Whether you’re looking to get in better shape, loose weight, or both, eating and exercise go hand in hand. And, what you eat impacts not only how successful your workouts will be, but how you feel during your workout. Here’s a few tips to help you maximize your workouts.
- Eat a Healthy Breakfast – If you prefer to exercise in the morning, this may mean getting up a little earlier for your workouts than you may be used do, but it’s important to get some fuel in your body for your workouts. Having a breakfast with some healthy carbohydrates about an hour before your workout, helps your workouts with a bit of extra energy, allowing you to work out longer, or at a higher intensity. A bit of yogurt, whole grain cereal, or a banana is a great way to accomplish this.
- Stick with Smaller Portions – If you eat too much prior to your workout, your body may still be moving blood to your stomach for digestion – precisely when your body needs that blood flow for your muscles. Avoid that sluggish feeling during a workout by keeping your pre-exercise food portions smaller.
- Eat After a Workout – You’ve just completed your workout. And, thanks to that pre-workout meal, you really went after it this time, and had a great, aggressive, productive workout as well! Now that your workout is over, your body needs to recover. And a post workout meal of both carbohydrates and protein is important to help rebuild your muscles, and replace their glycogen stores. This can help keep your post workout metabolism peaked for fat burning.
- Hydrate! – Dehydration can not only kill a workout, it can also be dangerous. You need to drink up before, during, and after your workouts. The best way to do this, according to the American College of Sports Medicine, is to drink 2-3 cups of water 2 hours before your workout, about a cup of water every 20 minutes during your workout, and another 2-3 cups of water after your workout for every pound of weight lost due to sweating during your workout.
And, if you want to maximize your workouts, workout out at home is the best way to accomplish this! At Fitness 4 Home Superstore, we have the industry’s best cardio equipment, strength training equipment, and fitness accessories. Stop into any of our three Phoenix-area locations today!
