Everyone has their own reasons for exercising, whether it’s to bulk up, lose weight, improve flexibility, or just to maintain their current level of health. Whatever your reasoning may be, there are ways to enhance each and every workout to achieve your goal, especially when it comes to diet and nutrition. Did you know that you can actually enhance your workout with the foods you eat as well? Common knowledge says that if you want to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you take in. However, we’re not just talking about food as a weight loss tool here, rather using food to enhance your workouts according to your particular fitness goal.
Carbs
Carbs aren’t as bad as some would make them out to be. How many of those diets that you’ve found have decried carbohydrates as the enemy? You should look at carbohydrates as the fuel your body needs to push you through your workouts. The key is learning which carbs are best for your body and what times are the best to consume them. If you prefer to do your workouts in the morning, consider eating oatmeal or plain Greek yogurt with berries and granola for breakfast. They’re quick-digesting carbs that will give you the fuel you need to burn through those morning workouts. The yogurt leads us to the next important nutrient for your workouts: protein.
Protein
Whether you’re doing hardcore weightlifting or low intensity workouts to improve muscle tone, there is a major need for protein in your diet. Even without a workout routine, protein is necessary for so many aspects of the body’s performance at the cellular level. However, when you’re exercising, the muscles are effectively being broken down and the protein you consume will help your body repair them. There are plenty of ways to add protein to your diet without feeling like you’re overdosing on meat. Of course red meat, chicken, and pork are the best ways to incorporate protein, but with the proper recipe, there are plenty of unique and delicious ways to add protein to your diet without so much meat.
The Ultimate Meal
Now that we know the two most important nutrients to enhance your workout, we’re going to give you a few suggestions for the ultimate pre-workout meal. If you’re the early bird type that likes to get your workout over first thing in the morning a breakfast of whole wheat toast slathered with peanut butter and topped with sliced banana and cinnamon is the perfect start. The toast has your carbs, the peanut butter gives you protein, and the bananas will boost your potassium levels which tend to drop after profuse sweating. The cinnamon isn’t there to just enhance the flavor, but has also been known to stabilize blood sugar and boost brain function.
If your time before a workout is limited, a smoothie or protein shake is the way to go. You can throw in a dash of flavored protein powder with whole milk, bananas, berries, and yogurt for the carbs, protein, and healthy fats to keep you full while also giving you the fuel you need to get you through that workout.
Even if you’re not planning on working out after dinner, a good meal at the end of the day is still important for muscle recovery as well as replacing the nutrients you may have burned off throughout the day. Grilled salmon not only gives you the necessary protein, it also contains bioactive peptides known to reduce inflammation, regulate insulin levels, while also providing joint support. Add some sweet potatoes on the side and now you have the complex carbs while also restoring your glycogen levels that are often lowered after a workout.
Food doesn’t have to be the enemy when it comes to physical fitness. It just takes an understanding of what you’re putting into your body and how it relates to your workout goals. Use your diet and nutrition to your benefit and you’ll find that your workouts are taken to the next level each and every time.
