Why do I need post workout supplements?

Proper post workout nutrition is essential if you want to make the most of the time you spend in the gym. Without giving your body the important nutrients it needs to recover from the beating you give it, all of that time will have been a waste. This is because after intense workouts, your body is in survival mode -- it NEEDS energy to recover and replace lost muscle glycogen, and it takes that energy from any readily available source. Unfortunately, this can mean that amino acids in your muscle tissue, the ones you spend hours building are broken down or catabolized by the body for fuel. The result: muscle wastage.

To counteract this, you need post workout supplements during the key 30-60 minute window of time following a workout. These supplements give your body essential carbohydrates to help replace glycogen as well as specially designed fast acting proteins that aid in amino acid production.

Benefits of post workout supplements

There are many benefits to using post workout supplements, the primary benefit being the preservation of precious muscle tissue that your ravenous body is likely to cannibalize for fuel after a workout. They also help to reduce recovery time, reduce muscle soreness, raise testosterone and growth hormone levels and reduce the levels of cortisol. To accomplish this, post workout supplements typically focus on three key ingredients: carbohydrates, creatine and protein.

The benefit of post workout carbohydrates is that they allow the body to replace glycogen reserves in the muscles. They also help to produce an insulin spike by raising blood sugar levels in the body. The high-glycemic carbs found in post workout supplements are ideal because they are specially designed for rapid absorption after workouts. These carbohydrates typically come from three main sources: maltodextrin, dextrose and waxy maize starch.

Post workout supplements may also contain creatine which is beneficial in reducing recovery time and increasing muscle size as well as strength, especially when combined with carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and BCAAs.

The protein found in post workout supplements has also been designed specifically to help jump start your body’s recovery process after a workout. Using fast acting supplements is crucial to avoiding muscle catabolism. These post workout proteins generally contain whey protein along with other important nutrients such as creatine, vitamins, amino acids and simple carbohydrates.

Maximize your potential with Post Workout Supplements

If you’re serious about getting the most out of your gym time, then post workout supplements are crucial to your success. Don’t get stuck in the vicious cycle that so many others do: spending hours and hours in the gym only to achieve disappointing results. Don’t let your blood, sweat and tears be for nothing. Make no mistake, your body WILL cannibalize the muscles you worked so hard on unless you give it the vital nutrients it needs when it needs them. Without proper post workout nutrition you are basically just treading water. So if you want to achieve your true potential and take your muscle gains to the next level, add post workout supplements to your routine.