Should we eat before or after a workout, and what should we eat?  I do feel this is about personal preference but I shall give you the recommendations and you can see how you get on.

Meals before and after working out should contain protein, good carbs and good fats, ideally. If you wish to eat before working out and you are having a large meal, you should allow 2-3 hours before exercise, and 30 mins after a healthy snack.  Some of the foods you should try to consume are fish, beans, eggs,nuts and chicken. Also complex Carbs are good, which include, broccoli, sweet potatoes, beans and brown rice.  Of course there are some good protein shakes out there too, but its a good idea to do your research.

Should you eat after a workout? The simple is yes. Eating the correct foods after a workout will help repair your muscles and enhance recovery, and in some instances can encourage muscle growth. The best meal after a cardio workout is one full of protein and complex carbs. This should be eaten as soon as you can after exercise for best results. Ideally within 45 minutes. Some options for post workout are, chocolate milk, protein shakes, pasta, eggs, fish, chicken and greek yogurt. If you wish to add some good fats too, avocado and nuts are a great option.

On a personal note, prior to my morning classes, I workout in a ‘fasted’ state. This means I have not eaten from 8pm the previous evening, and then will wait until 12pm the following day before having a healthy lunch. This is my personal preference and feel lighter and more energetic by doing this, but this may not suit everyone.  If you have any questions about fasting feel free to message me.

The bottom line is, the food you consume needs to fuel the kind of exercise you are doing, and refuel afterwards.  The healthier and more appropriate food you consume will allow you to see better results from your workouts.

Bev

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