Otherwise, carbohydrate and protein intake within 24 hours will be adequate to refuel completely. For resistance training, a brief break from exercising and then consuming 8 grams of carbohydrates per kilogram of weight per day may be needed to optimize muscle glycogen.

Otherwise, similar to endurance training, 1 to 4 grams of carbohydrates per kilogram of weight per day will suffice. In both cases, consuming 20 to 40 grams of protein every three to four hours will be adequate. Eating properly before and after you workout can help ensure you recover, repair your muscles, provide lost hydration, and recover nutrients that were lost.

We've tried, tested, and reviewed the best whey protein powders. If you're in the market for a protein powder, explore which option may be best for you. Add your protein and liquid of choice to a shaker bottle for a quick and easy protein shake.

The benefits of eating a post-workout meal are numerous. Here are just a few of the potential advantages of eating a post-workout meal or snack. Glycogen is a necessary for any workout, whether you focus on cardio or resistance training.

You should consume protein during your anabolic window, which is the period of time after a workout in which you need to consume protein for your muscles to grow and build.

In one study, participants were assigned to receive 20 grams of protein or 20 grams of dextrose 1 hour before and after weight training. What researchers discovered was that total body mass, fat-free mass, and thigh mass were profoundly greater in the group that consumed protein when compared with the group that received dextrose.

Replenishing the fluids you lost while working goes without saying. But you will find some added benefits as well. According to Harvard Health, adequate hydration also can regulate your body temperature, help prevent infections, move nutrients to your cells, keep all your organs functioning, improve sleep quality, better your mood, and reduce brain fog.

Preparing for a post-workout meal doesn't have to be complicated. The most important part is planning your meals so that you have a strategy in place and know what you are going to eat and drink as soon as your workout is complete.

In general, your post-workout meal should include a mix of carbohydrates, lean proteins, and hydration. Here are some guidelines on what you should following a workout. But you will want to experiment with what works best for you. Note that the post-workout nutrition strategy will generally differ based on the type of exercise you perform.

For endurance training , hydration, carbohydrates, and electrolytes sodium, potassium, and magnesium are most important to focus on. For resistance training, you'll want to focus mostly on protein. Protein right after a workout can enhance glycogen resynthesis. According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine, the general consensus is that an exerciser should consume 20 grams of protein post workout.

For anyone interested in the more minutia detail of protein consumption, you could calculate this dose to make it more approximate to your weight. To do so, multiply between 0.

For example, if you weigh pounds, your protein intake can range from 20 to 24 grams post workout. From its position stand on nutrient timing, the International Society of Sports Nutrition says that consuming 0.

According to the University Health Services at the University of California Berkeley, you should drink 16 to 24 ounces of fluid for every pound of body weight lost after exercise. In 1 hour of exercise, your body can lose more than a quart of water.

It is not plausible to recommend a standardized fluid replacement because everyone has different variables in their bodies and workouts, says the American College of Sports Medicine.

The most natural hydration fluid you can drink is water. However, if you have an intense workout session or exercise for more than 2 hours, you should drink a beverage containing electrolytes, preferably a mix of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride, offered in many of these top-rated post-workout recovery drinks.

This helps replace the minerals lost when you sweat. Here are some additional hydration tips. When to eat your post-exercise meal depends on your workout and your goals. Most likely, you will need to go through some trial and error to find what works best for your body.

That said, researchers do provide some general guidelines. For instance, if you perform intense weight resistance workouts to increase muscle size, you may want to consume 20 to 30 grams of lean protein and 30 to 40 grams of nutritious carbohydrates as close to your post-workout as possible.

For lighter cardio workouts, they suggest eating a well-balanced meal with the same ratio up to 1 hour after exercising. Keep in mind that some research suggests that the anabolic window diminishes without adequate carbohydrate and protein intake.

The most critical factor, though, in your post-workout meal is not necessarily nutrient timing but just ensuring you are eating the right foods for your fitness goals.

Here are some additional guidelines to consider when planning your post-workout meals including how much of each macronutrient to consume. At a minimum, you should replenish your glycogen stores with carbohydrates within 2 hours of exercise.

The same journal also recommends consuming a protein mixed with your carbohydrate, in the form a supplement or whole foods within the 2-hour period. In the study, researchers discovered that a minute cycling session resulted in a much greater glycogen re-synthesis when carbohydrates were paired with protein consumption than when compared with ingesting a calorie-equated, carbohydrate-only solution within the 2-hour window.

Waiting 3 hours post-exercise did not increase glycogen synthesis. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, you should drink 23 ounces of fluid for every pound of weight lost when you exercised between the time you first workout and 1 to 2 hours before you start your next workout.

Options include a sports drink, coconut water, or an electrolyte supplement available in a pill, powder, or capsule form.

Discovering which nutritious foods work best for your body post-workout is often done through experimenting. You can try different whole foods , packaged liquids, and whey proteins and see how your body responds.

But you should strive to have a nutritional strategy in place for each exercise session so that your body can properly recover. For any questions on nutrition techniques and timing, it may help to speak with a registered dietitian or another healthcare provider.

After a workout, you should limit your intake of processed foods and opt for whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Remember, you are refueling your body and it will be best served focusing on whole foods.

