Whether you are a weekend warrior or fitness junkie, it is important to make sure that you are fuelled properly for your work out, game, or activity. In order to get the most out of your workout, your body needs resources like carbohydrates, protein, certain amino acids, and fats. Without adequate nutrition, you are at greater risk for:
• Fatigue during activity
• Fatigue post-activity
• Chronic or nagging injuries
• Plateaus (ie. you stopped gaining muscle mass despite working out consistently)
If you feel that you have not been getting the results you were expecting after months of working out consistently, it may be time to take a look at your diet before, during, and after your workouts.
One of the key issues in sports nutrition is recovery after physical activity. Most people are fixated on what they eat before and during their sport, but forget about what they do after they exercise. Recovery is an extremely important factor in how your body responds to the workout, and may actually determine whether or not your body benefits from the run or bicep curls you just finished. Here are some post workout tips to help you make sure you benefit from your workout:
• Carry a snack with you that you can eat right after your activity
• Eat your snack within 30 minutes of finishing your activity
• Make sure your snack has both protein and carbs, and not much fat
• Avoid sugary drinks like Gatorade and Powerade
• Drink plenty of water
Remember, there are differences in nutrient requirements within each sport/activity. Talk to one of our naturopathic doctors if you need help figuring out what and when to eat.