Hey ladies!
So if you’re like me, it’s hard to find time to fit a workout into your busy schedule, especially during midterms! However, as we all know, working out is so good for our bodies because it increases endorphins, boosts your metabolism and some studies even suggest that it can improve memory! (Which is something we could all seriously benefit from as college students.)
Nora Tobin has some great tips about what to eat before and after a workout! So who is Nora? According to Shape.com, “Nora Tobin is a fitness professional, GNC brand ambassador, competitive beach volleyball athlete, healthy lifestyle coach, writer, model, and adventurer living in Santa Barbara, Calif.” She also “is the creator of a unique fitness program that incorporates yoga, weight training, stand up paddle, beach boot camps, hiking, running, sports specific training, as well as nutrition information and meal plans, for ages ranging from 5 to 70.”
In her article “The Best Foods to Eat Before and After Your Workout” on Shape.com, Nora explains that “the key to getting and maintaining a knockout body is a combination of regular exercise and eating the right food at the right times.” Eating at the right times before and after your workout, according to Nora, is crucial to burn fat successfully, and if it is not done properly, you may actually lose muscle instead.
Some suggestions Nora gives for pre-workout snacks are:
• Brown rice with black beans
• Small sweet potato with steamed or lightly salted broccoli in olive oil
• Banana with almond butter
• Multi-grain crackers with hummus
After a workout, it is time to rebuild and repair muscle tissue, for which protein is essential. The best after-workout snack is high in protein for this reason. Nora’s recommendations are:
• Protein shake made with half a banana, one scoop of protein powder, almond milk and hemp seeds (excellent protein source)
• Salad with roasted chickpeas with non-GMO tofu
• Quinoa bowl with black berries and pecans
• Multi-grain bread with raw peanut butter and agave nectar