Post-Exercise Energy Replenishment

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  The association of exercise and weight loss and weight maintenance is intimately tied to thermodynamics, suggesting physical work is a key component to body fatness reduction. Anecdotal claims that exercise increases hunger and appetite making weight loss more difficult are not supported. In fact, contrary to these assumptions, several studies demonstrate that despite inducing a moderate energy deficit, an acute bout of exercise does not elicit compensatory responses in hormone driven hunger, appetite, or energy intake. This being said, many fitness enthusiasts consume food post-exercise to support their activity and as a reward for training. Conflict exists when post-exercise consumption negates the caloric expenditure needed for weight control. Part of the issue occurs because people do not understand healthy eating, nor do they grasp the difference between serving sizes and portions. Likewise, most people over predict the caloric expenditure associated with their training and do not need the recovery calories oftentimes recommended for athletes who are expected to meet high energy demands each day. This combination creates a weight management dilemma, as post-exercise consumption often exceeds expenditure and therefore slows or halts the weight loss process.
   
  General recommendations for post-exercise energy replenishment include up to 60 grams of carbohydrates and 20 grams of protein (3:1 ratio) immediately following exercise, with the caloric intake equivalent to the remaining deficit consumed within the next four hours. This makes sense for an individual who burns 400-700 calories every day through voluntary physical activity, needs the energy replaced for the next bout of activity, and is already of healthy weight. It is not warranted for a person who is overweight and attempting weight loss who burns between 150-300 calories per workout. The need for calories immediately following exercise still makes sense to some degree, but it is the caloric intake by quantity that needs to be managed. Based on the literature, a carbohydrate-protein mixture seems to best aid post-exercise recovery which explains the chocolate milk phenomenon. But many people think of chocolate milk as a dessert or sweet, making it undeserving of a post-workout meal. Ironically, smoothies seem to be categorized as a more healthy food even though they often contain more calories and more simple sugars.
   
  A homemade smoothie made of cut fruit, low fat milk and ice equates to about 150-200 calories per 8 ounce serving, not unlike chocolate milk. But a commercial smoothie contains many more calories, often due to both the size and the ingredients used. If made from real fruit, with 25 grams of protein powder, ice, and water the calories are much lower than those made from fruit syrup or fruit pastes and low fat (full sugar) frozen yogurt. Consumers are often sold on the terms natural, real, and organic but when applied to peanut butter and chocolate and hidden sugar those words still mean high calories. The same can be said for many of the protein-based energy bars. The average caloric range is 250-400 calories per bar which represents more calories than most people burn per weight training workout. Most of these products are designed for individuals looking to gain muscle weight, not weight loss, explaining why they are sold in gyms at point of purchase locations. 

  Post Exercise Drink	Calories	Fat	Sat. Fat	Carbs	Fiber	Sugar	Protein	Carb:Protien Ratio
  Protein Berry Workout 24 oz. (Jamba Juice)	490 kcal	1g	0g	99g	7g	81g	23g	5:1
  Planet Pro - Strawberry - 32 oz. (Planet Smoothie)	460 kcal	2g	0g	65g	7g	58g	49g	1.2:1
  The Hulk - Strawberry - 32 oz. (Smoothie King)	1553 kcal	48g	19.5g	241.5g	12g	187.5g	40.5g	6:1
  Muscle Blaster - 24 oz. w/ Splenda (Tropical Smoothie)	284 kcal	2.8g	0g	41g	5g	2g	24g	1.7:1
  P-Nut Power Shake - 12 oz. (Robeks)	362 kcal	0g	16g	39g	4g	23g	11g	3.5:1
  Low-Fat Chocolate Milk - 1 Cup (Commercial)	158 kcal	2.5g	1.5g	26g	1.2g	24.9g	8.7g	3:1
  Peanut Power - 32 oz. (Smoothie King)	824 kcal	33g	6g	111g	9g	89g	23g	4.8:1