Now that we are working out regularly and I am hitting the weights more often we wanted to make sure that we were fueling our bodies to be able to work out. Yes, the goal is to burn calories that are stored as fat, but you need more to go on to get the fire going to get the fat burning.
So I did some checking and many people have the same opinion on eating prior and after a workout.
If you are planning a workout you need to plan your meal accordingly. The goal is to have what you eat prior to a workout to be digested and out of the stomach before beginning. This way the body has absorbed the needed nutrients from the food and is ready to sustain a workout.
How soon you eat before you start your workout depends on what you eat as different foods are broken down and absorbed differently. If you just had a large meal, i.e. meat, potatoes, pasta, veggies, etc. Then you should wait two to three hours before a workout.
If you have a light snack like a protein bar, or 4 ounces of food like chicken breast then one hour is fine. If you have something that is quicker to digest like yogurt or fruit, I.E. apple, orange, banana, melon, etc. then a half hour is OK. The same goes for a liquid protein shake. You get the needed nutrients and the body can absorb them quickly.
Doing a high intensity workout on a full stomach can hold you back some and eating too close to the start of a workout won't help give you the nutrients you need. But, if you haven't eaten in a while and you're heading to the gym, then have a small snack anyway as it will help settle your stomach and keep your sugar levels from dropping during your workout.
As for eating after a workout, a high protein snack or shake within a half hour helps with muscle recovery.
By "a workout" I mean at least 45 minutes spent doing a Boot Camp workout, working a weight circuit, any cardio or any combination of exercise you may do for at least that long.
Here are two links for more in-depth info on the subject. The Mayo Clinic and BodyRock.TV
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