We all agree that exercise can help us with weight loss. But think about this for a minute. If you replace the calories burned during a workout with a high-calorie meal or snack you have more work to do next time. This is what Uncle Bud is telling the Coffee Club this morning. He reminds us that it may take an hour to burn five hundred calories and only five minutes to eat them back.
So what are some things we can do to ensure this does not happen?
First, drink water. There are times that the body mistakes thirst for hunger. Therefore staying hydrated is very important and can help take the “hungry” feeling away. It is important that we drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Become best friends with your water bottle. Do not leave home without it.
Second, have a preplanned healthy food option ready. A few suggestions of things you may want to keep on hand are, wholegrain bread, tuna, baked chicken, fat-free yogurt, and fruit. If you workout at the gym be sure to bring your healthy snacks with you. If you do not have them readily available you may be tempted to stop by a fast food place for a quick pick me up. Trust us, you will not be happy with yourself later. And you may even end up eating more calories than those you worked so hard to burn off. If you feel you deserve a special treat try eating a handful of blueberries instead of the usual apple.
Third, eat before you exercise. Enjoying a small meal or light snack 30 to 60 minutes before working out can prevent you from feeling ravenous after you finish your workout. Just remember to make it a meal or snack that is high in protein and not carbs. Do not overeat or you may become sluggish and unable to finish your workout.
Exercising with your friends is a wonderful plan but be sure your group does not get into the habit of telling each other that because “you killed the workout” the group deserves to have lunch together and end up having an order of french fries instead of a side salad. Keep each other accountable. After all, the plan should be to help each other not support each other in failing.
Remind each other that a hard workout does not mean you can treat yourselves to a big meal. Friends don’t let friends “trash” their results. Agree that your group is not going to undo all your hard work. Stick with a normal fare and portions. Wait about ten minutes and help yourselves to another small portion if you still feel hungry.
Now these are just a few things you can do to help conquer post-exercise cravings. You can get more suggestions from the professionals at Weigh to wellness. They not only want to help you with your weight loss. They want to help you achieve a healthy lifestyle. This is the best place to go for the help you need. They have recipes for healthy meals and snacks. Or you can purchase snacks and meals from them. We encourage you to give them a call today.
205-994-2393 www.weightowellnessllc.com