Foods To Boost Your Workout

Oh my goodness, Rough Runners is just a few days away, and I am now quite scared but super excited at the same time. With training to do this crazy obstacle course in London and just trying in general to get fitter and healthier this year as well as trying to tone up as much as possible, I have had to change and improve my eating habits. Firstly I changed or excluded certain foods and treats to loose the weight, then I needed to change to make sure I had enough energy to do exercise with. As that's one of the dangers, if you don't eat enough but then do a massive workout, it can actually do you more damage than good.

I have been sent a really good article that I wanted to share with you, so you can learn too.

Foods to boost your workout

If you’re serious about getting the very best from your exercise regime, you’ll know that nutrition is absolutely crucial. The foods you fuel your body with can help it perform better and for longer, as well as helping to build and repair muscles.

Here are 5 recommended foods to help you get the most from your next workout:

1       Water. While not technically a food, water has to come top of the list of essentials for any workout. It is vital to keep your body hydrated during exercise, as even mild dehydration can slow you right down. Dehydration can even cause you to feel lightheaded and dizzy as well as fatigued and sluggish, and this can massively disrupt your workout.

2    Bananas. A banana is essentially a natural, healthy version of an energy bar. It is portable and perfect for helping you refuel just before or even during a workout, plus its high potassium levels can help you avoid muscle cramps.

3    Porridge or oats. If you need lots of energy and you need those energy supplies to last longer, slow-burning fuels such as oats are the ideal choice. These slowly digested carbs are turned into glucose by your body, which is its main source of fuel. Oats also contain fibre, which helps you to work out longer and stronger. Just make sure you don’t eat a giant bowl of oatmeal just before a workout, as it can feel quite heavy on the stomach.

4    Eggs. Eggs have a lovely high protein count, so are perfect for those with active lifestyles who need lots of protein after workouts to help repair muscles and feel fuller. Having an egg for breakfast or lunch each day is a very good idea if you want to get the most from your workouts.

5    Greek Yogurt. This is another food that makes you feel fuller for longer, as its high protein count affects your satiation as well as helping to efficiently build and repair muscles. Greek yogurt also has lower salt and sugar levels than other types of yogurt.

 

What to eat and drink post-workout

After a workout, it’s not uncommon for people to feel cravings for high-carb foods, chocolate or other ‘naughty’ foods. This is most likely because your body has burned a lot of energy and now needs carbs and protein in order to recover. Rather than undo all of the good work you’ve done in the gym, try the following healthy but satisfying post-workout snacks:

·         Low-fat chocolate milk. This is the perfect thing to have after your workout, as it’s satisfying, filling and will hit that chocolate craving right on the nose. It also has lots of protein in it and just enough carbs to get your energy levels right back up again.

·         Blueberries. Sweet enough to feel like a treat, but packed with carbs and antioxidants, berries are the ideal snack post-workout. While it may not be proven that super foods like blueberries can help prevent or fight cancer, the antioxidants they contain can help to reduce certain types of cell damage. 

      

      Specialists like The Christie Clinic can offer more information and advice on this. 

      I'm glad I shared this and I'm also glad that I actually love all of these foods, and I actually eat them all regularly. Funny though, as last night I had blueberries and banana with Greek Yogurts as part of my dinner. It was extremely filling and delicious at the same time. If you've read my previous posts, you'll know that if any food is linked to helping or preventing cancer I will include it into my diet whether I like it or not. Luckily most of the time I do like it, or I've grown to like it. Like blueberries for example. I would never have eaten these as a child, but now as an adult I eat them a lot, either as they are or I'll add a handful to a smoothie. Blueberries are the perfect fruit to keep in the freezer too, so you'll never waste them. Just serve or eat them frozen, they soon defrost. 

      We must all look after ourselves, we only have one body so let's try and do it proud. 

     *This post is in collaboration with The Christie Clinic