Is a Pre-Workout or Post-Workout Diet More Effective for You?

The importance and need for a good diet plan when we are working out cannot be denied. Exercise combined with good and proper eating at the right time and with the right combination of ingredients is highly recommended in order to get the best overall results. At the center of this issue is the debate whether a pre- or post-workout diet is more effective. This article attempts to sort out this common controversy. While most of us relate our fitness efforts to just movements inside the gym, the reality is that it is the lifestyle we follow and the choices we make that determine the seriousness of our efforts to transform our bodies and minds.

Eating before Workout and Its Effects

Make no mistake about it- you are what you eat. This means that the better the quality of food you put into your body, the longer and better will be the quality of your workout. This is regardless of whether you are training for strength, endurance or flexibility. A good combination of micro nutrients in the foods that you eat will help in releasing the effects of vitamins and minerals in your bloodstream and make you feel great while pumping iron. A good combination of proteins and carbohydrates is recommended, with preferably slow release of energy that keeps you going till your next meal. A good pre- workout meal at least one hour before your workout will fuel your body and help it perform in the gym. Don’t forget to hydrate yourself effectively as well.

Eating after Workout and Its Effects

Just as anyone would expect, a hard and strenuous workout will deplete your existing energy sources and make you feel tired and listless after you step out of the gym. You now need to relax and eat and drink good food. This is where a good post workout plan can pay dividends in promoting health. If you have truly done the rounds and made an all out effort with a strenuous and challenging workout, your body will be crying out for replenishment. As stated before, a good combination of proteins and carbohydrates is recommended, with preferably slow release of energy that keeps you going till your next meal. A good post workout meal taken at least one hour after your workout will fuel your body and help it recover from its performance in the gym.

Consensus: Which Plan is Better for You?

As to the efficacy of pre-or post workout meals, a combination of both is recommended for best results. “Yoli diet” depends on the type of workout plan you have in mind, the state of your fuel tank, the effort you will have to make and the time it will take to recover after the workout. Some people alternate a strenuous workout one day with a less intense workout the next day, and so compensate the body that way. Whichever one you choose, be sure not to overeat and cheat on foods that will undo all the good work you have accomplished in the gym.