Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Post Work Out Munchies

I first decided that I really wanted to lose weight when I was about sixteen and around 80 pounds lighter than I am today. I had known I was fat since a boy told me so on the playground many moons earlier, but I had always shrugged my shoulders assuming it was out of my hands. Being a sophomore in high school changed everything. I could see prom looming before me, and knew I needed to drop some serious lbs if I didn't want to go alone.



I didn't know the first thing about diet and nutrition and wasn't really sure how to learn. My textbooks for health class just talked about the food pyramid, but I had a feeling that eating 6-11 servings of bread a day was not going to be to my advantage. I decided to start exercising because that's what all the skinny people I knew did. I was in terrible shape, but the concept of building up my fitness level escaped me. I set my alarm for 6:00 am and took off for a run. Each time I would be out of breath and weezing by the time I made half a block; I'd be on my way home after a single loop around. Regardless of how little I did, I would come home as hungry as a grizzly and set to dismantling the fridge. Needless to say, I didn't stick with it and I actually finished the summer discouraged and much heavier.



Part of the reason I got into this mess in the first place is that I have long harbored the belief that working out gives me the right to eat pie. Lately, I've been going to the gym. It's just been too cold for my usual walk. I despise the gym with every fiber of my being. I hate the treadmill, elliptical and bike. It's incredibly boring, but I've been doing it and really pushing myself. The downside is that I come back to my office absolutely ravenous. If I don't eat my lunch before I go, I don't have the energy to push myself, but if I do eat it before I go, I'm starving for the rest of the day. How am I supposed to keep the Goulets away? Any ideas on what I should eat before or after a work out? I'm open to suggestions that won't send me rummaging through the fridge.

6 comments:

new*me said...

After a workout if I am really hungry I eat......one apple, one string cheese and about 4 almonds. Or I skip the cheese and have a glass of milk. It really helps. Make sure to give your brain 20min after eating this to have the full feeling. It really tides me over till the next meal.

Camevil said...

Your hungry because your body is burning and craving more calories. No, don't eat pie. hahahaha. But what I do is follow my workout with a whey protein shake. I mix a scoop of chocolate with water and it gives me the muscle-rebuilding protein and calorie fuel I need. Then I have a real meal about an hour or two later.

Ria said...

I totally hear you on preferring walking outside to hitting the gym. It's been really cold here too . . . I finally got outside again today, and it was a nice change!

Re food & workouts . . . you might want to try eating the carb portion of your lunch pre-workout for energy, and then eating the protein portion post-workout. I've been reading "The New Rules of Lifting for Women". It's an interesting book - it makes the case that resistance training is more effective than cardio in generating fat loss, and has some specific nutritional advice to facilitate fat loss rather than muscle loss. In particular, it advocates having a high-protein "recovery shake" shortly after working out (similar to what Camevil suggested).

Martha said...

I think Ria's idea of eating carbs before and protein after is a good one!

I couldn't fathom going to the gym-I'm working towards my own home gym, though. Have you tried doing some DVDs at home?

Unknown said...

Great suggestions, Ladies. Thanks so much! I still have a lot to learn about nutrition. I'll try the protein after the work out.

Karyn said...

Just to confirm what others have said....I was told to eat my carbs pre workout so I'd have the energy needed for the workout and protein after to build the muscle.

Good for you for going to the gym even though you don't want to!