Nutrition For Cardio Workout Program

Nutrition

oi-Anwesha Barari

By Anwesha Barari

Thursday, August 25, 2011, 11:15

Nutrition after your cardio workout could be the missing element in your weight loss plan. If you are doing calorie burning cardios and still not dropping pounds then surely you must be doing something wrong? It is the finer points with regard to nutrition in your fitness plan that make all the difference. Think about it; you are working out so hard, what for? Most of us are not health conscious enough to work out for the sake of it. We have a goal, to lose weight or have a healthy heart and for that we burn calories by cardio exercises.

Are you really burning calories just because you are running on the treadmill? NO. Without proper nutrition cardios are useless. So here are a few points about nutrition for fitness that will point you in the right direction.

Proper Nutrition For Cardios:

• If you think that the lesser you eat and the more you work out will the more weight you lose, then you need a reality check. When we don't eat for 4 to 5 hours our body presses the 'panic button'. We call it 'starvation mode' in technical terms. You know that you are on a diet but your body doesn't. So the body instead of breaking down fats for energy, breaks down proteins from your muscles and stores the fats for a rainy day.

• As soon as you eat after this period of starvation, all the food will be converted to fats directly. So you have to eat small meals after short intervals of a couple of hours.

• By meal we don't mean the 'veg thali' that you get in your office canteen. It could be a fruit like an apple or a milk shake. You need not take the fun out of eating by counting calories because if you eat fresh and healthy food it will not pile on your waist.

• Most of us have this misconception that our stomach needs to be full before we work out or else we will faint or feel weak. For a normal healthy individual this is not true. The best time to work out is in morning with nothing but water in your stomach.

• If you are prone to weakness or low blood pressure then eat a mini breakfast of protein rich food that has no carbohydrates and fats. You have to have egg whites or sprouts.

• The benefits of cardio will not reach you if you work out after a heavy meal in the afternoon. Most of us try to squeeze in gym in our hectic schedules somehow but if you don't do it right you are just wasting your time.

• Another nutrition and fitness rule that we all disobey is gorging on food after a heavy work out. Your after cardios nutrition should come one hour after work out or else it will compensate for the energy you have spent.

Follow these distinct nutrition for cardios and you can see the change for yourself.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.