With the summer holidays fast approaching, as a personal trainer in Brighton and Hove, I have recently noticed clients sticking very tightly to my nutritional advice. After all, nutrition accounts for a large slice of your success in the gym and therefore how confident you feel on the beach!
Although you may feel initially uneasy about snacking, eating between meals doesn’t need to be a healthy eating problem. Indeed, I would recommend it because grazing on small amounts of food throughout the day can help you to avoid extreme hunger. This will prevent you from overeating at your next meal. The key is to keep moderation and balance in mind. Try to select foods that satisfy your hunger, to supply your body with energy and provide important nutrients. This is where protein comes into play because it satiates you.
In particular, have a protein shake immediately after a workout for recovery. Aim to have this as you walk out of the gym, or within a 30 minute window. Many gyms in Brighton and Hove have protein shakes available, or simply take your own.
At other times of the day, try snacking on a handful of raw unsalted nuts, celery sticks with peanut butter, cottage cheese with fruit or chopped vegetables with hummous. The protein in these snacks is important for preserving existing muscle mass (which can help boost your metabolism) and will also help keep you fuller for longer, without undoing all your efforts in the gym.
The importance of preparation
The key to healthy snacking is preparation. With a bit of planning you can ensure you always have a selection of healthy snacks in your bag or desk drawer so that you’re ready to make the right choices when temptation strikes. By keeping the right kinds of foods handy, heeding your hunger pangs can become an important part of your heath and fitness journey. Try preparing your snacks on a Sunday evening before the working week gets on top of you.
Of course, a good quality protein shake is the ultimate convenient snack between meals. Studies have shown that upon drinking a protein shake, cravings for chocolate and other sugary snacks are diminished! So feel free to also have a shake on rest days when you are still recovering from your previous session.
As a personal trainer and nutritional advisor in Brighton, please contract me if you would like me to point you in the right direction for an appropriate protein shake for your needs. There are many delicious natural and vegan options available too!
Healthy regards,
Anthony
