What Happens When You Don’t Eat After a Workout

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Most nutritionists recommend consuming something before and after a workout. That’s because without glycogen (the energy coming from carbohydrates), the body has a harder time burning fat. Worse, it steals protein from lean mass to use as fuel. And there goes the muscle and the fat stays. If you don’t have a handy snack in your bag, be aware that a lack of nutrient intake can actually sabotage your fitness goals.

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In some cases, the organism feels the famous tiredness, but in others you can be disoriented due to the hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which causes dizziness and even fainting. In addition, the body can suffer injuries because the lack of nutrients makes it impossible for the muscle to recover properly after training.

It’s worth remembering that food also contains electrolytes, mineral salts that our body needs to keep muscles and nerves working properly. In rare cases, a lack of electrolytes can disrupt the electrical impulses that keep the heart beating at the right pace, leading to the phenomenon of an irregular heartbeat. If you sweat a lot during your workout, for example, you need to replace the calcium, salt, and potassium lost from exercise. Apost workout (and during too!) drink lots of water. the hydration it is essential to replace the fluid lost through perspiration.

Plus: Pre- and Post-Workout Snacks

Bottom line: skipping a post-workout meal shouldn’t happen often in your fitness routine. To maintain healthy habits is the easiest way to avoid fatigue and injury. Remember that the exercise should be fun and bring only positive health benefits.