Don't Undo Your Workout With These Mistakes

Source: Don't Undo Your Workout With These Mistakes

You may have spent an hour working out, but what about those other 23 hours in your day? With all the temptations out there, it can be easy to waste a workout within minutes of sitting down for an indulgent dinner. Before you undo all your hard work, read on for five mistakes you shouldn't be making after your workout.

  • Drinking a Sports Drink: Unless you've spent at least an hour doing intense exercise, you're body hasn't lost enough electrolytes to warrant the need to down a sugary sports drink. If you haven't been sweating it out for a sustained amount of time, reach for the water instead of the sports drink.

  • Not Refueling ASAP: After a strenuous workout, your body will be ready to refuel. You may be ravenous, but don't take this as a sign that you should eat the easiest, junkiest food you have in your cupboard. Make a healthy snack that refuels your muscles as soon as possible after a workout to maximize muscle-building - between 15 minutes to two hours is ideal. When you get home after a workout, try these healthy post-workout snacks you can make in under 15 minutes.


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  • Going Overboard: Using your trip to the gym as justification, it can be all too easy to reward a good workout with after-gym drinks with your workout buddies or an indulgent meal. But if you are trying to meet weight goals, don't ruin a good calorie-expending hour on the treadmill by scarfing down an unhealthy meal in minutes. Instead, opt for a meal that won't nix all that hard work.

  • The Wrong Late-Night Snack: You've been home for hours, you're ready to call it a night, and the day's workout is but a distant memory. Don't reach for the jalapeño poppers and ruin the benefits of a good run just minutes before the day is over. Instead, try a light but filling snack that will satisfy without hitting you with too many calories. Here are five healthy late-night snacks you can eat tonight.

  • Not Getting Enough Sleep: Once you've eaten that healthy late-night snack, it's time to get a good night's rest. And it's not just about having enough energy for your future workout. While we sleep, our bodies produce high levels of growth hormone, which many believe is a key component of muscle growth and repair.



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