In case you didn’t know, the time you spend after a workout may determine how your body will look moving forward.
Spend a lot of time running around and not eating—good chance your success will be limited.
But:
If you feed your body right—after a workout—then you may see better definition in your body, better gains in strength and endurance…and most importantly, better overall weight loss and body fat loss.
Now, before you think that any old food will do, there are some important things to consider when choosing your after workout meal.
First, it should have protein—at least 15 to 25 grams.
Second, it should have some sort of carbohydrate with it—like fruits and veggies.
That’s it! Pretty simple right?
WRONG! Since there are so many different foods that fall into this category, where shall one start?
Well, we here at Prograde feel that you should start with these THREE powerful options immediately after your workout:
1. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is a fantastic source of protein—falling in the ranges of 15 to 24 grams depending on the brand you choose.
Compared to regular yogurt, that is roughly DOUBLE the normal protein levels!
What about carbs? Simple—just stir in a cup of berries in order to meet your carb to protein ratio!
On a side note, eating Greek yogurt before bed may also be beneficial. You see, Greek yogurt contains casein protein, which is a much slower digested protein.
This allows for a sustained release of protein throughout the night, therefore supplying your body with plenty of amino acids to keep repairing and building metabolism-boosting lean muscle mass.
A post-workout shake is probably your best bet when it comes to getting protein into your body as fast as possible.
Most post-workout shakes contain whey protein. Unlike casein, whey is a much faster acting and absorbed type of protein.
If you’re worried about the carbs, don’t be! Some workout shakes contain the right mix of carbs to protein.
If yours doesn’t, then you might want to switch to one that contains a 2:1 ratio of protein to carbs in order to fully get the benefits of your protein shake.
3. Eggs
Once again, eggs make the list as one of the best foods to eat—this time after a workout!
Eggs contain some of the highest quality proteins around! And weighing in at about 40 calories, they are full of protein AND good for those watching their calorie intake.
One egg contains around 6 grams of protein, so be sure to eat a few after a workout in order to gain all the full benefits that eggs have to offer.
And be sure that you eat the yolks as they are full of nutrients your body needs to stay healthy and fit.
One such nutrient happens to be choline! This powerful nutrient has been shown to help your body burn fat and lower your cholesterol at the same time!
Time to Power Up Your Post-Workout Nutrition
There is a very crucial time after your workout—usually 45 minutes to an hour after—when your body is primed to take on protein, carbs, water, and fat and use them to the best of its ability.
However, not everyone eats the right foods after their workout!
And this could lead to serious misses on your gains or your fat loss. However, if you include the foods from above—and pair them with a side of fruit—you could truly power-up your nutrition immediately after your workout.
So, if you’re struggling to see gains—or to lose body fat—then try including these THREE foods after your workout is over!
