Guidelines for Eating Before and After Workouts

Exercise helps you reduce body fat, build muscle, strengthen your body and improve your mood, but it’s not always easy to understand the best way to fuel your body before and after you work out. Everyone has different needs, but there are a few basic principles that you can use to keep your body as healthy as possible during and after exercise. Check out some of these helpful tips from a wellness coach in Phoenix, AZ so that you can improve your workouts and your recovery:

• Eat before working out: What you eat before your workout should give you the boost of energy you need to stay focused and make it through challenging exercises. Working out on an empty stomach can leave you feeling weak and dizzy, and may negatively impact your performance. You should eat about two hours before your workout and try to load up on healthy carbohydrates like whole wheat toast, brown rice or carbohydrate-dense fruits and vegetables. Regardless of what meal you choose to eat, it’s important to hydrate with plenty of water, too. If you don’t have time to eat a couple of hours before your workout, you can eat an apple or banana a few minutes before exercising to get some fuel into your system.
• Eat during exercise: If you work out for an hour or less at a time, you probably don’t need to eat anything to keep your body going. During your workout, make sure to take small sips of water periodically to keep yourself hydrated. Avoid drinking too much water at once, since this can make you feel bloated and sluggish during your workout. For longer, more intense workouts, it’s a good idea to snack on an energy bar, dried fruit or a banana every 30 minutes or so. These small snacks will keep your energy levels up during vigorous exercise and long workouts.
• Eat for recovery: After your workout, you should focus on helping your body recover and heal itself. Stay hydrated and try blending your water with some pure fruit juice to give you some added nutrients, electrolytes and minerals. You should eat some carbohydrates (like whole grains) and some protein to help repair and rebuild your muscles. An apple with peanut butter, some chicken with vegetables or a whole grain bagel are all good options to help fuel your body after a workout for the recovery process.

At Pamela Young Fitness, we know that it’s not always easy to keep your body healthy. That’s why we’re here to provide you with wellness coaching and personal training to get your body into the best shape possible. Regardless of what your specific goals may be and where you’re starting from, our team is here to support you and help you achieve the results you’re looking for. For years, we have offered services and resources to our clients in a fun and supportive environment where they can thrive. Find out more about everything we have to offer by giving us a call or stopping by to speak with a wellness coach in Phoenix, AZ today.

Categorised in: Wellness Coach