‘What should I eat after training?’ is an extremely common question in the fitness world.
In the immediate aftermath of hitting the gym, it doesn’t necessarily matter what food you opt for. It simply has to contain a level of protein and carbohydrate that complements your goals. One top bodybuilding coach has now explained why he prefers to eat breakfast cereal after training.
Dr. Jim Stoppani is an exercise scientist and former trainer to celebrities such as The Rock and LL Cool J.
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Writing on his personal website, Stoppani outlined the reasons why he chows down on Lucky Charms breakfast cereal for his post-workout meal.
It all revolves around simple sugars and their role in aiding muscle recovery.
Stoppani said:
“Research confirms that the best way to replenish muscle glycogen stores after workouts is to consume high-glycemic carbs as soon as possible after workouts.”
When you lift weights at the gym, you are essentially depleting your body’s levels of the sugar glycogen. This is stored in muscle cells.
In order to recover optimally and grow as a result, you need to replenish levels of glycogen after training. Consuming a meal rich in simple sugars is arguably the best way of going about this.
Stoppani explains that there are further benefits to consuming high-GI carbs after training.
“Consuming carbs, especially high-glycemic carbs (such as dextrose), immediately after an intense workout is also great for making you feel rejuvenated.”
The idea you must always eat chicken, broccoli and brown rice is a thing of the past. Meals high in protein and low in fat do not necessarily have to be boring. Cereal, perhaps with a protein shake, makes for a fine post-workout snack if it’s what you’d prefer.
Does this mean it’s ok to eat cereal whenever you feel like? Not quite. Immediately after training, your body needs the simple sugars. At other times of the day when you’re less active, it’s best to opt for lower calorie foods containing low-GI carbs.
Low-GI carbs are more gradually digested, so you won’t get the sugar rush followed by a subsequent crash. Good examples include basmati rice, sweet potato and whole grain pasta.
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