Food is the body’s fuel. Without fuel, your body functions a
bit differently. Fuel is essential to the body because it supplies us with
energy and calories that sustain us during the day. Like I said, the body will
work differently in ways that you may or may not notice.
Take these examples and see which one works out the best.
Say before a work out, you have a large meal with lots of
carbs and fats and proteins. Though you have consumed important nutrients that
your body needs, it filled up your stomach and may have made you drowsy and
feeling bloated. These are not good work out conditions.
Having no snack at all before a exercising period is the
worst of all particularly worse in the morning. Worse in the morning because
you have no fuel left over from earlier in the day. That puts your body is a
state of still being asleep. You may not feel tired, but inside is different.
You are ruining your metabolism and instead of fuel or the food you have
consumed being burnt up, your fat and muscle is. Well, fat isn’t a good thing
exactly. If you are fit, then the fat on your body is more like padding than
extra weight.
Now, what is a good example of a healthy way to prepare for
burning calories food-wise? Eating a regular sized to you snack loaded with
protein, has a good amount of carbs and has plenty of calories. A good example
of this is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or peanut butter. Peanut butter
is good for you.
Five hour energy? Yeah, they say that you will have energy
for five hours and you won’t crash and burn. You will stay awake and alert. That’s
their ad. The truth? Nope, not one bit. You should just stay away because, no
doubt that they have tons of sugar and really, probably don’t even work.
While you are preforming your work out or playing your
sport, it is important to keep on reload on energy. There are certain things
that are very necessary during practice like fluids. No, not sodas or
juices. Juices and sodas have a lot of
sugars that will keep you up for a little while, but eventually, you will crash
and won’t have enough energy to finish you exercise well. So what to drink?
Gatorade or PowerAde or Vitamin Water or any type of sports drink? Yes, they do
have energy that will keep you running during working out but, they have a lot
of sugar that is not exactly healthy for you. Water is the best for you. No, it doesn’t
taste amazing, doesn’t have added energy but, it is what is best for your body.
Replenishing yourself after you are done is almost as
important as eating before. You won’t ruin your workout by eating after and
earning back your calories. Your body will need those calories and it will be
healthier for you. A good after snack is probably the same a a good before
snack. Protein and carbs need to be reloaded back into your system.
The next time you work out, keep in mind you are trying to
make yourself healthier so you need to take all the steps to make sure it is
the best for you.
