What you eat and drink after your workout is important.

When you exercise, you stress the body a little bit, or stress the system a little bit, and/or burn a few calories. After your workout, you need to replenish your body with quality fuel. If you have a good workout and replenish with mediocre fuel you don’t get as much of a benefit from your workout. Water is always good of course, but you also want to have some protein, some carbohydrates, and even a little fat is ok. For example, if you follow a nice workout with some water, fresh fruit, whole grain bagel or crackers with some peanut butter, this gives you a good combination of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. This way you will get the most out of your efforts.

It also makes a difference how soon after your workout you refuel. Usually, you want to take in some liquids and some quality calories within 30 minutes after finishing your workout. If it’s a hard workout or a longer workout, you want to have a larger quality meal within 2 to 3 hours of finishing your workout.

There are all kinds of expensive workout supplements and fuel sources, but most are not necessary to improve your fitness, even with advanced workouts.

Join us at our Chicas Latinas Running Group every Wednesday evening, 6:30pm at Curtis Park in Sacramento!