When people think of losing weight or getting in shape they often only focus on lowering calories or hitting the gym to run on the treadmill, however, most forget that in order to get fit, you can't just focus on one or the other.
Getting into shape means changing your lifestyle and figuring out how to incorporate healthy eating, strength training, and cardio into your daily schedule.
When you combine these three elements, you'll start to see the results you want.
One of the most important things a lot of people tend to neglect is the post-workout meal or snack. Sometimes people forget to eat something afterwards and sometimes people feel like it would be counterproductive to eat after a workout (why consume the calories you just burnt?)
But the post workout snack is very important for both weight loss and muscle growth. If you're trying to lose weight, eating smaller meals throughout the day will help keep you full and less likely to binge later in the day, so fueling up after a workout is an ideal time to get something small in, so as not to overeat down the road.
But the most important reason to eat after a workout is to refuel your muscles. After working out your muscles become depleted and need to be replenished with the proper nutrition in order to grow stronger.
Fueling our bodies gives us the energy is continue on our fitness journey and not lose sight of our goals.
What should I eat to refuel?
There are many different options to refuel after a workout, but in general you'll want a carb and protein rich snack or meal.
Some ideas might include:
- a protein shake made with organic protein powder and milk (almond, coconut, raw)
- power trail mix via Nuts.com
- an apple with almond or peanut butter
- energy bites (made with chia seeds, dates, flax, etc) via Nuts.com
I used to try not to eat anything after my workouts because I feared I would lose my progress, but once I grasped the idea of my body needing to refuel, I've found that I not only feel 100 times better after working out, I see more progress in my physique and also in my overall strength.
Try some of these great snack ideas from Nuts.com to get you started on your refueling journey!! They all look amazing...I need to try some of their granola.