For those who work out right before bed....

[#8]

If I work out right before or very soon before my bed time is it really worth it if I can only get in a protein shake before I fall asleep? Is that enough cals to promote growth? Should I suck it up and have at least one more meal before I go to bed? Does it matter in the long run as long as I eat like a champ the next day?

:sup

[Ritch]

You should either take in some protein with carbs or fat depending which you believe in most... I think if you don`t have something before bed, you will wake up hungry later.

[natenator]

cals in, cals out. As long as you get your calories in, when they fall in relation to your workout really doesn't matter. It's not as if you're (or me) a pro athlete looking for every competitive edge to be better than the next guy.

[#8]

cals in, cals out. As long as you get your calories in, when they fall in relation to your workout really doesn't matter. It's not as if you're (or me) a pro athlete looking for every competitive edge to be better than the next guy.

i figured that. pro athletics might not be out of reach just yet....

[natenator]

i figured that. pro athletics might not be out of reach just yet....
if it's not out of reach then get yourself a nutritionalist and strength coach. Why mess around figuring it our for yourself? These peeps will tune you up good and proper so all you need to do is eat, sleep and train.

I speak from experience here which is why I am saying it.

[#8]

if it's not out of reach then get yourself a nutritionalist and strength coach. Why mess around figuring it our for yourself? These peeps will tune you up good and proper so all you need to do is eat, sleep and train.

I speak from experience here which is why I am saying it.

i wish i could afford that. im stuck paying for school debt and my vehicle. my money is gone before i even get it......

[Ritch]

I`m surprised by your answer Nate. I thought you would have said a clear yes. You don`t think there is a period where the body absorbs nutrients after the workout?

[slick rick]

I have always worked out before bed, for the first cpl years I ate oats and mixed with whey before bed and i started putting on alot of weight around my midsection. Now i just eat cottage cheese/ egg whites and sometimes a slow digesting meal (bran) and i leaned up some.

[natenator]

I`m surprised by your answer Nate. I thought you would have said a clear yes. You don`t think there is a period where the body absorbs nutrients after the workout?
No doubt there is BUT as I said, majority of people are not so advanced that they require such scientific nutritional strategies. Get your cals in and that's 90% of it.

I have the same approach to post workout nutrition. There's a reason why no contest prep plan I've ever been on has EVER had post-workout (or pre) nutrition. In fact I rarely do it in the off season too. I eat my meals that I need to grow and don't stress the little details of meal timing, macro timing, etc.

I am not so advanced that I am going to turn pro in anything (anymore) so why stress it? I grow just fine eating a solid 5-6 meals/day without overthinking the pre and post nutrition.

[Ritch]

No doubt there is BUT as I said, majority of people are not so advanced that they require such scientific nutritional strategies. Get your cals in and that's 90% of it.

I have the same approach to post workout nutrition. There's a reason why no contest prep plan I've ever been on has EVER had post-workout (or pre) nutrition. In fact I rarely do it in the off season too. I eat my meals that I need to grow and don't stress the little details of meal timing, macro timing, etc.

I am not so advanced that I am going to turn pro in anything (anymore) so why stress it? I grow just fine eating a solid 5-6 meals/day without overthinking the pre and post nutrition.

I understand what you mean, but just thought that if someone is into gear, they should be doing everything a natural would do to put on mass, and often times the pre and post workout meals apply to the winning formula. I just thought one should do everything possible nutrtion wise to make it happen and if a pre and post workout meal is in order and one is not doing it, but is juicing, it to me seems like a mistake.

But you are one big dude and know your shit, so it`s obviously working for you. I`ve tried not being so strict with the pre and 2 post workout meals and I lost performance, that`s why I say this. But I am a natural ectomorph with a fast metabolism so maybe that`s why. Either way it`s always interesting to hear what you have to say.

Hope this dosen`t highjack the thread but Nate, did you start hiring people to do your layouts for you already knowing lots about training and nutrition, or simply took a leap of faith and said, I don`t want to waste any time, I`m gonna do what the pro`s think is best?

