Carb quandary

Muscle & Fitness, March, 2009 by Jim Stoppani, Mark Thorpe

Q: How many grams of carbs do I really need after working out?

A: If mass gain is your goal, shoot for 80-100 grams of simple carbs as soon after training as possible. It may sound like a lot, but it's the equivalent of only 2 rounded cups of rice or pasta. Even if you're dieting, you should still keep your post-workout carb intake fairly high (50-70 grams). Often dieters are afraid that eating that amount of carbs will cause them to gain bodyfat, but the carbs consumed after a hard training session are unlikely to be stored as bodyfat, provided you don't go overboard.

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EDITED BY JIM STOPPANI, PHD, AND MARK THORPE