Are You Eating Fat Post-Workout?

As a general rule, I've been doing what most every other strength athlete/bodybuilder/meathead does when they're done working out: eat/drink a ton of protein and slam some carbs. Also in line with most everyone else, I've not given much thought about where I get the protein and carbs or how much fat I'm consuming along with it, because it doesn't matter... right? I mean, calories are calories and I need calories to grow!

As you might've guessed by the way I worded things, this is not entirely the case. Sure, you need a surplus of calories throughout the day to gain muscle/weight and you should be eating fast-absorbing protein and high-glycemic carbs after you workout, but you should be avoiding fat. As it turns out, fat is counterproductive to setting your body up for tissue building and recovery, post-workout. It's counterproductive because fat slows digestion, and your whole goal after a workout is to digest proteins and absorb amino acids as fast as you can. I mean, that's why you're eating the high-glycemic carbs and slamming protein shakes, right?

Homie's "bulking" all wrong!

Just in case you're curious, like I was, here is an explanation as to how fat slows digestion:

"Upon entering your stomach, fats stimulate the release of cholecystokinin, or CCK, from the cells that line your duodenum, which is the first segment of your small intestine. CCK is a hormone that suppresses your appetite, triggers the release of pancreatic enzymes, stimulates contraction of your gallbladder and, according to the February 1987 issue of "The American Journal of Physiology," delays gastric emptying. This allows the fats in your stomach to enter your intestine gradually, where they can be emulsified by bile from your gallbladder and broken down by enzymes from your pancreas."

Also:

"Their incompatibility with water makes fats resistant to the digestive process, and their arrival in your stomach triggers physiologic responses that delay gastric emptying"

So, am I vilifying fat? Definitely not! Am I saying you should eat a low-fat diet? No, that's not my point. If I'm vilifying anything, it's the McDonalds/Taco Bell/Pizza Ranch post-workout meals. If you're serious about gaining muscle/getting better at your sport, you're going to want to be conscious of how much fat you're eating in your post-workout meals.

R.I.P Post-workout Pizza

Resources:

1.) http://www.livestrong.com/article/467828-does-fat-slow-digestion/

2.) http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/berardi4.htm