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Daily rhythm · Lesson 11 of 16 · 3 min

The meal after you train

The window is wider than the internet says — but it isn't infinite.

You don't have 30 minutes to slam a shake or lose your session. The useful window is a few hours wide. What matters is that protein and carbohydrate show up somewhere on the other side of the workout — most people's real problem is training at 6pm and eating almost nothing until breakfast.

A good recovery meal is 25–40 grams of protein plus a real carbohydrate: chicken and rice, eggs and potatoes, yogurt and fruit and granola, a shake with a banana if you're heading straight out.

Carbohydrate isn't optional here. It's what refills the fuel your muscles just spent, and it's part of why the next session feels good instead of heavy.

If you train early and can't stomach food beforehand, eat the bigger meal afterwards. If you train at night, keep it smaller and prioritise the protein so it doesn't sit heavy at bedtime.

Do this today

Decide before your next workout what you're eating after it.

Quick check

Three questions

No score, no pressure — answering is just how the ideas stick.

  1. 1. How wide is the useful recovery window?

  2. 2. What belongs in a recovery meal besides protein?

  3. 3. The most common real-life recovery mistake?

Ready to stop guessing at dinner?

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