I’ve been known to tell all of my clients to consume a protein/carbohydrate “shake” after their workout. The first question I get is “What will that do for me?” and the second question I get is “What is it?” (Kind of funny how the questions come in that order.) In today’s post I’m going to answer those questions and hopefully I’ll be able to clear up any confusion regarding post-workout nutrition.

1. What will a post-workout shake do for me?

Strength and endurance training provide a whole host of benefits that most of us are familiar with, everything from maintaining a healthy weight and having a strong heart, to maintaining lean muscle mass and bone density. One of the things that the average gym members forgets is that both strength and endurance training stress the body to a very high degree. Without getting too technical, electrolytes and other muscle substrates are lost, your muscles become damaged, your blood sugar rises and your immune system is temporarily weakened. The body responds to this “good” stress by building itself back up better than it was prior to exercise. A post-workout shake can speed up the “building back up” process and provide other awesome benefits. A couple of the big benefits that your post workout shake will help with are:

-Switching your body from a catabolic (muscle degrading) state to an anabolic (muscle building) state

-Builds muscle faster

-Speeds up fat loss because lean muscle is your furnace to burning unwanted body fat

-Prevents excessive soreness and muscle damage

-Faster recovery in general so you can feel better about getting back to the gym

Photo courtesy of SSmiley908

2. What is a post-workout shake?

A post workout shake contains fast digesting protein and simple carbohydrates. In addition, the health food store protein powder can also contain amino acids and other nutrients. They digest quickly because they come in liquid form, which also makes them convenient when you take the shake with you to the gym.

So how do you get your hands on some of this “magic powder?” Well you can usually find them in health food stores and here in Seattle there are several GNC and Super Supplement stores that you can go to. Another option is buying your protein powder online and signing up for recurring delivery so that you never run out. For that option, check out Prograde Nutrition “Workout” protein powder. The quick and dirty way to make sure you get some post workout nutrition is to take your protein powder and a shaker bottle with you to the gym, then all you have to do is add water, shake and voila, you have yourself a post workout shake.

I hope this has helped in showing you the great benefits of a post workout shake. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments section.

Enjoy!

JN

Jaison Naiker is a personal trainer in the Seattle area. If you're interested in reaching your goals and getting REAL RESULTS from your fitness and strength program, contact him right away!

Jaison has blogged 32 posts here.