Sport Question about off days

[Bear]

Hi all, I'm new here. 27 years old, 5'8 180 lbs. 22% or so body fat (roughly..only through measurements and entering through a web site..I don't have a caliper yet). Looking to lose 10% BF or so, while gaining some more muscle.

I'm not very new to working out, worked out a ton in high school (for wrestling) and off and on various routines afterwards, but nothing as serious as high school.

Well it's got to the time to be serious, and I have never been serious about my nutrition (besides cutting weight for wrestling, which I didn't do very healthily so we won't go there).

I started a workout routine that involves 4 days a week (mon/tues/thurs/fri) and I feel confident in my work out plan getting me the results I am looking for.


I decided to go the protein smoothie way as far as getting extra protein. I started it this week and basically my smoothie consists of skim milk, whey protein, frozen strawberries, banana, and oatmeal. Monday and Tuesday I felt absolutley wonderful (had one for breakfast, and the other as soon as I got home from my workout after work).

As I'm on the understanding you don't need to take extra protein on your days off working out, I just went with a bowl of cereal. Well today I have been moving so slow and feel exausted! Totally different then I had from the days previous..and on days before I even started taking my smoothies.

Should I be doing my smoothies on off days too?? Maybe just w/o the whey protein??

 

[SXIPro]

The off days are when your muscles rebuild and need protein the most.

 

[Bear]

that makes sense, but I have also heard the protein you eat if you don't burn it turns into fat..

But then again.. I guess rebuilding the muscles is using it huh?

So in other words I should make my smoothies every day regardless of if its a work out day or not?

 

[malkore]

that makes sense, but I have also heard the protein you eat if you don't burn it turns into fat..

Wrong. Eating more calories than you need makes you fat. Protein doesn't make u fat, Fat doesn't make you fat, and carbs don't make you fat.

Calories..it all ultimately boils down to calories.

Also the body works on trends, not 'minute by minute' nutrition. So yes, you want to keep your daily calories pretty consistent. Whether that involves a smoothie is up to you, but there is nothing wrong with keeping protein intake a constant, despite your activity that day.

In fact, some diet strategies involve lowering carbs on cardio or non-training days, so you actually have more protein and fat on those days than weight training days. To keep the calories consistent.