How long after cardio should you wait to eat?

Or does it not matter?

(LOL...I just remembered my Mom telling us not to eat 30 mintues before swimming when we were little :)...

bump. I'd like to know as well. C:

Such an excellent question.  Me personally.  I eat immediately after an intense cardio workout.  One of my favorite restaurants happen to be down the street from the gym. I eat right after because I know my body is still burning off calories at a high rate for a short time after a workout.  So those calories I am eating are being burned. 
Of course staying within my calorie intake and continue to eat the right foods in small portions.  My practice of eating immediately after a workout did not affect my weight loss in anyway that I noticed.  

Hope that was helpful. 

definitely try to eat something high protein (like some chicken, turkey, or some protein powder) within 1/2 hour of a workout.  If you can't eat that quick after, then try to get something in you within three hours.  It will help with recovery too.

I'm pretty sure I read a while ago that you're supposed to eat as soon as possible, a mix of carbs and protein in a 4:1 ratio respectively if I remember correctly (don't hold me to it though!).  I think it helps to repair the muscles.

ctara's right though, you're body does burn more calories just after a workout, so it does seem to follow that the sooner you eat the better.

The only reason I have read to hold off on eating is that you will be really hungry and may overeat.  For this reason, they say you should snack instead.   However, if you already have your meal planned, then I don't see that it would be a problem.  Sometimes when I work out and am away from home, I immediately grab for nuts or Sunflower seeds.  They're the "good fat" and will stall my appetite until I can reach a more controlled environment.   Other times I gear my workout to end at a meal time and eat a pre-planned meal. 

i usually lose my appetite after a really good workout.  sometimes i feel sick!  but 10 years ago when i did lots of cardio, i'd go after work 7 or 8 pm, having eaten NOTHING for dinner...then be starving when i got out...and i'd go to taco bell and get a big fat bean burrito, with no cheese or sause.  beans and onions and tortilla (i was paranoid about cheese and sauce).  i lost a solid 20lbs in about 2-3 months with that routine.

and upon reflection, without even knowing, it was probably the perfect meal for me at the time.

Phew....good.  I was expecting the opposite response, LOL.  I wasn't *starving* or anything after I worked out and I had homemade chicken noodle soup planned for lunch anyway...so I went ahead and ate it.

Another quick ?: So, if it is good to eat protein after working out (cardio or strength training)...does it make it "bad" to eat carbs?

Original Post by rocklobster:

Phew....good. I was expecting the opposite response, LOL. I wasn't *starving* or anything after I worked out and I had homemade chicken noodle soup planned for lunch anyway...so I went ahead and ate it.

Another quick ?: So, if it is good to eat protein after working out (cardio or strength training)...does it make it "bad" to eat carbs?

its not bad to eat that, but your muscles need protein for building.  so its better to serve them lean protein after strength training -- heck even after cardio, when you add resistance thats challenging, will build muscle.  yeah so eat protein.

It's a good idea to eat a snack 15-60 mins after a workout, then follow it with a well balanced meal 2 hours after the workout.

What: High: simple carb; Moderate: protein, fibre; Low: fat, salt, caffeine

How much: 3:1 ratio of carb:protein

Total: ~300 cals

EXAMPLES: 1 cup chocolate milk & 1/2 bagel with jam; 1 cup fresh juice & 1/2 can tuna on crackers; 1 pita & 1/4 cup hummus; 1 banana, 1/2 cup yogurt & 1/4 cup almonds.

It's good to eat carbs right after strength training.

what's happens when you don't eat right after a cardio session?

What about eating a protein enriched dinner about an hour prior to cardio? Or should I flip-flop this routine and work out first?

I highly recommend a protein-based meal ASAP after a workout of any kind to prevent catabolism. A protein shake works for me.

Original Post by notorespot:

What about eating a protein enriched dinner about an hour prior to cardio? Or should I flip-flop this routine and work out first?

I for one would work out first, because I get heartburn if I work out too soon after eating.  But then, I am prone to heartburn issues--it may not be a problem for everyone.  But, I do try to eat something a couple of hours before my workout (a smallish snack) so I'm not too starving.  Then I try to eat dinner as soon after working out as possible.  (But of course, sometimes my schedule dictates otherwise...)

i always eat a  banana after my workout. if i don't get the potassium, i get charley horses in my legs! (cramps)

so anyways, i feel better about eating it right after i workout bc it feels like my heart rate is still going. :)

I don't like to workout AFTER eating (like the don't eat 30min BEFORE swimming saying). It's hard to get your body going when it's busy digesting

But the other way around, eating AFTER working out is fine. Your body needs more nutrients and fuel.

It depends upon your situation and what you intend to achieve.  I'm about 40 lbs overweight and I want to lose weight as fast and as healthily as I can so what I do is drink whey protein shake and  a cup of black coffee and take carnitine supplement before workout.  The combination especially the caffeine from the coffee gives me a lot of boost for my cardio workout.  After about an hour cardio workout, I do not eat or drink for an hour.  The reason for this is that I want my cells to burn the glucose and fat stored in my body for fuel.   An hour or so after workout I eat a balanced breakfast or dinner depending on the time of day.  If I want to gain weight I probably would eat  a protein rich meal immediately after workout so that I can replenish the nutrients expended during the workout and add more muscles.

I'm not a professional so may be you want to find out from them before you do what I do but what I just described works well for me and I have so far lost about 20 lbs in about a month.