Foods and exercise are directly connected. This is important to know to get the most out of your workout? Then you’ll need to make sure that you’re providing your body with the right foods before you get started, and after you’re finished sweating. This will help to ensure that your muscles have the ideal fuels so that you’ll burn the most calories, power through your workout, and yet still build the most lean muscle (natural calorie burners that will help you to burn even more effectively in the long term).
Foods to Eat Around Your Exercise
Foods for Before You Exercise
The following are some of the best foods to eat before a workout so that you can be sure that you’re fueling up the right way to maximize your weight loss:
- Whole wheat toast with cinnamon and banana slices – Even if you’re on a reduced carb diet, then make sure that the carbs that you do eat are consumed before you work out. The key is to make sure that you mix complex and simple carbs so that you’ll have the ideal release of energy throughout your workout.
You’ll not only be able to burn off the carbs that you eat, but you’ll maximize your energy levels to power forward and get yourself into great shape. The banana in this snack is also important because it adds potassium, which can rapidly drop while you sweat. Cinnamon is a natural blood sugar stabilizer and it boosts brain function, so an added dash will top off the benefits of this food choice.
- Greek yogurt with trail mix – Yogurt is a snack that is high in protein and very easy on your stomach. When you eat that along with a good quality trail mix you’ll get your body fired up and ready to blast through your exercises. Just make sure that the trail mix that you choose is made up of nuts and dried fruits and does not contain fillers such as bits of chocolates, other types of candies or sugared yogurt drops.
Foods for After Your Workout
After your workout, the following foods can give your body the ideal nutrient balance:
- Grilled chicken and mixed veggies – once you’re done working out, your body flips into a healing and recovery mode. This requires a lot of nutrients, so give yourself a lean protein such as skinless chicken breast, and lots of veggies that are packed with nutrients. This will help you to feel full without becoming bloated.
- A vegetable egg white omelet with avocado – eggs are a tremendous source of lean protein and can help your muscles to recover and grow. By cutting out the yolks, you slash the calories and virtually eliminate the bad cholesterol. By mixing in a load of veggies and garnish with some avocado slices, you’ll build up on monosaturated fats (the good kind that are great for weight loss) and you’ll feel filled up, energized, and ready take on your workout again tomorrow.
The Difference Food Makes
Food is the perfect complement to a great workout. Aside from your fitness level itself, it is one of the top factors to determine your performance. It also helps to dictate how you feel during your exercises. Moreover, it will also help you to recover faster and prevent certain injuries from happening in the first place.
It’s all well and good to strengthen your body as much as you can with regular workouts. However, if you aren’t giving your body the fuel it needs to perform at its best, you simply won’t get to where you want to be. You’ll struggle with fatigue and weakness that wouldn’t otherwise be there.
Picking the Right Options
Choosing the right foods before your workout leaves you feeling energized without being bogged down or heavy. The right ones after your exercises help you to recover more quickly and support muscle healing. Selecting the right snacks or meals before and after your gym sessions can also help you to know you’re getting the right number of calories. You’ll give yourself the benefits you want, fill yourself as much as you need to be satisfied and yet not promote unwanted fat storage.
Get started with the above options and come to discover exactly what those foods for exercise (before and after) can do for your body. Then you’ll be more ready to continue to add to your choices and make a great difference to your results.
