so ive been hearing many people eat a meal or snack after a work out. is there benefits by doing so ?

Hi Angie - this is to help keep your metabolism up and help you build lean muscle. Which in turn helps you burn more calories when you're resting.

What is the best thing to eat post workout?

I've never understood this theory for the average person. If you are a hardcore gym rat and exercise a bunch and are in great shape sure you need to refuel your body. But for us overweight people why am I going to eat the calories I burned. I want to burn more and eat less.

thank you bikinibod thats very helpful and shap thats what i thought as well

@ Nebula- Something rich in protein and low in carbs. Usually just a protein shake for most people. And the reason you want to take in the protein is so that your body can repair the damage that is done to your muscles and burn fat calories instead of taking those calories from muscle. Basically each time you work out with weights (and all of us should) and become sore the next day, you've made tiny tears in the muscle fibers. This is the only way that the muscle builds and gets stronger. Hence the reason for the protein. Protein is food for your muscles.

Shap, I normally exercise right before eating dinner so I am not having a post work out protein in addition to my meals. Conventional knowledge is to have carbs prework out so your body has ready available energy for the work out, and protein post work out so your body can rebuild muscle.