Question about post-workout nutrition on cardio only days

[arw0809]

How important is the post-workout meal on days where I am only doing 45-60 minutes of cardio (either all steady-state or maybe 30 minutes of intervals followed by 15-30 of steady state)??

Is this meal as important as post-workout meals on days when I lift weights? And lastly, should it consist of the same simple carbs/high protein food combinations?

Thanks! =)

[FitCharisma]

How important is the post-workout meal on days where I am only doing 45-60 minutes of cardio (either all steady-state or maybe 30 minutes of intervals followed by 15-30 of steady state)??

Is this meal as important as post-workout meals on days when I lift weights? And lastly, should it consist of the same simple carbs/high protein food combinations?

Thanks! =)

I don't consider it as important as when you lift weights, but I still include some sort of carb/protein snack after I do cardio.

I think WHAT you eat after cardio depends on the type of cardio. If you are doing steady state, then I would keep the post-workout snack light (like whey protein + fruit). I wouldn't personally eat much before this, either...maybe a small low-carb snack like almonds and cottage cheese. If you are doing HIIT, eat protein/carbs beforehand, and eat protein/carbs afterwards as well, or else you won't be able to really bust your butt! Don't have too much fat around HIIT -- if you're really working hard enough, you'll need the fuel.

Just my o.p.! It's really figuring out what you need to eat to feel comfortable (eek! indigestion), and to work at the intensity level you had in mind for yourself.

[FitCharisma]

Oh, and I forgot to say that simple carbs are probably not needed for cardio. I would stick to whole grains/fruit for the carb source, and you should be fine. I would personally keep the simple carbs to post-weights only, or not at all.

[FemmeFatale28]

Oh, and I forgot to say that simple carbs are probably not needed for cardio. I would stick to whole grains/fruit for the carb source, and you should be fine. I would personally keep the simple carbs to post-weights only, or not at all.

Doesnt matter what you eat post workout. There are many articles you can find on here about nutrient timing being bogus. Eat what you want. Nothing magical.

[EricaJuneBaby]

I'd just eat like any regular non-weight training day, after all the goal of cardio is to burn calories not just put them back in right after all that work (personally I'm never hungry right away after cardio work). Weight training yes PWO is important to re-fuel to build muscle but for cardio days I'd say just eat like normal when you're hungry.