WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Power Boost your Workout
Last week was party time, big-time, here at JMC. On Tuesday, we gorged on burgers and cupcakes to celebrate our coworkers with June birthdays. On Thursday we had a going-away party for Ali—he's headed to Pennsylvania to spend the summer with Josie, Rumi, and their very-soon-to-appear new baby: a celebration as cross-cultural as we are! We splurged on a Persian feast followed by a piñata party, followed by the inevitable mad dash for the candy. We finished off the week with a Friday shindig for Rebekah, our VP of Product Development, who's going on maternity leave. (Who knew pregnancy was contagious? Rebekah’s due date is the same as Josie's!)
Our beloved and brutal trainer, Michelle, noticed we were all kind of sluggish today after all that eating. Which left us wondering whether certain foods make working out harder, and others make it easier. We found some tips about foods that can boost the effectiveness of your workout.
Spice it Up
We love spicy food—we have a giant bottle of Red Rooster hot sauce in every JMC refrigerator. So we were glad to learn that adding a little spice to your food will help you make the most of your workout. Capsaicin, the chemical that makes that jalapeno burn, also causes your body to release a burst of stress hormones, which speeds up your metabolism. A faster metabolism means you'll burn more calories whether you're working out or sitting at your desk. Other metabolism boosters? Green tea, whole grains, nuts, and low-fat dairy products.
Drink Up
H2O, that is. Drinking water steadily throughout the day will help you feel more energized and less sluggish during your workouts. It takes a few hours for your body to absorb all that water, so be sure to sip throughout the day and not just right before you hit the gym.
Shake it Up
Our Senior Manager of Marketing, Cristina, is one of our strongest and most toned coworkers. Before and after every workout, Cristina has a chocolate-y protein shake. Turns out, the shake increases the flow of amino acids to your muscles during your workout. Afterwards, it helps stimulate the muscle growth and tone that we're all looking for. Whey or soy protein shakes are our favorite. Here's to mastering at least one "real" pushup…
What do you do to get the most out of your workout?
xo,
The Chicological Chicks
Images via:Foundhealth OregonEast Tumblr
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Reader Comments (1)
Such a fun and inspiring work environment! xx