You may already know that your post-workout nutrition is every bit as important as your training regimen—and it should get every bit as much of your attention as your exercise selection.

Your body is rebuilding itself from the inside out in a constant state of regeneration, but when you throw in a hard workout, the process intensifies. Your body needs the right foods at the right time to support the cellular activity, and it's a good idea to know how best to support the process!

In this article, we show you how to ensure that you are on the winning side of muscle growth and recovery. We've outline a simple 3-step map to help you create options for an optimal post-workout meal. For more detailed help in training your nutrition, check our our Thrive course!

Workout Nutrition Lesson 1: Quality Food Matters

Fun fact: The food that you consume on a daily basis will eventually materialize to form new cells and body tissues. Which basically means that you are what you eat. Thus, the foods you eat matter.

Trying to build muscle without nutrients is like trying to start your car with a dead battery. Yeah, you can try to jumpstart the muscle-building process with supplements, but nothing can ever compare to nutritionally sound eating habits.

Top Performing Post-Workout Foods

In the ensuing hours after you finish your workout routine, your body will need some fast acting nutrients to replenish your energy stores and rebuild broken-down muscle tissue.

A post-workout meal consisting of mostly proteins, vegetables, and starchy carbohydrates, are particularly beneficial when your muscles are recovering from your Gymnastic Strength Training workout. Coincidentally, the same goes for your pre-workout meals as well.

Take your GymnasticBodies Training to the next level with nutrient-rich foods that provide guaranteed results.

Here’s a simple formula to construct a delicious and nutritious post-workout meal. 

Step 1: Pick a protein

The type of protein really comes down to preference. 

Examples: lean red meats, chicken, fish, eggs, whey, avocado, nuts

Step 2: Don’t Forget Your Vegetables

Vegetables are the perfect complement for your selected protein source. Adding a variety of veggies can add some richness and flavor, not to mention roughage to help the digestion.  

Examples: broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, carrots (you really can’t go wrong here)

Step 3: Starch It Up

A pasta and potato lover’s dream. These complex carbs provide an energy-packed boost. Exactly what your body needs to assimilate new proteins for muscle repair.

Examples: brown rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pasta

Are you tired of complicated nutrition advice that won’t make long-term changes to your physique? Then it’s time to simplify your eating habits for optimal performance and recovery with Thrive. Students love the program because it offers advice, recipes, and tips on how to create daily patterns that work for your individual and unique lifestyle.

We’ve created a GymnasticBodies behavior-based nutrition program that works with you to fuel your body the right way, so you can take your at-home strength training to the next level.