want to negate having food here is beyond me. You should consume a beverage or have a whole food meal rich in protein + complex carbs and a little fat, and then follow it with a quick meal before bed like PB+CC or if you have room add some carbs in there.

Do not negate your body and please repelnish it after a workout. Regardless of the time of the day. Having food late wont make you fat, its vital if you workout at night to replenish the body

[soxcc10]

Look into having some Casein, either as a shake or some other form (I personally like mixing it in with oats and flax every once in a while), or some cottage cheese before bed. Casein takes about 8 hours to digest and will definitely help maintain your gains. There's more than enough info out there on the benefits of casein so I won't go much further into it, but a shake with one scoop of whey and one scoop of casein after your workout and before bed could definitely help.

[BlueFenix13S]

Consume a complete meal. Your body is crying for nutrients after a hard workout. Carbs will refill glycogen and drive aminos to the muscles, protein will provide the building blocks for repair, and fat will help slow digestion for better insulin control and have positive effects on hormones.

My ideal late-night PWO meal:
Sweet potato with peanut butter and cottage cheese on top, and a protein shake mixed with your choice of water or milk . Easy on the stomach, but a complete balanced meal.

[TallGyalNYC]

Thanks Guys!

JJDrum06, I train from 7:30 to 9pm, get home at 10:00PM, and go to bed at 11pm. With the times so close, i get nervous to eat unless i have something at the gym, and usually everything is closed, but when i get home, its late for an actual meal (1 hour before bed time). lately i have been consuming a myoplex lite after the workout as dinner, since i have it on me at the gym.

[2 D]

Originally Posted by TallGyalNYC

Thanks Guys!

JJDrum06, I train from 7:30 to 9pm, get home at 10:00PM, and go to bed at 11pm. With the times so close, i get nervous to eat unless i have something at the gym, and usually everything is closed, but when i get home, its late for an actual meal (1 hour before bed time). lately i have been consuming a myoplex lite after the workout as dinner, since i have it on me at the gym.

As Fidelitas and Lazie both said, your body needs nutrients after a hard workout. Try eating a whole meal as both of them suggested, a little bit of healthy fats, obviously some protein and some kind of carb source... bananas, oats, honey, gatorade powder etc.