Nutrition

The demands of training and the requirements of our sport means that we need to be more conscious of what we are eating, and perhaps more importantly, how much we are eating. Nutrition plays a key role in maximizing the training benefits and recovery of athletes at any level.
Woman cutting a pear in her kitchen

Exercise & Nutrition

Exercise intensity and duration are dependent on the levels of glucose your body has readily available. The intensity and duration also influence muscle glycogen use; the higher the intensity and the longer the session the faster glycogen and glucose are depleted.

A good nutritional plan for any athlete should include amounts of carbohydrates and protein. Carbs during the day’s prior to exercise has shown to maintain muscle glycogen and improve performance. Carbohydrate and protein combination was found to be the most beneficial for those with limited recovery time or those on a ketogenic diet.

Important Thing to Keep in Mind for Your Exercise Nutrition Plan

  1. Stay hydrated- Dehydration while working out will inhibit success and gains.
  2. An effective plan can have serious benefits including improved cardiovascular health, increased strength, improvements in blood pressure, and improved overall body composition.
  3. The best pre and post nutrition plans work when they boost energy for exercise and in your life overall, as well as results.
  4. Nutritional needs vary by individual and by workout plan. There are pre and post workout plans that cater to the “average” individual or athlete to achieve general gains and improvements.
    Anti-inflammatory diet
  5. Pre-Workout Meal Plan: Three to four hours before a HIIT workout, plan on moderate-to-high carbohydrate intake, and a moderately high intake of protein. Examples would be dried fruit, trail mix, and nuts, a Greek-yogurt smoothie with fruit in it, cottage cheese with trail mix or nuts, peanut butter with banana, or whole-wheat/grain toast with peanut butter.
  6. Post-workout Meal Plan: Within an hour of your HIIT workout, consume a snack that is high in carbohydrates.  Your post-workout meal plan is not dissimilar to your pre-workout meal plan. Make sure your intake is moderate to high in carbohydrates and moderate to high in protein. Avocados or guacamole with pita, pita and hummus, whole grain toast with peanut butter and banana, fruit, cheese, and crackers, or cereal that is high in carbohydrates with fruit and soy milk.

Do Ketogenic Diets Reduce Anaerobic Performance?

Evan Stevens Ketogenic diets have come to the forefront of popular health fads in the past few years. Placing the majority of our health and dietary problems on carbohydrates (due to the spike in blood glucose followed promptly by the spike in insulin, which if done continually can lead to a host of health issues

Does the Keto Diet Affect High-Intensity Exercise Performance?

A Review by Alyssa Bialowas The ketogenic diet has been making waves due to its effective weight loss and health benefits, such as reducing blood sugar levels, increasing good HDL cholesterol and improving heart health. If you haven’t heard of the keto diet before, it’s a high fat, low carb diet plan that depletes your

The Best Way to Prevent Gut Rot During Your Workout

Alyssa Bialowas One of the worst things that can happen to you before you start an intense workout, or worse as you’re 30 seconds into a run or a race: gut rot. Feeling pain and discomfort; it also means that your body is feeling very unresponsive to the event that you’re about to thrust yourself

Man resting in gym with legs against wall

Everything You Need To Know About Protein Supplements

Evan Stevens The study of protein is a huge undertaking. It is one of the three macromolecules essential for life and we still spend billions of dollars a year on its study and use in sport and overall health. It is an ever-changing field, one which forces us to re-examine our knowledge of the subject

Is There a Magic Bullet to Protein Consumption?

Evan Stevens In the last three parts we discovered that a lot of what we thought about protein supplementation isn’t quite as important as was once believed. Casein, soy, and whey are all adequate; whey is best immediately post exercise, but soy and casein can be just as good so long as there is the

woman weight training

Does Protein Impact Trained Athletes Differently?

Evan Stevens Previously at Forever Fit Science we looked at how science changes and why we often need to re-evaluate our previously held beliefs and knowledge base. Timing, once thought to be integral to muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and needing to be taken within the 3 hour post exercise window, is now almost irrelevant as

Which type of Protein Provides the Best Workout Recovery?

Evan Stevens In our previous article, The Ever Changing Science of Protein, discussed how science is ever changing and how new evidence or looking at entire bodies of evidence can change our perceptions of what we thought to be true. We discussed the importance of (or lack thereof) timing of ingestion and why as long

people enjoying protein supplements

The Ever Changing Science of Protein

Evan Stevens You would think that by now we would have a pretty firm grasp of protein. It is one of the three main macronutrients and is essential for life as we know it. Its use in sport has been long described in scientific literature and makes up a huge portion of the billion-dollar supplement

milk recovery drink

Why Milk is an Effective Recovery Drink for Female Athletes

Mojtaba Kaviani, Ph.D., CEP Cow milk contains protein, casein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals, which are useful components of a recovery drink after exercise. Lactose, casein protein, and milk electrolytes are effective in glycogen synthesis, muscle protein synthesis, and replacement of body fluids post-workout. Previous studies have shown that the consumption of 500 ml of

Anti-inflammatory diet

Anti-Inflammatory Foods in Your Diet (and What to Avoid)

Moji Kaviani, Ph.D., CEP Inflammation is part of the body’s natural defense system. Western medicine often uses NSAID drugs to help control inflammation. These have been shown to increase risk for GI issues such as stomach ulcers. An anti-inflammatory diet is any diet that can help to prevent or decrease levels of inflammation. Mono-unsaturated fats

Can Caffeine Improve Sprint Time In Elite Swimmers?

A Review by Alyssa Bialowas Caffeine is an ergogenic aid, meaning it’s a substance that may improve performance and stamina. Elite athletes often use ergogenic aids to enhance their energy and execution. Sprint swimmers have to perform repeated high-intensity races that require high amounts of energy, and moderate doses of caffeine have the potential to

The Next Best Supplement For Exercise Performance

A Review by Alyssa Bialowas Korean Ginseng is a nutraceutical herbal supplement, that when ingested offers benefits such as stress management and resistance to fatigue. Following an acute bout of resistance exercise, Korean Ginseng is also said to alter the perception of physical exertion. This potential ergogenic aid has the potential to influence an athletes