This is a good question, IMO, as I run into it from time to time as well. I'm assuming you're doing cardio first thing, in a fasted state, to maximize fat burning. I'm also assuming that you work out early in the day and, for whatever reason, that is the best time for you to do so. You're smart enough to know that you have to have some good food in you to power that workout. As a result, you reach a conundrum.
I run in to this issue at least 2 times per week. I'll probably get flamed, and I know that a lot of guys will disagree, but here's what I do.
1) Cardio upon waking (45-60 min med to med-hi intensity)
2) Coffee after cardio (no sugar, no dairy)
3) Slow-burn protein (2 scoops), blended with 1 cup raw whole oats and about 1/2 cup low glycemic fruit (pitted cherries (fresh - not in syrup)) mixed with water.
4) Lift about an hour after that meal.
5) Fast-burn protein (2 scoop), blended with fast burn fruit & honey mixed with water
6) Within an hour, good hearty solid meal, with complex carbs & whole proteins.
7) Within 3 hours, good hearty solid meal with whole proteins & fibrous carbs
8) Within 3 hours, same as 7
9) Within 2-3 hourse, slow-burn protein (right before bed) mixed with just water.
Now, the second best timing of cardio, IMO, is PWO. At this time, you are forced to burn fat for the energy (so long as you don't go too high in intensity). So on the days that I can't do fasting cardio, I do it immediately after my lifting. In this case, I make sure to get in the slow-burn carbs & protein pre-workout, and follow the rest of the plan pretty much the same.
Some of this may seem unorthodox, but according to my records, I have maintained almost exactly the same body weight, but melted off almost 10 lbs of fat. This is in just under 4 weeks time.
__________________ First crop circles, now this. Weird |