What To Drink Post Workout?
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What Do You Drink After Your Workout? Better Yet, Do You Really Need to Drink Anything?
Post workout drinks are still all the rage, and people spend lots of time researching the "best" thing to consume right after they finish a workout. Some people are also spending a lot of money too.
Before we answer the "what to drink post workout" question, I want to address who should actually be consuming a post workout drink.
If your main priority is to lose weight and body fat, then I don't think you should use a post workout drink. Many people will argue this fact and say that drinking a post workout drink (which is composed of simple sugars and protein) will actually help the fat loss process.
That may be, but I have found that people get better results when they just eat whole, natural, unprocessed foods post workout. Most post workout drinks are at least 200 calories, and eliminating that extra 200 calories can help them lose weight faster.
Plus, if you have a decreased calorie limit, wouldn't you rather spend them on something you can actually chew, and something that tastes good?
If, however, your main priority is to gain muscle and/or improve your strength levels, then I say by all means have a post workout drink. The extra calories along with the simple sugars and protein will be beneficial.
Now that we answered the "who" part, let's get into the "what" part.
What should you drink after a workout?
You can buy premade mixes if you so choose, but unless you are doing so strictly for the convenience I suggest you save your money and make your own.
If you want something simple, cheap, and just as effective as the expensive premade stuff, then give this a try: pineapple juice and plain protein powder.
Why pineapple juice? Because it's cheap and it's 100 percent juice. Use 8 ounces of juice, a few ounces of water, and a scoop of plain protein powder (I use pea and/or rice protein) and you're good to go.
I'm not going to debate people who say "fructose isn't the best simple sugar to consume post workout" because frankly, I don't give a crap. Every element can be argued to the death, but what it comes down to is that post workout drinks are comprised of simple sugars and protein. Pineapple juice and protein powder meet that criteria.
Chocolate milk can also accomplish the same thing if you don't have any milk allergies.
So the next time you grab something post workout, keep it simple and inexpensive.
What do you drink post workout. Why?
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Comments for This Entry
My husband drinks Muscle Milk.
I like your no nonsense approach, I drink water pre, during and post work out, always have done, always will.... I have very mixed opinions about protein drinks... so I steer clear, I'd rather eat a bit of natural protein myself.... rather than drink powder
I like your no nonsense approach, I drink water pre, during and post work out, always have done, always will.... I have very mixed opinions about protein drinks... so I steer clear, I'd rather eat a bit of natural protein myself.... rather than drink powder
I haven't seen any protein drinks that I like. Again, luckly I live in Calif so I have access to raw milk. I aleternate between raw milk and raw eggs. For those interested in trying to get raw milk, let me know. There's a lot of raw dairy clubs that do deliever.
Also, I don't like any commerical fruit juice because they have been pasterilzed. Noticed they now say "Gently pasterized" if "gently" makes any difference! Just more deception from the food companies!
Lisa-
Yeah, I see that one a lot at the gym.
Julia-
Thank you. No non-sense is the way I like it. ; )
I agree . . . natural is always better.
Jack-
Most premade protein drinks are full of useless crap, and no telling if the labels are entirely accurate. Pineapple juice is pasturized? I didn't know that. It doesn't say it on the label. I just prefer pineapple juice because that's the only ingredient. Most other juices have high fructose corn syrup along with other ingredients.
Thanks again, y'all!
Not sure which brand of pineapple juice you drink, but more than likely it's zapped.
Take care!
Great post Nia. I think the shakes I was doing were definitely giving me opposoite the results that I wanted. They didn't have alot of calories or sugar, but I was still hungry afterwards; and I'd rather chew!! I think I did better with the natural whole foods, and that's what I will stick with. Thanks! :)
You know, I've tried those post workout sugary powders like the very popular Surge. And, although they do help one recover better and probably help to build lean mass a little faster than if you're taking fruit or solid food post workout, I just don't feel good about taking in that much sugar. Yuck. Nowadays, post training, I will have a shake with rice protein powder and frozen pineapple and/or banana or other fruit. Like Maria though, shakes don't satisfy me and I also like to chew so sometimes I take those same ingredients and make them into a "pudding" instead. Taste great and satifies that urge to chew.
In terms of muscle recovery, yeah, I've heard that fructose is not the best because it's preferentially replenishes liver glycogen but as long as I include a good amount of fruit post workout (20-30 grams of worth of fruit carbs) I recover pretty well.
Jack-
Dole. : )
Maria-
Thanks! I'm glad you liked the article.
Alexandra-
Sugar can be helpful after a workout, and Surge is a good product. I just wouldn't say it's necessary unless you just like the convenience.
If you want to "beef up" the shake, throw in some fruit, spinach, and some nuts like I've share in a recent post. That way you get some stuff to chew, and it will definitely fill you up much better, and it's packed with healthy goodness!
Thanks again, y'all!
Nia-
What do you think of Cytofuse for PWO drink? I love that stuff!
-Paul C.
Boston, MA
Paul-
Once again, this is another product that is good for the convenience, but it's just a combination of sugar and protein - nothing special.
With that said, if you like it and it works for you, then use it. But if you want a cheaper alternative, then give something else a try.
It's not really a matter of right and wrong, I just want people to know that they can get the same effect for a lot less money. However, I do think people should do what they want and what they prefer.
I hope that helps.
You guys are putting so much into pwo. I have experimented with many pwo ideas like maltodextrin/glucose ( or honey) mix with protein and others. These things do work but depending on your goals, daily activity level and how you prepare yourself preworkout may be overkill. Personally, and this can vary a bit but in general I eat a good preworkout meal the farther away from my workout the more and the closer the less kcal. I drink a protiein shake ( or half before and half after) and aminos pre and post, sometimes I skip the shake. Afterwards I eat normal because if I do it right I have given myself enough fuel to get to and through my workout and this will already begin the recovery process. I find this works just as well. If I was focusing on fatloss as top priority I would go with protein and limited carbs, just enough for a little insulin. Some of these pwo ideas are more for people training and competing in sports or training twice a day. If you have a physical job the more recovery you need. yes these things will give you a FASTER recovery if you really need that, but I think pwo is a little overrated. My protein shake is either from the store containing whey because it's effective and healthy or homemade with a little cottage cheese half skim milk and soy. Yes, it is okay for men to have a little soy, it is high in arganine and glutamine.
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