Drinking water is a great way to re-hydrate after a workout. Photo courtesy of Elvert Barnes (Flickr)
The Student Recreation Center is the hot spot for students at Montclair State, which is not surprising because of all the opportunities the Rec Center has to offer its visitors.
However, nutrition is extremely important, because it goes hand- in-hand with physical activity. So, in order to make our workouts really worth it, we need to replenish our bodies with the right foods.
Three things that we should be looking at when thinking about our post-workout meals are:
1. Water: Our bodies lose water in many ways and sweat is one of them. Thus, it is important to rehydrate after an intense workout. It will also help if you are trying to lose weight.
2. Protein: After spending an hour at the gym lifting weights or on the elliptical, it is important to “seal in” your muscles. Eating foods high in protein will help you do that as protein helps build strong bones, skin and, one of our favorites, muscle.
3. Carbohydrates: We’ve all heard before that people try to stay away from carbs because they’re afraid they will add on the pounds. Contrary to popular belief, not all carbohydrates are bad. Carbohydrates come in the form of sugars, starches and fibers. We just have to make sure we are eating the right ones because the good ones provide us with energy.
Energy is definitely needed after our workouts, because we release so much, and it is important to replace that energy so that we can continue through our daily tasks even after an hour at the gym.
Some foods that target these groups are: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, eggs, lean chicken, fish and beans. Lucky for us at Montclair State, we have access to all of these foods.
Hit up Sam’s Place and get a veggie omelet or a tuna fish sandwich on whole wheat bread. Want a sweet treat? Grab some fresh fruit at Freeman Dining Hall or in the Student Center Cafeteria. Want to catch up on your greens? You can choose from one of the many salads offered at 2.Mato, make your own at Sam’s Place or even Freeman Dining Hall. The options are endless at Montclair State. After your next workout, remember to refuel your body.
