Working out in the daytime hours vs. evenings/late evening hours has always been a subject of much debate. However, if you are like me and are only able to workout in the late evening hours either due to preference, lifestyle, or work schedules, there are ways to prepare your body, primarily the hormones to work in sync with the training session so that you are able to achieve the desired results form your gym session irrespective of the time of the day. The theory behind evening workouts not being somewhat successful comes form the understanding that as the day goes by, our body’s metabolism tends to slow down while at the same time, we have certain hormones in the body that have their own circadian rhythm, thus, preventing our body’s from achieving maximum results from the training session. So, how does one workout in the evening and get great results? Nutritional choices post training is the only way to go about tackling the hormones and revving up the metabolism . Mainly, addition of good fats and vitamin C as, these two nutrients will help melt some of the belly/abdominal fat, reduce the effects of hormones such as cortisol from storing additional belly fat, allow the muscles to recover, and promote a restful night. Moreover, the key is to manage your nutritional choices post-workout such that the liver stores are replenished thus allowing the body to use amino acids (proteins) to build and repair, thereby allowing you to see gains.

 

Recipe for High protein strawberry chia smoothie:

Blend 1 cup of fresh or frozen strawberries, 1 banana, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 tbsp Chia seeds, 2 cups unsweetened coconut and almond blend milk.

This smoothie is dairy free, high in protein, high in omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin C. If working out late evenings is your preference, adding some good fats and vitamin C post-workout will allow you to see gains easily since our bodies tend to slow down as the day progresses so, a boost of the right nutrients will rev up the metabolism and allow you to benefit from the training session at the end of the day while helping you sleep better after. This smoothie is also rich in potassium, so, will help you recover easily and allow muscles to repair in time for your next visit to the gym. Lastly, this smoothie has the perfect blend of proteins and crabs that will allow the liver to replenish glycogen (storage form of carbs in the liver) thus, allowing the body to utilize the proteins to repair and build muscles.

Please note this article is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any health conditions but merely an educational platform. Any suggestions you follow must be consulted with your health professional and should be followed only after you have been recommended to do so.

For more articles, health/wellness updates, and healthy recipes, follow this blog, or you can find me on twitter @drsahuja, Facebook @ Medicinal Nutrition Doctor, LLC, or Instagram @drsamndllc