5-6 hours no meal

[totalchaos]

Ok I just started working at GNC and I'm only working part time. Because I only work 5-6 hours, I get no break so I am not able to eat a meal so I try to get one right before work. What should I eat to hold me off? Will I lose muscle by not eating in that time period or should I have some sort of fats before I go to work to preserve muscle?

[sooner_ed]

You're putting too much thought into this.

Life happens. Eat as you normally would before going to work.

There are no set foods to eat just because you won't be able to eat for a certain amount of time.

You will not lose muscle by working at GNC for six hours and not eating.

People worry about that stuff too much. You have to be doing quite a bit of physical activity without food before you start worrying about that.

People work all the time. It's a fact of life. Do what you have to do and work (or eat) around it.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

[Lady C]

Eat a protein bar halfway through your shift!

[The Flash]

Can't you sneak something in? Unless they are complete jerks over there, I don't see any reason you can't sneak in a protein bar or some handfuls of nuts.

[CF-OC_gal]

Keep an open bag of almonds roasted of plain in your pocket. Depending on how busy you get you'll know whether to grab 1-2 or a handful.

Don't forget to keep a bottle of water close by as the pieces can get sucked into the windpipe easily if someone asks you a question.

Other nut work too but are often greasier on the hands.

Originally Posted by sooner_ed

You will not lose muscle by working at GNC for six hours and not eating.

Bodybuilding promotes eating disorders. To be fair, the best progress is made if you are willing to have an eating disorder.

[Todd]

Ok, first off, if you're working at GNC, then you've got racks of protein bars and shelves chuck full of a huge variety of supplements....I don't think you should have any problem finding/having access to something to eat!

Secondly, yes, you want to feed your body every 3 hours or so to provide a steady flow of nutrients. Of course, this is only if you're serious about keeping your muscles properly fed and in an optimal state of growth/repair.

If you find yourself getting hungry within 2-3 hours after you've started your shift, then that's not a good sign...it's your body telling you it's hungry as hell and it's going to look for fuel...if the fuel is not provided, then it will turn to what it can find...which can be muscle tissue. Believe me, you don't want to risk that...unless you don't mind wasting your effort and time in the gym.

There should be no reason why you can't either pack a few easy-to-consume meals with you or eat some of those protein bars right off the shelf. There should never be any excuses for why you can't eat...it's all about planning ahead and being prepared.

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by Todd

in an optimal state of growth/repair.

I fully agree with you on that statement Todd.

Unfortunately, I think everyone has failed to ask him what his goals are and how he is currently working out.

For the general populus who want to get and stay fit, but are not as serious as you are (and I commend you for your seriousness...you have one heck of a body!), if he eats a decent meal before going to work, I'm not sure that he would lose any significant muscle over a six hour period.

But everyone is also correct in saying just have a protein bar. That's really a no-brainer (no disrespect intended) when you work at GNC.

[totalchaos]

I appreciate everyones feedback. I have been eating a protein bar, but sometimes the manager is there and it may get busy and no time to eat until I start closing the store. This is just temporary once I start closing the store myself then I will be able to eat some meals. On the other hand, I will be back at my lifeguarding job starting in the spring and it gets really busy there and if they are short staffed which they usually are then i will have to work 5-6 hours without a meal but I will be just sitting around.

[Dojomaster]

Originally Posted by totalchaos

I appreciate everyones feedback. I have been eating a protein bar, but sometimes the manager is there and it may get busy and no time to eat until I start closing the store. This is just temporary once I start closing the store myself then I will be able to eat some meals. On the other hand, I will be back at my lifeguarding job starting in the spring and it gets really busy there and if they are short staffed which they usually are then i will have to work 5-6 hours without a meal but I will be just sitting around.

no excuses, pack everything the night before and scarf it down or gulp it down in liquid form. It will take 1 minute maximum. Really focus on eating it and breaking it down as much as possible [and tasting it].


If you need to, say that you have to go to the bathroom or something.

[richard82]

try getting a small, empty mineral water bottle and half fill it with water. you can add a couple of scoops of protein to this and i doubt anyone would be any the wiser you had done so.