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Should I eat after working out?
Is it true that I should avoid eating for two hours after a workout? The instructors at my gym told me that I should eat only protein after exercising, and that if I eat carbohydrates or fat I'll gain weight.
I think the above recommendation is a good general guideline for athletes, but for weight management you probably have to go higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates. You don't need to eat a big meal, but you should eat something after exercising. Lots of people feel good after having a small, high-protein shake, just beware of the extremely high sugar and carbohydrate content of juice-based smoothies. Experiment with the amount of food or drink and proportions of carbohydrates, protein and fat to find out what works best for you.
Perhaps what the trainers at your gym are trying to emphasise is the need to moderate carbohydrate intake in a weight-loss program. They want to see you become someone whose metabolism burns fat faster and more efficiently. That is best accomplished by eating a nutritionally dense, low-calorie diet that offers a balance of protein, high-quality fat and the right kind of carbohydrates. This will keep your hormones balanced and your fat-burning machinery working optimally. I agree that you shouldn't load up on carbohydrate and fat after a workout, but you shouldn’t refrain from eating after you exercise.
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