eating before you lift...

[texasRUSH]

how soon and how much?


i'm trying many different things to see how i peak and feel before i hit the gym and throughout the workout...

do you mix simple sugars with carbs? or carb up solely for an hour or so before? 30 minutes? 2 hours? 

[headhuntersix]

I hope you get some responses to this because I'm in the same boat. I've heard solid food over a shake and then a carb protein mix. I tried the solid food, which consisted of tunafish and a V-8. That was about 1:30 before lifting. I then hit whatever pre workout stuff I'm taking 45 min before. I thought it was too much. I've switched to a shake about the same time out. I did solids for about 5 weeks and i'm doing the shake for about 2 weeks. Most guys say solids. Good post

[texasRUSH]

man i'm eating everything from a cup of peanut butter to the fucking floor mat in the bathroom trying to figure out something that makes a noticable differnence.

[davie]

Guys its a hard one, i change wen i train so cant always eat at certain time prior to training. Over sumemr hols wen im at work, il probs workout out at bout 4.30, i finish work at 3/3.30 and wil probs cum home and have tuna and brown rice+bannana for slow realise of energy.

davie

[Pittdawg68]

Everybody is different you gotta tweak to fit you. When I lift if its a morning session the only thing I have before I go to the gym is my NO2 and any other supplements Im taking. Occassionally I like to make a shake with one scoop of Muscle Milk and Ultra skim and drink that 30 mins before and its not too heavy on my stomach. If I eat too much I just think about being bloated the whole time and don't get as good of a workout.

[SD_Adonis]

I too had your problem.  My solution was to have a solid meal of plain chicken breast and brown rice at say 1:30 PM, then down a protein shake at 4-4:30 and train around 5:30.

I have found this way I have enough energy to workout and I am keeping my nitrogen balance steady, but I am not nauseated at all from the solid food or protein shake (I have found that an hour or so is needed for myself to digest a protein shake, otherwise I get a bit bloated).

[pvcjockey]

I REMEMBER THIS ONE TIME BACK IN 92' I CHUGGED A BUCKET LOAD OF GAINERS FUEL RIGHT BEFORE I HIT THE GYM.  MY TRAINER WAS POUNDING THE CRAP OUT OF MY LEGS ON LEG PRESS. THEN I STOOD UP AND GOT ALL DIZZY, THEN I RE FINISHED THE GYM FLOOR WITH VANILLA GAINERS FUEL. NEVER EVER EVER AGAIN.  LET YOUR FOOD OR SHAKE DIGEST A BIT BEFORE YOU HIT THE WEIGHTS

[bigbalddaddy]

Well i'm on a pretty lean diet right now and the only way I have been able to train with any intensity is to go basically all day with no carbs and 2 hrs prior to training (about 5pm) eat an oatmeal bar which is roughly 45g of carbs 5g fat along with 2 hydroxycut (about 6pm, train @7pm).  Post workout includes 2 large bananas the secound I hit my car and dinner about 30 min later with 1 cup of rice/10oz chicken/2 cups of brocolli.  Going to this regimen of eating carbs only before and after has worked wonders for me vs spreading them through out the day.  On top of that my strength started going back up and my workouts are 10 times along with my attitude.  When I go back to putting on mass, the oatbar will be doubled before the workout and i'll up the rice too.  The only reason I do oat bars is cause i'm a little lazy and don't have time at work to make anything due to being crazy at closing time.  Hope that helps bro, good luck!!!

[Dnizneer]

how soon and how much?


i'm trying many different things to see how i peak and feel before i hit the gym and throughout the workout...

do you mix simple sugars with carbs? or carb up solely for an hour or so before? 30 minutes? 2 hours? 

An hour for shakes w/ carbs, 2+ hr for substantial whole food meal.

[WOOO]

I have a 40g whey shake about 30 minutes before.

[pumphard]

I eat a meal, then 2 hours later I have a protein shake, then 1/2 hour later I have my No Explode, then I workout 15 minutes later.

[WOOO]

I eat a meal, then 2 hours later I have a protein shake, then 1/2 hour later I have my No Explode, then I workout 15 minutes later.

you think that NO explode is worth anything?

[pumphard]

I swear by it.  It makes me focused and full of energy for my workouts.

[Princess L]

An hour for shakes w/ carbs, 2+ hr for substantial whole food meal.

45 mins should be more than enough time.  By the time you get through your warm ups, your stomach should be settled.  I'm lucky in that I can eat a full breakfast (eggs, spinach, oatmeal & blueberries) and hit the gym within 5 mins.

Everybody is different you gotta tweak to fit you. When I lift if its a morning session the only thing I have before I go to the gym is my NO2 and any other supplements Im taking.

When you wake up your body is under a lot of stress and this is a time when catabolic conditions are high. To not eat in the morning and go workout is to basically assure you won't gain muscle. You need to eat something. If you can't stomach whole foods, mix some protein powder with banana and perhaps some fat free ice cream ... this should not upset your stomach.