Having a solid meal plan is essential for every fitness regime. The four-time Mr. Olympia winner, who has defeated Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler shared his preferred meal plan recently. Amateur bodybuilders who aspire to get renowned in the community might find this crucial tip helpful and effective for them.

Although Cutler is 50 years old, the former Mr. Olympia had recently found success in his fit-for-fifty challenge. Known for his magnificent physique and as a “big-eater”, as he likes to call himself, Jay Cutler found it necessary to impart his knowledge on what he thinks is the best meals before and after training.

Jay Cutler banks on eating a solid meal one hour before training

In one of the YouTube Shorts videos uploaded by Muscle Mind Media, Jay Cutler talked about how necessary it was to have food before a training session. He asked what was the “best pre and post training meal” and answered the question himself.“In my competitive years, I ate a ton of food. You really should eat a solid meal one hour before training. What I like to do is, my favorite pre-workout meal would be eight ounces of chicken breasts, plain, grilled, and probably a cup and a half white rice,” the legend said.

Moreover, the bodybuilder further mentioned how within one hour of his workout he again preferred to have another meal. He noted, “I make sure I get one solid meal and it would probably be a repeat of what I ate prior which would be chicken or rice or I might have some fish.” The bodybuilder emphasized that eating such meals would restore protein, and carbohydrates, and also replenish the glycogen that gets reduced during workouts.

READ MORE: 4XMr. Olympia Jay Cutler Responds to Those Trying to Rectify His Form: “My Track Record Proves Itself”

Why did Jay Cutler talk about having meals with a gap of one hour before and after a workout? Let us find out.

The importance of ensuring a gap between eating and working out

Several tests have revealed that athletes and bodybuilders often do not perform well right after having a meal. As told by Cutler, one should have a solid meal an hour before their training. The digestive system takes about 2-3 hours to finish the digestion process. However, taking too long to train after a meal can also have detrimental results. In case one eats right before a workout, this may lead to nausea, cramping, reflux, vomiting, diarrhea, and sluggishness. On the other hand, fasting pre-workout might lead to dizziness as well as fainting at times.

The world of bodybuilding requires bodybuilders to pay as much attention to their food intake as they do to their workout regimes. It is highly important that a bodybuilder’s diet does not hamper their fitness, instead, it should aid its improvement. Cutler’s advice shows reiterates how important a solid meal is before and after workouts.

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