There are so many questions about what you should be eating before and after a workout. Should you load up on carbs, avoid heavy foods, or not eat at all? It’s so hard to know what to do.
Well, look no further because we can steer you in the right direction so you know what to eat before and after a workout.
Before a Workout
Deciding what to eat before a workout is definitely the thing you should think about most. You don’t want to eat too little that you feel hungry and struggle to find enough energy to finish your workout. You also don’t want to eat so much that you struggle to find your breath and can hardly do your workouts. It’s all about finding that middle ground.
Find a pre-workout snack that is low in fat and fiber with carbohydrates and proteins that are easily digestible. Make sure you eat more than an hour before working out and let it sit a bit before really getting into it.
If you’re in a huge rush, then just have a banana or spread some peanut butter on a rice cake. These little snacks will give you a boost of energy that should help you get through your workout without feeling sluggish or deflated.
My advice is for you to try different things to see what you like and don’t care. Try different meals and track everything in a notebook. If something feels good, make note of it. If something is a total miss, then make sure to never do that again.
At the end of the day, every individual body is different and you need to find the sweet spot for you.
After a Workout
Just because you had a great workout and burned a ton of calories, it doesn’t mean that you can dive into a bag of chips or cookies. You’ll end up canceling out any progress you made at the gym and won’t be any further ahead.
Instead, eat something with protein and complex carbohydrates to complement the workout you just had. This will recharge your energy and repair the muscles you just worked out extensively. Something like whole grain toast with peanut butter or avocado is exactly what you need.
Black beans, brown rice and salsa is also a great snack to refuel your body and benefit the muscles you are working hard to build stronger.
Whatever you do, don’t cave and stop for fast food, cook up processed food at home, or enjoy a late night snack that’s unhealthy. It is totally against everything you are doing at the gym and won’t allow you to see the progress that you’ve been working so hard to see.
Bottom Line: Eat Healthy Food!
It’s pretty simple, and it’s been ingrained in our head since we were children: eat healthy food.
After and before a workout, you should be eating food that is good for you and provide you with all of the things your body needs to function at a high level. If you aren’t do that, then you’re missing out a chance to improve your body before and after each workout.
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