Is it important to eat well on the days when I don't workout?
Asked by city0fj on Oct 06, 2008
in Fitness
I am 21 yrs old and 157 lbs, and I’m trying to gain muscle. I know a lot about how to work out, what to do to build muscle mass, and how to get ripped. I workout 3 times a week with days of rest in between. I try to eat 3-4 meals a day with snacks in between, but it’s hard to keep up when I’m working and sometimes I only eat 2 times a day. Will this severely damper my process of trying to gain weight?
Answer
It is more important to feed yourself properly on the days when you work out. You need a pre-workout meal to stock your muscles with fuel, and then a post-workout meal to refuel, repair, and grow more muscle. You will gain weight if your average calorie intake exceeds your average calorie output and you continue to train. And so, on the days when you work, don’t let your intake drop so low that it destroys your overall calorie average. Carry food with you and eat a large meal when your workday is over.
Why can athletes eat so much?
Athletes need adequate calories to offset those they burn in training and competition. They eat to either maintain their body mass or gain muscle... Read more
