WHAT’S THE BEST PRE-WORKOUT MEAL OR POST-WORKOUT SNACK?

Pre- and post-workout foods are essential when training for success. The challenge: there is a general misconception about what foods and nutrients actually do for recovery and reaching your workout goals. A study among fitness enthusiasts shows, for instance, that half of the participants think that consuming carbohydrates after a workout can lead to less optimal results. Moreover, one-third of the participants don’t want to consume any calories at all directly after a workout.⁽¹⁾

When Googling “pre- and post-workout foods,” you get more than 20 million results. But what’s actually hard to find is a clear and comprehensive overview about what happens to the body when working out, why the kind of workout you do matters, and how that relates to what needs to be on your shopping list.

NUTRITION CAN PUSH YOUR WORKOUT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Your body needs the energy to function and perform during your workout. By burning the three major macronutrients (carbohydrates, fat, and protein), your body gains energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the most important energy source for your body.

If energy isn’t needed, it is stored as creatine phosphate, glycogen and fat. Depending on the intensity of your workout and how quickly you need an energy boost, you’ll get it from ATP.

TRAIN BETTER WITH THE RIGHT NUTRITION

Nutrition for Endurance training

• When you start a cardio workout, your body burns the glycogen in your blood and your muscles first. 
• These glycogen stores can provide well-trained athletes with energy for 1.5 to 2 hours. 
• When marathon runners hit the wall or bonk during the race, it means they’ve used up their glycogen stores, and their energy level crashes. 
• Electrolytes (natrium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) keep your body going (fluid balance, muscle contraction, and nerve impulses).