Why The Post Workout Period Is Important For Nutrition

By Russ Howe


In your quest to learn how to build muscle more effectively you'll probably encounter people talking about the post-workout nutrition window. We are going to look at this today and help you learn the facts on this topic, dispelling some of the common myths in the process.

Like most things in life, you tend to get best results when you keep things as simple as possible. When it comes to building a better body that rule is certainly true.

If you are a regular exercise enthusiast or trainer you may or may not have already heard people at your local fitness center or health spa talking about this. For a while it was simply a rumor, an almost mythical 'golden period' after a training session where your body would be able to make fantastic strides forward if you used the time wisely. It has since been proven to be a fact, of course, and today we're going to answer the most commonly asked questions. These include:

* How long does this golden window last?

* Are some foods superior to others after a workout?

* How does this situation exist in the first place?

* What's going to happen if you miss it?

We'll be discussing all of the questions above. The magic window is something which occurs after you complete an exercise session. Basically your body is trying to replace all of the nutrients it has just lost.

Your muscles are starving and they want to eat immediately. Whatever you decide to eat in this short period will be consumed as quickly as possible by your body. Try providing it with an already nutritious option and you'll notice that your body is able to make the absolute most of it.

The window itself is believed to last approximately 45 minutes after you finish a workout, meaning you have three quarters of an hour to get some food into your muscles.

Using your own common sense you'll be able to now see that it wouldn't make be a great idea to start eating a source of complex carbohydrates because the window will have slammed shut before your body was able to break the food down...

This is where shakes come in very handy. A post-workout whey protein shake followed by a source of simple carbohydrates will work wonders for your results. Quick carbs are usually associated with fast food or chocolate, of course, which isn't the direction we want you to go in. Instead, use healthier options like cereal or fruit.

It's that source of instant energy which you are looking for after a hard workout. Furthermore, your digestive system will try to use as much of the meal as it possibly can. That's right, even more than it usually would if you consumed it at another point in the day.

If you miss the window you probably won't realize it. It doesn't mean your workout was for nothing, it just means it could have been slightly better overall. People have been training for years now and still have no idea this even exists, so it's not going to be the end of the world by any means.

Knowing how to build muscle or how to lose weight effectively is one thing, of course. Doing it is another thing entirely. You're now the proud owner of the information many people in the gym never discover. Use it wisely and it can push your own results to the next level.




About the Author: