Embarking on a fitness journey is like setting sail on an epic adventure. Your body is the vessel, and just like any intrepid explorer, you need the right fuel to navigate the challenges ahead. Whether you're a weekend warrior or a dedicated gym aficionado, understanding the synergy between nutrition and exercise is your compass to success. In this guide, we'll unlock the secrets of what to eat before and after your workout to maximize performance, recovery, and gains. Let's set the stage for a journey that transforms not just your body, but your entire approach to fitness. 🚀

Pre-Workout

Let's fuel up your body the right way before your workouts! Here's why a good pre-workout snack or meal matters:

• Energy Boost: Think of it like putting good fuel in your car. Eating the right kind of foods before exercise will give you the energy to push through your workout and feel stronger.

• Prevent the Hangries: Nobody wants to deal with a rumbling stomach or crashing energy mid-workout. A pre-workout snack can help prevent this!

• Muscle Support: What you eat beforehand contributes to recovery. Fueling up the right way helps your muscles perform better and repair themselves after your workout.

Timing is Key: Try to eat your snack or meal around 1-3 hours before your exercise session. This gives your body time to digest the food properly.

Here’s some specifics:

Focus on these:

• Carbs: Carbs are your body's quickest source of energy. Go for easy-to-digest options like fruit, whole-grain toast, oatmeal, or rice cakes.

• A Bit of Protein: Protein helps with muscle support and keeps you feeling a bit fuller. Greek yoghurt, peanut butter, or even a few slices of turkey are good choices.

Carbohydrates:

• General Recommendation: Aim for 1-4 grams of carbohydrates per kilogram of body weight, consumed 1-4 hours before your workout.

• Example: If you weigh 70kg, this translates to 70-280 grams of carbohydrates in your pre-workout meal or snack. Adjust this based on your workout intensity and the timing of your meal.

Protein:

• General Recommendation: Aim for 0.2-0.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight along with your pre-workout carbs.

• Example: For a 70kg person, this translates to 14-35 grams of protein.

Let's Break This Down:

• Closer to workout (1-2 hours): Choose smaller amounts of carbs and protein. A piece of fruit and a small serving of Greek yoghurt would be an easy option.

• Larger Meal (3-4 hours): You can incorporate more substantial amounts of carbs and protein. Oatmeal with berries and nuts or a whole-wheat sandwich would fit well here.

Always Listen to Your Body:

The most important thing is to find what works best for YOU.  Experiment a bit with the recommended ranges and make adjustments based on how you feel during and after your workouts. If something causes you stomach upset or sluggishness, try altering the proportions or timing of your pre-workout food.

Here are some suggestions of meals

Post-workout 

Why Post-Workout Meals Matter

• Replenish Glycogen Stores: During your workout, your muscles use up their stored energy source called glycogen. A post-workout meal containing carbohydrates helps your body quickly replenish those stores, ensuring you have energy for future workouts and daily activities.

• Muscle Repair and Growth: Exercise creates tiny tears in your muscle fibres. Eating protein after your workout provides the amino acids your body needs to repair and rebuild those muscles, potentially leading to muscle growth over time.

• Reduce Muscle Soreness:  Consuming protein and carbohydrates together may help reduce the delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) you often experience after workouts.

• Rehydration: You lose fluids through sweat during exercise. Your post-workout meal is a perfect opportunity to rehydrate with water and electrolyte-rich drinks or foods to restore proper fluid balance.

What to Include in Your Post-Workout Meal

• Carbs: Focus on easily digestible carbohydrates to replenish glycogen stores quickly. Good sources include fruit, white bread, rice, sports drinks, or potatoes.

• Protein: Opt for high-quality protein sources to help your muscles rebuild and repair. Great options include chicken, fish, eggs, Greek yogurt, lentils, tofu, or protein shakes.

• Healthy Fats: A small amount of healthy fats can help slow digestion and promote a feeling of fullness. Consider adding avocado, nuts, seeds, or nut butter to your meal.

Timing is Key

Ideally, you want to consume your post-workout meal within 30-60 minutes of finishing your exercise. This is when your muscles are primed for nutrient uptake and recovery.  If a full meal isn't convenient right away, a quick snack like a protein shake with a banana is a great starting point.

Here’s some specifics:

Immediately After Workout (within 30-60 minutes):

• Carbs for refuelling: Aim for 1-1.5 grams of carbohydrates per kilogram of body weight to kickstart the process of replenishing your muscle fuel (glycogen) stores.

• Example: For a 70 kg person, that's 70-105 grams of carbohydrates.

• Focus on fast-digesting carbs: Fruits, juices, sports drinks, white bread, or rice are good options for quick absorption.

Within 2 Hours of Your Workout:

• Protein for muscle repair: Focus on 0.3-0.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight to help your muscles rebuild and recover.

• Example: For a 70 kg person, that's 21-35 grams of protein.

• Replenish those carbs:  Continue replenishing carbohydrate stores with an additional serving similar to the immediate post-workout serving.

Important factors to consider:

• Intensity and duration: Longer or more intense workouts might necessitate the higher end of the carb and protein ranges for more efficient recovery.

• Individual Needs: Consider your training frequency and goals. People training multiple times a day or looking to maximise muscle growth may need additional protein.

Example Post-Workout Meals:

• Simple option: A protein shake with a banana or some berries.

• Heartier option: Grilled chicken salad with brown rice or a turkey sandwich on whole-wheat bread.

Hydration is Key:

Don't forget to rehydrate by drinking plenty of water throughout your recovery. Electrolyte drinks can be beneficial if you had a particularly sweaty and intense workout.

Reminder: Adjust these recommendations based on how your body feels and responds. If you're unsure about how much you need, it's always a good idea to consult with a registered dietitian for personalised guidance.

Here are some suggestions of meals

More on Hydration 

Understanding Hydration Needs

Hydration is crucial for overall health, and even more so when you're exercising. Our bodies depend on water for many vital functions, including regulating temperature, carrying nutrients, and removing waste.

General Hydration Guidelines

• Baseline: Start with 30-35 ml of water per kilogram of body weight daily.

• Individualization: This is a starting point! Increase your intake based on:

• Activity level: The more active you are, the more you'll need to drink.

• Environment: Hot weather and humidity mean you'll sweat more.

• Health conditions: Some medications and health issues can affect hydration needs.

Calculations

1. Weight Conversion: If you know your weight in pounds, divide by 2.2 to get your weight in kilograms.

2. Intake Target: Multiply your weight in kilograms by 30-35 ml for your daily target.

Pre- and Post-Workout Hydration

• Pre-Workout: Focus on additional water intake in the hours leading up to exercise.

• Post-Workout: Replenish fluids lost through sweat immediately after activity.

The Importance of Electrolytes

• What they are: Electrolytes are minerals (like sodium, potassium, and magnesium) that carry an electrical charge in your body. They're important for fluid balance, muscle function, and nerve signalling.

• During Exercise: You lose electrolytes through sweat. Prolonged or intense exercise warrants replenishing them.

• When to consider them: Electrolyte drinks or foods may be beneficial during or after prolonged workouts (over 1 hour), during exercise in hot weather, or if you sweat heavily.

Hydration Guide Table

Important Reminder: Listen to your body! Thirst is often a good indicator of dehydration. 

Wrapping up, the key takeaway is simple: effective pre and post-workout nutrition is essential for maximizing your exercise benefits. By choosing the right foods at the right times, you can improve performance, enhance recovery, and achieve your fitness goals more efficiently. It's about making informed choices that support your body's needs and your training objectives. Apply the insights shared here to fine-tune your nutritional strategy, and make each workout count towards your progress.