Great question! It depends on what your meal was – but if you are following my suggestions for keeping fat and fiber low in your pre-workout meal, it will digest relatively quickly. A good rule of thumb is trying to get that workout started around 15-30 minutes after eating. You want the food to have time to digest so you can use that energy to fuel your workout – and so you’re not feeling ‘heavy’ from a bunch of food in your belly. If your meal is heavier on the fat and fiber side, it can take longer to break that food down, so keep that in mind. As for how long after your workout – well, I like to eat as soon as I can, but we all know going for a meal after the gym isn’t always possible. On days like that, I like to take a protein shake and a simple carb with me and eat it when my workout is over. Although there is a ton of controversy on this topic, the ‘magic eating window’ isn’t as magical as they make it sound – but still, I wouldn’t wait too long. If you gave it all in your workout (like I want you to) you’re probably going to be hungry. Go eat!
