Dec
10
Post Workout Meals
Filed Under Eating Healthy, Work Out
I’ve tried a lot of post workout meals over the years. Some were good, some were bad and some were really bad. Here’s what I’ve learned.
Bad Post Workout Meals
Light snacks like fruit are usually pretty bad. I like these before a workout for a quick burst of energy that doesn’t weight me down. Post workout, all they do is make me hungry. If I have an apple or an orange after I work out, I actually feel hungrier after eating it. So I end up eating more. These kinds of snacks just don’t have the nutrients that your body is looking for after a hard workout. They’re meant more for quick fuel, not post exercise repairs and recovery.
Really Bad Post Workout Meals
This includes all those silly sports drinks like Gatorade and Redbull. They’re nothing but sugar and caffeine. Don’t drink them, ever! Seriously, I can’t tell you how often I see people chugging these down after a workout. They’ve basically bought into the advertising that says, this is what athletes drink. Well, first of all, no athlete in their right mind drinks crap like Redbull. Second, drinks like Gatorade are meant for really long cardio workouts during which your body is almost completely drained. So if you’re running a serious number of miles a day, maybe a bit of Gatorade is ok. For the rest of us who just workout like normal people, water is just fine as a post workout drink.
Good Post Workout Meals
The combo that Iike is a good source of protein combined with some healthy carbs. The carbs restore my energy levels, while the protein st repairing the damage to my muscles. So far, the best meal I’ve found is two scrambled eggs on some whole wheat toast with veggies like tomatoes and cucumbers. It’s amazing how tasty that sandwich is after some gym time. Calorie wise, it’s not too bad. Depending on the bread and the number of eggs you use, it’s going to be somewhere from 300 to 500 calories. However, those calories are healthy, and they’ll have you feeling full and satisfied. If you’re not a vegetarian like me, feel free to switch out the eggs for a healthy portion of lean protein like turkey. Just don’t go crazy with the cheeses and other sandwich fillers that tend to add too many calories for their volume.
Summary
Just remember, a workout is not an excuse to overeat or eat unhealthy. Don’t undo everything you’ve accomplished in the gym with your very first drink or meal.
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Oh I stopped drinking Gatorade years ago because it’s loaded with high fructose corn syrup. My favorite post workout meal is a salad with avocado and some protein like turkey or shrimp. Running for some reason makes me crave avocado.