Great Timing

Today I'd like to discuss what you should be doing after your workout. Okay, shower of course! Actually, I want to talk about what you should consume. As you may or may not know, there is a crucial window after your workout which is referred to as the anabolic phase. "Immediately after exercise, muscle cells are extremely sensitive to the anabolic effects of the hormone insulin...consumption of carbohydrates during this time period is so important for driving muscle glycogen recovery and muscle tissue repair and synthesis...protein consumed without carbohydrate is far less efficient during the anabolic phase...specific antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and amino acids can speed muscle recovery," according to the book "Nutrient Timing" by Dr. John Ivy, Ph.D., and Dr. Robert Portman, Ph. D. This book goes into much more detail, and I simply explain it this way: you need carbohydrates to replenish the muscle energy depleted during intense workouts, and protein to support repair and recovery to build muscle mass and strength.

If you aren't eating anything after your workouts, you are missing the boat and quite possibly the most important aspect of your fitness. After all, muscle is built after your workouts and while you rest and sleep, not during your exercises. Furthermore, though whole foods and grains support an overall healthy diet and lifestyle, you may still miss the window if your body is still digesting after an hour or two post-workout. Therefore, you should consume quick-absorbing carbs, protein, and other nutrients to replenish your body after a workout. For more information on this, I highly suggest reading "Nutrient Timing" as it will help you understand in way more depth what actually happens and how to appropriately time your sports nutrition. If you want a great post-workout supplement based on these principles, I highly suggest the P90X Results and Recovery Formula. Click on the link or the title to this blog to connect to my Team Beachbody store to pick up a month's worth of convenient packets or check out the tub. I use this formula as part of my post-workout recovery and have been for almost two years now. Please contact me for more info. Have a great weekend, and thanks for reading!