Should i eat carbs after cardio

She stresses that after a particularly intense session is not the time to dramatically cut calories. You'll need about 15 to 30 grams of protein, 30 to 90 grams of carbohydrates, and to calories.

And, again, Minno says this will vary depending on your bodyweight. Here are some larger snack options to get you that fuel. Many of these snack options are easy to make ahead of time and store in your workout bag. Or, if you prefer to eat them fresh, they take mere moments to throw together. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.

After a light cardio session: "If you're just doing light cross training, only a small snack and water are necessary," says Clark. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. How you fuel and refuel before and after exercise helps determine the actual fitness-building benefit of the session.

So how can you maximize the effort that goes into spilling every drop of sweat? One question comes up repeatedly when it comes to food and workouts: Is it better to eat before or after a training session? Munching before exercising provides your body with the energy it needs to power through the session. Chowing down afterward helps with recovery. Not just any old fuel will do, though.

Foods rich in carbohydrates and p r otein provide the nutritional building blocks your hard-working body needs. The same principle applies to preparing your body for exercise. Ideally, try to eat a well-balanced meal three to four hours ahead of your workout. Your plate should feature carbohydrates and a moderate amount of lean protein. Limit fats and fiber, which digest more slowly and can upset your stomach while bouncing around during a workout. The closer you get to exercise time, the less you want to gobble down to avoid belly issues during the activity, says Patton.

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I Accept Show Purposes. Wellness Fitness. By Jane Chertoff. Jane Chertoff. Jane is a freelance lifestyle writer whose work has appeared on Parents. Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines. Medically reviewed by Briana Bain. Fact checked by Yvonne McGreevy.