Happy Eating!

Fresh Fruit for Deb by Christine is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

I know that sometimes, after a workout, you just want to reward yourself for all the blood, sweat, and tears that you had just shed. But think before you reach for that cookie! Here are a few suggestions of things to eat before and after your workout to gain optimal results.

Contrary to what some of us may think, not eating before a workout is not good for you. Yes, it may help you lose weight, but it’s extremely unhealthy. If you are eating an hour or thirty minutes before your workout, it’s a good idea to reach for some fresh fruit, such as apples or watermelon. Eating a few hours before you hit the gym? Go for some bread and peanut butter, yogurt, potatoes, pasta, or cereal. The main thing is to eat something that is easy to digest. You wouldn’t want to consume an entire feast and go to your workout feeling heavy and sluggish, would you?

Just as it’s important to eat well before your workout, it’s equally imperative to eat a healthy meal afterwards. In most cases, it would be best to eat within the hour after completing your exercises. And when you do eat, I would suggest gravitating towards protein or carbohydrates (whole wheat grains). During your workout, your muscles are worn down and ripped up. With this in mind, its important to consume some sort of protein, whether it’s in a protein shake or a protein bar. Protein helps to rebuild your muscles. It’s also a good idea to eat turkey, grilled fish, or grilled chicken. And if you’re in the mood for dessert, try some fresh fruit!

Happy eating!