How to NOT Sabotage Your Workout

Written by Kari Keenan Wednesday, 18 January 2012 18:12

You just finished an intense workout. You trained hard, set a personal record on your favorite exercise, and then followed it up with a sweaty session of high intensity interval training (HIIT) on the treadmill. Now you’re wiped out (in a good way) and suddenly ravenous! What should you reach for to satisfy the Hunger Monster in you without completely sabotaging your training efforts?

Post-workout recovery nutrition is an important part of your meal plan. Instead of reaching for the Doritos or your hubby’s leftover pizza, grab one of these options instead:

●    Meal with whole foods - This is the best option by far! Complex carbs, lean proteins, and healthy fats provide the most complete nutrition. Plan ahead by bringing a meal with you to the gym in your (cute) cooler.

●    Post-workout recovery supplement - There are several post-workout supplements that focus either on simple carbs, like waxy maize, or branched chain amino acids (BCAA’s). The carbs may or may not be an option for you, depending on your meal plan. BCAA’s, however, are always a safe bet as they reduce protein and muscle breakdown.

●    Protein shake - Mix a scoop of protein powder with six ounces of water, shake it up, and chug it down. You can also mix it with skim milk or almond milk if you want a different texture or nutritional value.
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●    Lean beef aminos - Lean beef aminos are a tasty, easy source of pure aminos. Just mix a few tablespoons with six ounces of water and you’ve got a delicious post-workout shake.

●    Combination of carbs, BCAA’s, and protein source - You can combine any of the things listed above. It’s easy to add a scoop of BCAA’s or waxy maize to your protein powder or LBA mix for a more complete shake.

Remember to plan ahead and bring your post-workout meal/shake with you to the gym so you can replenish your body with essential nutrients within a half hour of your workout. You work hard in the gym, so reap the rewards of your efforts by following up with good post-workout nutrition!

Kari Keenan
National-Level NPC Figure Competitor
FigureGirlWorld.com