Finished working out but skipping your post-workout snack? Well, that’s not a good idea. Experts recommend eating or drinking simple, nutritious food within an hour after a workout to maximise the results. Even if you don’t have sufficient time to prepare a snack, remember that food intake is essential for your body to recover properly. Delaying or ignoring to eat after working out at a 24 hour gym Sydney will impact your performance over time. Take a look at these three reasons that explain why you shouldn’t avoid eating after a long workout.

Cramping and Loss of Muscle Mass:

Skipping your snack will eventually reduce the glycogen level in your body. As a result, it will depend on other sources of energy such as fat and muscles. If this continues for a few days, you will slowly lose your muscle mass. Additionally, you will lose lots of electrolytes by sweating during workouts, which results in cramping.

Low Blood Sugar:

Ignoring your post-workout snack not only impacts your muscle mass but your blood sugar as well. If you workout at a 24 hour gym Sydney every morning or evening without replenishing the nutrients and fluids, it lowers the blood sugar level in your body. This occurs due to the decrease in glycogen content, as described earlier. When your brain is running short on sugar, it will look into other sources and slow down its functionality, resulting in dizziness or fainting. Glycogen will be restored when you replenish your energy levels with a healthy workout snack, but it takes some time to do so.

Dehydration:

Drinking fluids is as important as eating. If you don’t drink enough after a workout, you will get dehydrated. Even during optimal weather conditions, you are likely to sweat a lot, so compensate for the loss of fluid by drinking water or a good drink suggested by your gym Sydney. Electrolytes are necessary for your heart and muscle to function correctly. Drink water both before and after a workout to stay hydrated.

3 Foods You Should NOT Eat After Working Out:

Eating the wrong food can do as much damage as skipping a healthy post-workout snack. Stay away from these foods after your workouts:

• Spicy Foods: Foods containing hot sauce, salsa, or other related ingredients take quite some time to digest. Your post-workout diet must be easy to digest since your body is going through recovery.
• Soda: You might be thinking soda is a great alternative to water after a workout, but it’s a huge no-no. Soda doesn’t help hydrate your body. Instead, it can make you feel bloated.
• Junk Food: Maybe you are craving a hot burger or French fries as you pass by a fast-food joint, but do whatever it takes to stay away. Junk food is never a healthy choice after a workout, mainly due to the trans fats ruining all your efforts.

Never underestimate the value of a good pre/post-workout snack. It will only help you get closer to your fitness goals. Talk to professional fitness trainers at local gyms if you have any questions.