Post Workout Diet: All You Need to Know
Regular workouts everyday has graduated to a necessity from being just a passion of fitness buffs. Gone are the days when only the bodybuilders and athletes had to sweat out in the fitness training sessions. Nowadays exercising is top priority among all. One of the main hassles is to find out time for doing so amidst the busy and hectic schedule that characterizes today’s existence. But a more daunting task than that is to determine the dietary habits when you are in a stringent workout regimen. Needless to say, diet and exercise, both are integral parts of the health and general well-being of your body.
Perhaps your most important meal when you are into serious fitness training is the one you have right after a session of exercising. This is the time when your body needs the maximum nourishment and energy. It is not for nothing that you feel tired and exhausted after a couple of hours of rigorous workout. This is how your body tells you that it needs food. When you exercise all your calories are burnt up and hence there is no fuel left inside your body. The meal you have after a fitness training session is primarily aimed at refilling your body with the necessary energy that will serve as the fuel for the important physical processes.
It is considered that the first hour after exercising is the best time to eat. This is often referred to as the ‘golden hour’ for the body. If you are eating right and within this time you are on the right track towards achieving your fitness goals. So what is the kind of food that will give you the maximum energy after you have spent an hour or two in doing painstaking exercises? And what is it that you should avoid eating after working out? Let’s have a quick look at the do’s and don’ts:
What you Should be Eating
As is obvious, a post workout diet needs to be such that it releases the maximum amount of energy. Two most important ingredients that are essential for this purpose are protein and carbohydrate. These nutrients, when burnt down, supply the body with energy that can help in speedy recovery after exercising. Here are some food items that have these nutrients:
Milk: Known as the complete food, milk can be immensely helpful when it comes to replenishing body energy. If it seems too drab to you, try having it with cereals or chocolate. Moreover, cereals are protein-rich, and will be extra beneficial to you.
Toast with eggs: This can be the source of optimum levels of proteins and carbs.
Chicken sandwiches with fruit juice are good sources of the necessary nutrients. If you are a vegetarian, you can have vegetable sandwiches as well.
Dried fruits and nuts.
Protein energy shakes or bar.
What You Should Avoid Eating
Any food item that is rich in fat content should not be consumed after a workout session. This is because fat makes the digestion process long drawn, thus slowing down the release of essential energy.
If you are confused about what to have and what to avoid, it’s best to consult with a dietician, or your personal trainer. He can make a diet chart for you depending on your specific needs. A good dietary habit teamed up with regular exercise will soon make you fit and healthy!
Author Bio: If you’re interested in more diet information read up on this Austin personal trainer blog. Also for more information on the author and his highly successful program check out his Boston personal trainer site.
Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
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