What To Eat Immediately After a Heavy Workout and WHY!!

Sometimes after a really long and busy day, I go to the gym and workout just to get my ole bag o' bones moving.  I'm not really there to give 'my all', but I'm there to get some cardio, stretch and afterward I always feel better.  This is not a heavy workout, so I keep my next meals of the day light.  But, when I do workout and give it 'my all', I try to be very good to myself and eat a small piece of fruit after all that exercise.  Why fruit?  Well, have you ever noticed that in many gyms, there are green or red apples for members as they exit the facility?  Here's why...
When you workout, your body uses carbohydrates that are stored in your liver and muscle for fuel.  These are called 'glycogen stores'.  This is why marathon runners and triathletes eat a pasta dinner 2 nights prior or one night prior to an event...to store rocket fuel for their endurance sport.  Strenuous activity uses up these glycogen stores and to ensure proper insulin and electrolyte balance, it is prudent to replenish these stores just after a workout.  Now, if it is 12 noon when you finish your strenuous exercise, pasta could be a good idea because you'll naturally work it off during the remainder of your busy day.  But if you're trying to knock off a few pounds or your workout is in the evening, heavy carb loading will actually cause you to GAIN weight, not lose it!  A simple piece of fruit (apples are absorbed quicker than any other fruit and it's a natural carb/sugar source) or Gatorade will be sufficient to keep your sugar and insulin levels balanced.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  throw a small apple into the gym bag if your sports facility doesn't have a bowl to offer its members.  If you don't like apples, then a small orange or clementine or pear is nice.  Bananas are always a great post workout fruit and provide an added source of potassium.  Drink water after your intense workout, have your fruit and guess what?  Most likely, you'll be less hungry after you shower and are ready for your next meal.  It's a win-win situation and an easy and inexpensive solution to energy drinks!