[natenator]

I understand what you mean, but just thought that if someone is into gear, they should be doing everything a natural would do to put on mass, and often times the pre and post workout meals apply to the winning formula. I just thought one should do everything possible nutrtion wise to make it happen and if a pre and post workout meal is in order and one is not doing it, but is juicing, it to me seems like a mistake.

But you are one big dude and know your shit, so it`s obviously working for you. I`ve tried not being so strict with the pre and 2 post workout meals and I lost performance, that`s why I say this. But I am a natural ectomorph with a fast metabolism so maybe that`s why. Either way it`s always interesting to hear what you have to say.

Hope this dosen`t highjack the thread but Nate, did you start hiring people to do your layouts for you already knowing lots about training and nutrition, or simply took a leap of faith and said, I don`t want to waste any time, I`m gonna do what the pro`s think is best?
Well let's not mistake, I do have a meal an hour before i workout and a meal after I workout but these meals also fall in line with my overall nutritional strategy. I don't generally add specific shakes/meals before or after. I just eat my regular 5-6 meals.

If performance is suffering then I add more cals. If not suffering then I do. Likewise for gaining more fat than I want. I make adjustments if necessary.

I am more of an endo so cals are important for me to watch especially as I get older. I've been very sloppy with diet over the past 2 years with working and traveling so much so I am going back to basics and getting shit back on track with what has been bread and butter for me in the past. Slowly but surely.

As for your other question. I played hockey and football. I started training at 14 and my first week in the gym I had guys there take me under their wing and teach me about proper training and nutrition. 2 were competitive bodybuilders. When I got to university school assigned me as nutritionalist and strength coach and paid for all my food (otherwise I couldn't afford it and thank god for a sports scholarship disguised as an academic scholarship lol).

I continued with these guys once I left school as we became good friends and they kept helping me out to keep progressing. Training wasn't just about sports - it had become my lifeline. When I decided to start competing I hired people for my prep and they weren't cheap but it took the stress out of competing for me. I didn't have to think... I just did.

That's me in a nutshell. I ain't that big. Being 6'3 makes me small :( lol

[Ritch]

Thanks for the response Nate. What you`re saying makes sense and understand why you have and believe more in solid meals. I still would have a hard time taking another person`s advice when I know what works for me. Maybe I`m just hard headed, but if a trainer would embark me on no carb diet, and make me do high rep workouts, that would ruin my physique. It`s almost like the person would have to have the same way of thinking as me, but if that`s the case, why would I pay the person to tell me what I already know!

Anyway, so eating before bed good? Yes...

[Big D]

great advice, you are one smart man nate, i'd give you green but I gotta spread around some more :)

[C-money]

have your shake and see if you can still get abunch of milk/cottage cheese in you before bed, the casein protein will slowly digest for a long time while you sleep allow your body to use it over most of the night

[natenator]

great advice, you are one smart man nate, i'd give you green but I gotta spread around some more :)
No not really. Perhaps my methods are inferior?

But, at the end of the day this is still just hobby as it is for most of us so why stress over the small details that may or may not make that big of a difference like getting in all your meals, calories and training will?

[waderow]

immediately PWO, you REQUIRE calories ASAP. You will be in a catabolic state and need carbs as soon as possible to end this, and then protein sometime later for obvious reasons. If you take carbs PWO you will get a natural insulin spike, and can then take protein and extra carbs during this time for added benefit.

[natenator]

immediately PWO, you REQUIRE calories ASAP. You will be in a catabolic state and need carbs as soon as possible to end this, and then protein sometime later for obvious reasons. If you take carbs PWO you will get a natural insulin spike, and can then take protein and extra carbs during this time for added benefit.
you require carbs huh? Why do you REQUIRE them? How does this work for people in contest prep on KETO diets?

[waderow]

well you require calories. if you are in ketosis, then I would assume fats and protein.

[natenator]

well you require calories. if you are in ketosis, then I would assume fats and protein.
Agreed. Just thought you were making a point that carbs were important. I re-read (my bad) and you say CALORIES are important and I agree which is why I always have a normal meal directly after training as it fall within my 2.5hr - 3hr window anyway.