Ashima Sharda Mahindra • 03 Sep 2024
Why Does Skipping Food Before And After Exercise Harm Your Weight Loss Efforts?
Not eating also slow down your metabolism, which means your body burns less calories
Many people opt not to eat anything just before they begin their daily workouts or after finishing them. While most of us exercise to have a healthy, toned body, a lot of people are also looking to lose weight and believe not eating can help them achieve their goals. However, according to experts, this approach can only backfire, leading to a gain in weight, despite being consistent with your exercise.
Nutritionists say since food fuels your body’s metabolism, not eating keeps your body from getting the nutrients it needs to ensure proper working of the organs. It also may slow down your metabolism, which means your body burns less calories.
Why should you eat before working out?
Nutritionists encourage a well-balanced meal to be eaten at least three to four hours ahead of workouts to get the food digested. There should be a good quantity of proteins and carbohydrates and no fats and fibre as they slow down digestion.
When you wake up, your blood sugar is at your lowest so, to give yourself an energy boost, make sure to eat a fruit or a homemade granola bar packed with nuts. Eating before workouts provides your body with the energy that is needed to fulfill the session completely.
Your pre-workout snack should include:
- An apple
- A handful of nuts
- Some sugar-free pretzels
- Fresh coconut water or lemonade
Eating after exercise
After you finish your workout, it is important to be high on nutrition since your body goes into a repair mechanism. Grab a protein-filled snack 10-15 minutes after you have finished exercising. Also, hydrate yourself throughout the process. It will help you ward off muscle pains, soreness, and cramps.Not eating or drinking anything while working out can make you dehydrated and tired, leading to fatigue and muscle soreness. It also has an effect on your mental health – making you angry. Therefore, food is an important part of your recovery.
Your post-workout snack should have:
- Protein shakes
- Greek yogurt with fruits
- String cheese
- Peanut butter
- Apple
Can you skip warm-up before exercising?
If you indulge in high-intensity workouts it is very important to warm up, because if you skip it can increase the risk of an injury and put more strain on muscles. Warms ups before a workout help:
- Prevent injury to the body
- Increase blood flow in the muscles, making them ready for sudden movements
- Increase the range of movement of joints
- Activates reflexes
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