WHAT TO EAT AFTER A WORKOUT + WHY

Hey all! :)As a trainer I get asked all sorts of questions about nutrition.  This is one that almost everyone has!...so here it is!"What should I eat after my workout?" said every person ever.Within 5-10 minutes after a workout, you should consume some form of natural sugars.  One of the best forms is a clementine.  They are easy to store in your gym bag, easy to peel, super tasty, and they are a liquid form of natural sugar so they are able to hit your system much faster than, say a banana.  About 30-60 minutes after that, a high protein source.  A great option here is a Protein Shake or Eggs (scrambled, omlet, you take your pick!) Reasoning Behind This:When we exercise, or even just move about our day for that matter, the first form of energy that our body uses is our carbs and sugars that are readily available in our blood.  So when we are finished with a workout, our blood sugar levels have dropped lower than our normal baseline levels.  In order for our bodies to adequately absorb protein (to use to repair and rebuild the muscle tissue we broke down during our workout) our blood sugar levels should be within our goal/baseline levels.  How do we raise our blood sugar levels?...With a fast acting/quick absorbing Clementine.  This will spike our blood sugar levels back up almost immediately.  With our blood sugar back in baseline levels, we are soon able to intake our protein source.  Within 30-60 minutes is going to be a great window to shoot for in order to benefit the body most.  Protein Shakes are a great option as they are typically mixed with water and are quickly absorbed.  The other option I have shared is eggs.  Eggs have a high absorption rate and is one of the best options you can find for a post workout 'meal'.  You just need to look at what is going to be the easiest form of protein for YOU!   Of course, these are not the only options for post workout protein, just the ones I would highly recommend. Common Mistake:  I see a lot of people mix up their protein shake as they leave the gym, and go to town... ugh.  Unless there is a sufficient amount of carbs in their shake, they will most likely either excrete the shake out, or it will be stored as fat.  This is due to our blood sugar levels not being within a range to properly absorb the protein. Post any Comments or Questions below!Have a healthy and fit day! :)XO, Brittany