Post workout snacks that you should avoid

Had a great workout today? Feeling like the extra pounds are finally coming off? Perfect! But that rigorous exercise probably made you hungry enough to eat your entire refrigerator!

So, what did you do? Did you reach for the first thing you saw in the pantry or fridge? Did you carefully plan out what you were going to eat? Chances are you may have chosen the wrong post workout snack.
Eating after your workout is as equally important as fueling up before hand, but you don’t want to reach for just anything! What you put into your body after you workout has a major effect on your weight loss goals! If you’re eating the wrong foods post workout, you’ll be sure to cancel out all of the work you just put in exercising! After that tough workout, be sure to avoid these foods after your sweat session!

·         Raw Veggies: Raw vegetables are among the healthiest and most nutritious foods you can eat, they aren’t exactly the right foods to consume right after your workout. Surprised? Here’s why: Raw veggies aren’t substantial enough to help you recover energy and restore metabolism.

·         High Calorie foods: A 30-minute run burns about 270 calories, so you don’t want to undo all your hard work by gulping down a 400-calorie smoothie and a 200-calorie energy bar.  Yes, these foods can be healthy, but that’s still a 600-calorie snack. Stick to something lighter in calorie count to avoid weight gain.

·         Sugary treats: Intense workouts often create cravings for a delicious treat, but don’t be tempted! Foods like cookies, brownies, or ice cream have a high sugar content that may create a quick energy burst, but it doesn’t offer sustained energy or satisfy hunger in the long run.

·         Just carbs: Before working out, you should fuel up on carbs. Although they’re important after a workout as well, protein is a must to help repair and build muscle.

·         Salty snacks: Chips, pretzels or other salty snacks are quite harmful if consumed straight after the workout. They shake the salt-water balance of the body and reduce the potassium levels in the body.

If you really want serious and positive results from your workout, be careful about what you do and do not eat straight afterwards. A lot of water and some fruits to snack on can be the best bet to help maintain the effects of a rigorous workout! Stay healthy!