In the topic of how to build muscle people often look for unnecessarily complicated answers when the basic principles still work just fine. Today we shall examine one of those proven principles, the post-workout nutrition window. We are going to explain it for you step-by-step and get rid of some of the general myths surrounding it for you.
Building a better body is often made out to be almost rocket science when in truth it's the age old basic rules which still yield results. Despite all of the technological advances we have made in the industry, the basic rules of hypertrophy remain exactly the same.
Depending upon how long you have already been exercising you might have already come across this phenomenon. For a while, many regular exercise enthusiasts believed there was a 'magic window' and if you consume any kind of nutrition within this so-called magic window your body would be able to make excessive gains in the gym. Science then provided the proof to back up those claims. The most common questions on this subject are easily:
* How long does this golden window last?
* Are some foods superior to others after a workout?
* Why does this window even exist?
* What happens if you don't make use of the golden nutrition window?
Every question shown above will get answered today. The phenomenon of this window takes place because our body is starving of nutrients in the post-workout period. The most intense the workout was, the higher the rate of starvation the muscles are going through.
Your muscles are starving and they want to eat immediately. Whatever you decide to eat in this short period will be consumed as quickly as possible by your body. Try providing it with an already nutritious option and you'll notice that your body is able to make the absolute most of it.
The length of the window also answers the question of what food you should be looking to eat. It only lasts for around 45 minutes post-workout.
That generally removes the confusion from the second question above, which is asking what type of foods you eat. You want to hit your body with nutrients during the 45 minute post-workout period therefore should avoid foods which are going to take a long time to be broken down and used up. So ignore the complex carbohydrates...
The optimal post-workout meal is a combination of a whey protein shake, mixed with water for even quicker digestion, with some simple carbohydrates. The problem with simple carbs, of course, is that they are usually associated with fatty foods and it would be silly to eat junk food after a tough workout. So think about using a bowl of cereal or some fruit instead.
It's that source of instant energy which you are looking for after a hard workout. Furthermore, your digestive system will try to use as much of the meal as it possibly can. That's right, even more than it usually would if you consumed it at another point in the day.
Don't worry so much about what would happen if you didn't take advantage of this important post-workout period, because the fact is over 90% of gym members fail to do this so the answer to your question is staring you in the face every time you walk into your local gymnasium.
If you wanted to know how to build muscle you are now armed with one of the most important secrets of the gym. In fact, getting the most from your post workout nutrition is also very important for people looking at how to lose weight as well. It's time to put these benefits to good use.
Building a better body is often made out to be almost rocket science when in truth it's the age old basic rules which still yield results. Despite all of the technological advances we have made in the industry, the basic rules of hypertrophy remain exactly the same.
Depending upon how long you have already been exercising you might have already come across this phenomenon. For a while, many regular exercise enthusiasts believed there was a 'magic window' and if you consume any kind of nutrition within this so-called magic window your body would be able to make excessive gains in the gym. Science then provided the proof to back up those claims. The most common questions on this subject are easily:
* How long does this golden window last?
* Are some foods superior to others after a workout?
* Why does this window even exist?
* What happens if you don't make use of the golden nutrition window?
Every question shown above will get answered today. The phenomenon of this window takes place because our body is starving of nutrients in the post-workout period. The most intense the workout was, the higher the rate of starvation the muscles are going through.
Your muscles are starving and they want to eat immediately. Whatever you decide to eat in this short period will be consumed as quickly as possible by your body. Try providing it with an already nutritious option and you'll notice that your body is able to make the absolute most of it.
The length of the window also answers the question of what food you should be looking to eat. It only lasts for around 45 minutes post-workout.
That generally removes the confusion from the second question above, which is asking what type of foods you eat. You want to hit your body with nutrients during the 45 minute post-workout period therefore should avoid foods which are going to take a long time to be broken down and used up. So ignore the complex carbohydrates...
The optimal post-workout meal is a combination of a whey protein shake, mixed with water for even quicker digestion, with some simple carbohydrates. The problem with simple carbs, of course, is that they are usually associated with fatty foods and it would be silly to eat junk food after a tough workout. So think about using a bowl of cereal or some fruit instead.
It's that source of instant energy which you are looking for after a hard workout. Furthermore, your digestive system will try to use as much of the meal as it possibly can. That's right, even more than it usually would if you consumed it at another point in the day.
Don't worry so much about what would happen if you didn't take advantage of this important post-workout period, because the fact is over 90% of gym members fail to do this so the answer to your question is staring you in the face every time you walk into your local gymnasium.
If you wanted to know how to build muscle you are now armed with one of the most important secrets of the gym. In fact, getting the most from your post workout nutrition is also very important for people looking at how to lose weight as well. It's time to put these benefits to good use.
About the Author:
About the author: Russ Howe PTI is the UK's most subscribed fitness instructor who shows men and women how to build muscle and how to lose weight. Watch our free guide next to enhance your results in the gym.