Health Clubs Pomona – The Importance Of A Post Workout Meal

Have you ever wondered about the importance of eating after an intense workout? Here it is: What you put into your body after exercise will determine how effective your workout was and the amount of results you are going to receive. Sounds kind of crucial, huh? Now is not the time to be taking eating after working out with a grain of salt. For all of you who believe that starving yourself is the way to being slim and trim, you need to take a closer look at where you are getting as far as your health and physique.

Timing is a big part of the outcome. You need not wait no longer than 90 minutes after finishing your training to eat something high in nutrients. We cannot expect to take energy from our body (otherwise known as calories and nutrients) and recover without giving back to it. In order for our body’s to recover and grow, they must first be in a catabolic state (this is the state of working out and exerting fuels, nutrients, calories, etc.) and then shortly need to assume an anabolic state. This calls for restoration of nutrients, carbohydrates, protein, and fluids. The trainers and fitness experts that are part of our Health Clubs Pomona team will strongly encourage a post-workout meal plan – it just makes sense.

Here are some great post-workout meal ideas:

1) You could come home from your workout and put 2 pieces of wheat toast in your toaster or oven, toast it, grab some peanut butter, have a sandwich and combine with a nice green leafy salad topped with olive oil dressing.

2) If you prefer more meat, you could try having some baked chicken covered in vegetables, and wrapped in tin foil for baking. Use any type of dressing that you would like for a topping, although olive oil is always strongly recommended.

3) Are you a seafood lover? Try having a bowl of shrimp, a side salad, and a hand full of blue berries for an even heartier meal.

4) You could also have some pea and potato soup and some grilled fish.

5) Meat tenderloin is high in necessary proteins for your post-workout meal. Serve this with a side of beans and broccoli, then you are good to go.

These are just a few ideas. I am sure that if you use your imagination, you can think up plenty more great post-workout meal plans. I tell me Health Clubs Pomona clients that good, supportive nutrition doesn’t’ have to be boring. Spice it up a little, add variety, and try something new. Just remember to eat your meal at the right time, the right way – with plenty of proteins, carbohydrates, and do not forget – water. Water, water, water! Drink lots of it. We need water to survive, how much less do you suppose that our bodies need water after an intense workout? That one is a given.

Just make sure that you are eating every 2 to 3 hours after your post-workout meal for up to an additional 4 to 6 hours. No one wants to be nutritionally and physically drained after a workout. The great news is that you do not have to be. Most people tend to eat more on their workout days than on days that they do not exercise, and it is understandable. Our bodies need the extra calories to burn more fat and feed more muscle gain. Whatever you do, stay hydrated and feed your body the nutrients that it needs so it can give you your best results.