Are you sabotaging your fat loss goals?
What you do prior to, and after your workout is just as important as the exercises itself, so why do people refuel with junk? People choose to exercise for a variety of reasons: to look good, lose excess fat, maintain or get fit, reduce pain, correct posture, and/or to be able to do the things they love, such as golf, or being able to play with their grandkids, so I don’t know why people think it’s okay to pig out right after a workout session.
One woman rewards her walk with a couple of chocolate bars, a man feasts on drive-through fast-food after his workout session with his trainer in the park, and, this one is the most common, join friends for lunch at a favorite restaurant with a high-fat, high-carb meal.
Your body is primed for food after exercise so you want to replenish with water, salt, carbohydrates from fruit or vegetables, a small amount of healthy fat (like avocado), and lean protein. Your body needs nutrients, not just calories.
Exercising won’t offset frequent bad eating habits. You cannot eat anything you want no matter how much, or how hard you exercise. You can have your lunch out with friends, and a decadent dessert once in a while; food shouldn’t be what makes you happy; it’s the friendships, experiences, and an able, healthy body that enables us to live life to the fullest.
Exercise is not punishment; stop thinking about it those terms. Exercise is the time for you to focus on yourself; the reward is THE WORKOUT!
Photo: You can get healthy options when you go out to eat, depending on where you go and what you order. Unfortunately, the portions at restaurants are much too large. Even the sushi plate with teriyaki chicken and the one-cup of rice above is too large of a serving for most people. Skip the rice, soup, and the fried foods when eating out.
