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If you’re setting fitness goals, a strong gym schedule is crucial to helping you throughout your journey. However, while it’s important to incorporate the gym into your routine, it’s just as imperative to practice healthy eating habits. The guide below discusses why eating healthy foods matters during your fitness journey.

Before: What to Eat Before a Workout

Before going to the gym, it’s ideal to eat two to four hours before the workout, if possible. A meal rich in complex carbohydrates, like oatmeal or nuts, combined with a lean protein, like green beans, lentils, or chicken, will give you the boost of energy in the morning. Fiber, like broccoli, will help to quickly move and digest food, so it doesn’t sit in your stomach during tough workouts. 

However, if you don’t have the time to spare, 30 minutes is more than enough time for your body to digest a quick snack — for example, crackers, cereal, bananas, or an apple. Fiber is essential because you don’t want to feel heavy while you’re moving. A healthy breakfast leads to a better mood, and lower rates of stress and depression, while no breakfast or a poor one shows the opposite. 

During: Stay Hydrated at the Gym

Since you’re shedding more fluids from sweating, you’ll need to make up what you lose. When you drink more water, you’re likely to perform better when focusing on cardio exercise. Drink eight 8-ounces of water a day to replenish your body of the fluid and to keep you energized throughout your workouts. 

After: What to Eat After a Workout

gymAfter a workout, focus on replenishing what you lost and repairing your muscles, so they become stronger. If you’re planning to go to the gym the next day, skipping the refueling process could make it difficult to perform.

When preparing meals, opt for protein such as chicken or turkey. Protein helps rebuild and replenish muscles, making it an essential addition to your post-workout meal. Opt for a salad filled with spinach, tomatoes, and strips of grilled chicken for a light, yet filling meal. Additionally, incorporate smoothies into your diet. Blend kale, fresh strawberries, and blueberries for a sweet drink, or opt for carrots for a nutritious and refreshing option. 


 

Start on the right foot by going to a gym that can help you meet your fitness goals. Join Jeff’s Quest Health Club in North Bergen County, NJ, for their fun, warm, and welcoming atmosphere. Their certified personal trainers offer an array of fitness classes to keep you motivated year-round. Start your three-day free trial by calling (201) 462-3030 or learn more about their classes by visiting them online.

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