You have been hard working at the gym. You have finished a few rounds of routines. You are sweating like crazy. After all your hard work it is now time to reward yourself. And a common treat after exercise is food. Since your body lost a lot of fluid and calories, a little reward would go a long way. There are others who would rather not eat instead.

Individuals who eat a lot after a workout simply negate the exercise. They could be adding more calories into their bodies rather than eliminating it. In short, they could be sabotaging their weight loss. If you would rather not eat after a workout because you are serious about your weight loss journey, you could be doing more harm than good to your body.

After a workout, it is normal not to feel hungry at all. After all, an intense round of exercise can lower ghrelin. This is the hormone that stimulates the appetite. It would usually take three to four hours before your hunger returns to normal.

Because of that long period of time, dismissing the need to eat after a workout is a big no-no. After all, there are others who think that their weight loss journey would be dismal if they eat after. Eating after a workout is in fact suggested by experts. When you delay eating and just eat when your body feels the hunger, you might eat more in the process. As soon as your appetite is back, you might be binging on more calories. Furthermore, delaying it can slow your recovery process. It would be harder to hit the gym next because your body hasn’t recovered yet.

When experts say you eat after a workout, you don’t have to overindulge. A small recovery snack is preferred rather than a whole meal. Some would hastily get their protein shake after a workout for muscle recovery. If you don’t have that mix, you can just get a banana and even a yogurt. There are also other healthier suggestions like an apple, a stick of cheese and even ounces of chocolate milk. Just make sure to include energy-restoring carbohydrates and protein. This will help the body jumpstart its recovery and our body right after a workout is receptive to muscle repair.

The next time you feel the need to eat right after a workout and even if not, make sure to reach for that snack right away. And don’t feel guilty doing so because, in the long run, you would be eating a few calories hours after your workout. Plus, you could be helping your body recover right away.