The Importance of Carbohydrates and Proteins at the Right Time of Day
There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration before taking on a fitness regime.
Depending on the type of fitness programme you are embarking on, you will require a different weighting of carbohydrates to proteins.
The two main fitness programmes people dedicate themselves to are either cardiovascular programmes such as running or swimming, or weight training programmes such as bench pressing or kettle bells.
Cardiovascular programmes are high intensity, high heart rate activities which require a person to be operating at high levels of heart beats per minute.
This type of exercise exerts the body's cardiovascular system (lungs, heart etc) more than it requires muscle tone and strength, and therefore this type of exercise requires a person to have high energy levels.
A person increases their energy levels by consuming complex carbohydrates, which are found in foods such as rice, pasta, potatoes and bread.
Consuming these types of foods will provide ample energy to work through a high intensity cardiovascular workout.
Carbohydrate foods need to be consumes at a particular time of day depending on when a person conducts their fitness programme.
If a person goes for a run in the morning then there are two options.
If a person runs in the morning to lose fat, then no carbohydrates should be consumed so that the body is forced to work fat stores once energy stores have been depleted.
If this is not the case and the person is running in the mornings to increase fitness levels, then porridge can be consumed one hour before with water.
Having porridge with water will ensure the carbohydrates get into the bloodstream quicker, in time to be used as energy during the run.
For people that conduct weight training programmes, there is more of a requirement of strength and muscle power.
Strength comes through toughened muscle fibres that have been torn during weight lifting and then repair thereafter.
The repair process requires proteins, so that the muscle fibres can repair and rebuild themselves.
Therefore, this type of fitness programme requires a heavy influx of protein rather than carbohydrates, as the more protein that the person consumers the quicker and stronger the muscle groups can recover and rebuild.
For this type of fitness programme, protein needs to be consumed within 20 minutes of completing a fitness programme.
This is the window of opportunity for feeding the muscles and taking a protein supplement through water will get the much needed nutrients to the muscles that need it.
So to summarise, you must take complex carbohydrates one hour before a cardiovascular workout, and take protein supplements within 20 minutes of completing a weight training programme.
Cardio programmes you need energy (carbs), and weight training programmes you need to rebuild muscle fibres (protein).
Depending on the type of fitness programme you are embarking on, you will require a different weighting of carbohydrates to proteins.
The two main fitness programmes people dedicate themselves to are either cardiovascular programmes such as running or swimming, or weight training programmes such as bench pressing or kettle bells.
Cardiovascular programmes are high intensity, high heart rate activities which require a person to be operating at high levels of heart beats per minute.
This type of exercise exerts the body's cardiovascular system (lungs, heart etc) more than it requires muscle tone and strength, and therefore this type of exercise requires a person to have high energy levels.
A person increases their energy levels by consuming complex carbohydrates, which are found in foods such as rice, pasta, potatoes and bread.
Consuming these types of foods will provide ample energy to work through a high intensity cardiovascular workout.
Carbohydrate foods need to be consumes at a particular time of day depending on when a person conducts their fitness programme.
If a person goes for a run in the morning then there are two options.
If a person runs in the morning to lose fat, then no carbohydrates should be consumed so that the body is forced to work fat stores once energy stores have been depleted.
If this is not the case and the person is running in the mornings to increase fitness levels, then porridge can be consumed one hour before with water.
Having porridge with water will ensure the carbohydrates get into the bloodstream quicker, in time to be used as energy during the run.
For people that conduct weight training programmes, there is more of a requirement of strength and muscle power.
Strength comes through toughened muscle fibres that have been torn during weight lifting and then repair thereafter.
The repair process requires proteins, so that the muscle fibres can repair and rebuild themselves.
Therefore, this type of fitness programme requires a heavy influx of protein rather than carbohydrates, as the more protein that the person consumers the quicker and stronger the muscle groups can recover and rebuild.
For this type of fitness programme, protein needs to be consumed within 20 minutes of completing a fitness programme.
This is the window of opportunity for feeding the muscles and taking a protein supplement through water will get the much needed nutrients to the muscles that need it.
So to summarise, you must take complex carbohydrates one hour before a cardiovascular workout, and take protein supplements within 20 minutes of completing a weight training programme.
Cardio programmes you need energy (carbs), and weight training programmes you need to rebuild muscle fibres (protein).
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