Every gym rat out there knows that there’s more to a workout than simply working out. A whole lot of factors are relevant, including will, motivation, mood and, above all, diet. Now, diet doesn’t only come as a factor for those who wish to shed a stone or two; on the contrary – food intake should be an integral part of anyone’s workout plan. However, in addition to food, there are many other supplements that work not only as stamina boosters, but also pay compliments to your muscles, as well as to your willpower to push those boundaries further.
Diet
- Dark chocolate – Did you know that a single bar of dark chocolate can give you a mind-boggling boost prior to an exercise? Containing epicatechin, a flavonoid which helps fight fatigue, this delicacy is not only tasty, but can do wonders for any one of your gym days. By taking no more than a couple of grams of dark chocolate, you’re giving your body a tremendous boost, while allowing it to work as a marvelous mood booster.
- Raisins – Although hardly anyone is a fan of putting this treat into cookies, it has been known to taste incredibly good by itself. Raisins contain many nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and fiber, which are all crucial for any athlete and are incredibly easy to digest. However, you shouldn’t overdo it by taking more than 25 grams before exercise – which is just about an amount which won’t give you stomach issues.
- Coffee – Besides being a strong diuretic, this beverage does quite a bit more than merely keeping you awake. Containing caffeine – an energizing substance, it has been proven on many athletes that it enhances endurance as well as speed. Additionally, caffeine helps the body burn more fat – and faster at that. Just make sure you finish your cup of coffee at least 30 minutes before a workout for best results.
Supplements
Author Bio:
This article was written by Kate Flannery, a linguistics student by day and a lifestyle blogger by night. You can follow her on Twitter.
- Power bars and energizing beverages – If you’re planning to do go through a bit more of a struggle than your regular day workout, such as hours’ long biking/hiking trips or marathons, you’re going to need quite a bit more energy that will last you for an extended period of huffing and puffing. Power packed bars are a quick snack, that doesn’t take up too much of your time, which takes little time to digest, while providing you with huge amounts of energy. These snacks are workout supplements that can provide extra muscle and strength gain.
Dehydration is one of the most basic, yet most easily overlooked workout problems. While not taking any form of liquid during a workout session is highly inadvisable, replacing water with energy boosting beverages might do wonders for your strength, stamina, as well as muscle growth. Although lack of water can cause fatigue in athletes, take too much of it – and you’ll end up risking going through cramps, and/or losing focus on account of frequent toilet runs. - Carbohydrates – Unless you are looking to shed significant amounts of weight, relying on carbohydrates to fuel up your body is somewhat more preferable to relying on your body fat to do so. A by-far better source of energy, providing a steady stream of carbs during your exercise will do wonders for pushing those limits you thought were impossible to go over. There are many products out there that will supply you with extra carbs into your muscles quickly, without simply causing a heartbeat spike, which could result in your body crashing.
Author Bio:
This article was written by Kate Flannery, a linguistics student by day and a lifestyle blogger by night. You can follow her on Twitter.