With all the health information that is becoming increasingly available nowadays thanks to popularity of the Internet and other technologies, a lot of people are beginning to take their health more seriously and are making efforts to get into better shape. However, some people tend to miss out on some basic things which may slow down their progress.
After exercising in the morning, it is only proper that you eat something solid and filling, especially if you have not eaten anything in the last 4 to 6 hours. You may ignore the need to eat if you are only doing light or moderate exercises, but if it is a high intensity or a vigorous workout, it is important that you eat something to help speed up the recovery of your strength.
However, what you eat after a workout plays a great role in your health and in the recovery of your muscles. This is where a lot of people make mistakes, because they really don’t pay much attention to what they eat. Read on to learn about some of these eating mistakes that you might be making.
1. You don’t plan ahead
One of the ways to attain your health goals is by planning well in advance, and this is especially important when it comes to eating right. There is a great likelihood that you will opt for an unhealthy food option after your workout, since you might be too tired to prepare something healthy to eat. In addition, the brain has been wired to crave high-calorie, energy-rich foods when we’re hungry, and this may also affect your decision making. You can pick out your meal before working out or even a day before, while you are in the right frame of mind and are not hungry.
2. You don’t consume enough carbs
Muscles require a lot of glycogen after a high intensity workout such as running or swimming. Although carbs are known to increase blood sugar levels, they are also needed to build and maintain muscles. Avoid unhealthy carbs such as sugary cereals, cakes, pastries, bread products and sugary drinks, as they can cause a spike in blood sugar levels if taken in large quantities. You can however opt for healthy carbs such as those found in fruits, vegetables, legumes (beans), whole grains and yogurt.
3. You don’t drink enough water
Water should be the first thing that you should take after a workout session, because you get dehydrated while you workout, even if it’s a light workout that doesn’t make you sweat hard. Dehydration causes excessive thirst, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing and fever, which can lead to the impairment of your health. By drinking enough water, you help your kidneys to filter waste from the blood effectively and excrete it in your urine. This may also be effective in the prevention of urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
If you’re making any of these mistakes, you should correct them as soon as you can help to improve your health and make your exercises worth the effort.
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