Eating Something Pre and Post-Workout, Even if You’re Not Hungry, Is Crucial

Sure, you might not feel like eating something before a workout, especially if you have a big marathon ahead. But that’s far from the best strategy if you want to keep a healthy body, experts say. Apparently, even when not hungry, one should snack on something before and after a workout. Below, you’ll find out exactly why it matters so much.

Hungry Pre & Post-Workout?

According to experts, exercise is a stressful activity that can block hunger cues. So, it might be normal not to feel hungry immediately after a workout. Sure, listening to your body is generally a good thing, but decreased feelings of hunger mean you won’t supply much-needed nutrients to support your body, especially in excessive training.

During a workout, the body naturally redirects blood from the digestive tract to the muscles. Before long, gut hormones and appetite will be affected, leading to a diminished feeling of hunger. To put it simply, working out kills your appetite during (and sometimes after) a workout.

To Eat or Not to Eat – The Secret to Success

So, given the info above, can we conclude that not listening to your body is the secret to success? Well, it might seem like it. Now, remember that you can expect to feel less hungry if you exercise a lot, but regular working out might not have the same effect. In any case, it’s important to note that just like a car needs enough fuel to run, an athlete (or any individual, for that matter), needs enough nutrition to remain healthy.

So, even if you’re not feeling hungry, snacking on something can immensely help you sustain your body and continue with advancements in your training routine. Of course, it’s important to consider eating something easy to digest post-workout. That’s because the body needs some time to return to its normal condition, i.e., there might be some time before there’s enough blood in the digestive tract to digest whatever you’ve decided to eat.

The Omnipresent Diet Culture

In today’s athletic society, ignoring feelings of hunger has become the new normal. In fact, there’s an omnipresent diet culture that many people believe in. Namely, being thin corresponds to higher performance in a given sport. Now, it’s true that some sports require lightweight figures, including marathon running, but being slim is far from the most important thing to keep in mind.

In addition, we’d like to finish by saying that even though working out will make you feel less hungry, you shouldn’t downright banish snacking on healthy foods post-workout.