Hunger strikes hardest after a good workout. If you can't seem to satisfy the hunger that follows exercise, you're not alone.Exercise burns calories, uses up your glycogen stores and stimulates your appetite. When this happens, we are likely to overeat, thinking it's not so bad since we just worked out. Of course, with this repeated logic, you might lose the motivation to keep to a steady workout regimen when your diet diminishes all your hard work.If you are looking to curb your post-workout cravings to see better results with your exercise here are 4 tips:1. Meal TimingIdeally, you want to eat your post-workout meal within 30 to 60 minutes of finishing your workout to replenish your glycogen stores. For example, if you work out early in the morning, make sure you have a plan for your breakfast, that way you're not scrambling out of hunger and eat something unhealthy out of convenience.2. HydrationThe brain confuses a lack of fluid with not enough food, signaling hunger pains. If you just ate a meal an hour ago and are already feeling hungry, try drinking 12 ounces of water and waiting 15 minutes; then reassess your hunger level. We recommend drinking 8 to 12 ounces of water when you wake up, 8 ounces before each meal, 12 to 16 ounces an hour before you exercise, and 24 ounces after you exercise.3. Pre-Workout SnackIf you workout in a fasted state, you will definitely be even hungrier afterwards and more likely to overeat. To curb your appetite we recommend having a low-calorie protein shake before working out like Rockin' Wellness Vegan Protein, which has 14 grams of plant-based protein in each scoop. 4. Mindful Eating Pairing your favorite show during a meal may seem harmless, but distractions like T.V. may lead to overeating, since you're more focused on what's on the screen than what's on your plate. With mindful eating, you are more likely to eat slower and really enjoy your meal. Sometimes, the rhythm or music of what we are watching can dictate how fast we eat.