Not eating after a workout can lead to decreased future workout performances, fatigue, low mood, and brain fog. While skipping a post workout meal after one workout, will not cause long-term damage, developing a pattern of skipping eating could impact your mood and energy levels as well as potentially keep you from reaching your fitness goals.

Just like foam rolling or wearing recovery shoes , eating after a workout is key to a sustainable fitness routine. Consuming the right foods helps your body recover faster, improves your performance in future workouts, replenishes glycogen storage, benefits muscle repair, and provides overall hydration of lost electrolytes.

Aragon AA, Schoenfeld BJ. Nutrient timing revisited: Is there a post-exercise anabolic window? J Int Soc Sports Nutr. Kerksick CM, Arent S, Schoenfeld BJ, et al. International society of sports nutrition position stand: nutrient timing.

Some athletes and many people are afraid of fat, but cutting it out of your diet completely can actually hinder athletic performance. Fat helps provide fuel for the body. If your workouts typically last more than an hour, the body uses fats for energy after your glucose supply has been depleted. However, you should keep in mind that some fats are more beneficial to recovery than others.

Saturated and trans fats can be detrimental to your overall health, but essential fatty acids found in fish and certain types of oils play a critical role in muscle recovery by helping to regulate oxygen, hormone restoration, cardiovascular health, and immune system integrity.

How soon you eat after a workout definitely matters! For fastest recovery, eat within an hour of finishing your workout. So, are there any specific foods that are the best for recovery?

It really depends on your taste preferences! Here are some ideas for healthy protein carbohydrate, and fat, combinations to munch on after a workout:. Many athletes rely on protein and nutrition bars for their post-workout fuel. While their various health claims sound impressive, make sure to read the label before you buy.

Supplements can contribute to an excessive intake of certain nutrients, which can sometimes result in intestinal discomfort. Many nutritional shakes and bars are also high in calories and sugar, which can subvert any weight-loss goals that you might have.

By consuming whole foods, you will be avoiding the processing and additives that are commonly found in post-workout supplements. Exercise causes your body to lose fluids and important vitamins and minerals, especially if you sweat a lot.

Failing to replace sodium lost during extended exercise or on very hot days can have serious health consequences, so endurance athletes should make sure they replenish their bodies with 80 - mg sodium per quart of liquid and mg sodium per hour from other sources.

Chocolate milk contains both carbohydrates and protein, so it helps to repair muscles while quenching your thirst!

According to the Mayo Clinic, you should be drinking about two or three cups of water for every pound lost during exercise. InsideTracker can help you find the best recovery foods for your body. sales insidetracker.

com Support center. All rights reserved. In addition, eating protein before exercise may decrease the amount you need to eat after without affecting recovery 1.

One study found that eating protein pre-workout and post-workout has a similar effect on muscle strength, hypertrophy, and body composition changes The rate at which your glycogen stores are used depends on the activity.

For example, endurance sports cause your body to use more glycogen than resistance training. For this reason, if you participate in endurance sports running, swimming, etc.

Eating a high carb diet of 3. Furthermore, insulin secretion, which promotes glycogen synthesis, is better stimulated when carbs and protein are consumed at the same time 10 , 11 , 12 , Therefore, consuming carbs and protein after exercise can maximize protein and glycogen synthesis 13 , Early studies found benefits from consuming the two in a ratio of 3 to 1 carbs to protein.

When rapid recovery is necessary under 4 hours , current recommendations suggest a similar ratio. Specifically, you can help restore glycogen faster by consuming 0. Recommendations for carb intake are targeted to the needs of endurance athletes.

There is not enough evidence to say whether you should limit fat intake after a workout 1. Many people think that eating fat after a workout slows digestion and inhibits the absorption of nutrients. While fat might slow down the absorption of your post-workout meal, it may not reduce its benefits. For example, a study showed that whole milk was more effective at promoting muscle growth after a workout than skim milk Having some fat in your post-workout meal may not affect your recovery.

But more studies are needed on this topic. A post-workout meal with protein and carbs will enhance glycogen storage and muscle protein synthesis.

Consuming a ratio of 3 to 1 carbs to protein is a practical way to achieve this. However, more recent research has found that the post-exercise window to maximize the muscular response to eating protein is wider than initially thought, up to as many as several hours Also, recovery is not just about what you consume directly after working out.

When you exercise consistently, the process is ongoing. It is best to continue to eat small, well-balanced meals of carbs and protein every 3—4 hours Eat your post-workout meal soon after exercising, ideally within a few hours. However, you can extend this period a little longer, depending on the timing of your pre-workout meal.

Choosing easily digested foods will promote faster nutrient absorption. Combinations of the foods above can create great meals that give you all the nutrients you need after exercise.

It is important to drink plenty of water before and after your workout. Being properly hydrated ensures the optimal internal environment for your body to maximize results.

During exercise, you lose water and electrolytes through sweat. Replenishing these after a workout can help with recovery and performance Depending on the intensity of your workout, water or an electrolyte drink are recommended to replenish fluid losses.

It is important to get water and electrolytes after exercise to replace what was lost during your workout. It stimulates muscle protein synthesis, improves recovery, and enhances performance during your next workout.