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Snack Attack: Pre and Post Workout Snacks

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:00:00 -0700

People are always asking me what makes good pre- and post-workout snacks and so I am always on the lookout for them. As you can imagine, I was thrilled to see that MSNBC recently did an article on the best fuel for your workout and they are:

Before the workout:

A banana with yogurt.
A whole-wheat toasted bagel with fruit spread.
A quick bowl of instant oatmeal.

For a quick refuel after the workout, just

What to Do After Your Workout

FitSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:45:00 -0800

You might not have ever thought about this but what do you do once you've finished 30 minutes of cardio and lifted your last rep of your last set? Go home? Not quite.

Just because you've done the hard part does not mean that you should just pack up and head on home. Feel free to congratulate yourself for a job well done, but here are a few more things you should consider doing:

Hydrate. Just because you're done working out doesn't mean you're done hydrating. Chances are you've lost a good bit of water during your workout, even during Winter workouts, so be sure to keep on drinking water to keep hydrated beyond your workout.
Cool-down. A 5-10 minute cool down is necessary to bring your heart rate back down to a normal rate, lower your body temperature, as well as help prevent blood pooling, muscle soreness and cramps.

There are a few more tips so

Working Out When Really Sore - Is It A Good Idea?

FitSugar — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:45:00 -0700

I'm one of those people who LOVES feeling sore the day after working out. I love to feel muscles I haven't felt in a long time - it makes me feel like I really worked it.

That sore feeling is normal, and it's caused by microscopic tears in your muscle fibers. When your body rebuilds the damaged muscles, they become even stronger.

If you've gone for a run yesterday, and today your thighs and butt are so sore that you have a hard time walking down stairs, then you probably want to skip out on running for the day. You want to give your muscles a chance to heal completely and properly, if you don't, you could end up injuring yourself.

That doesn't mean you have to skip out on exercising altogether. Take it down a notch and maybe go for a short walk or do some stretching - the light exercise will get your blood pumping and actually might help to relieve some of your discomfort. Or use this as a great opportunity to work some other muscle groups. Grab some weights and work your arms, or do some ab or booty strengthening exercises.

Fit's Tips: The main point here is to listen to your body, and do what you're comfortable with. Obviously if you are in a lot of pain, you want to rest your body. You can take an OTC anti-inflammatory such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen sodium/naprosyn). Or you can take arnica or rub Topricin on your sore muscles. If a muscle is extremely tender, you can also ice the area to reduce swelling and pain. On the other hand, if you are sore all over, taking a hot bath or getting a gentle massage might be the answer to your body's prayers.

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