It’s no secret that working out can leave you feeling extremely hungry. You’ve probably heard that it’s because your body is burning more calories, and as a result, it needs more fuel.
While this is partially true, there are actually other reasons why you might be reaching for those unhealthy snacks after a workout.
Basically there are 5 reasons why you crave junk food after working out:
- You are new to workouts and healthy eating.
- You are not aware of healthy fast food options.
- Your brain is seeking a reward.
- You have a habit of eating junk food
- You want to do it for social media
Let’s look at each of them individually, and ways you can tackle them.
1. You are new to Workouts and Healthy Eating
When you are new to workouts and healthy eating, it is difficult to avoid junk food. This is because you don’t have the knowledge or skills to make the right choices.
You may also be feeling overwhelmed and frustrated.
Here is what you can do as an alternative. Start by making small changes.
If you try to change too many things at once, you will likely become overwhelmed and give up.
Start by making small changes, such as adding one or two healthy meals to your menu each week, or adding a 20-minute extra walk after every heavy meal.
This way you will be able to digest the food easily, and your cravings will decrease over time.
2. You are not aware of Healthy Fast Food
Fast food is not all junk. You are probably not aware that there are many healthy fast food options nowadays.
If you don’t know where to find them, check out our list of post workout fast food choices.
Almost every fast food chain is trying to add healthy meals to their menu because of the increased demand of healthy food.
You can find some of the healthiest fast food at places like Subway, Chipotle, and Panera Bread. These restaurants offer plenty of healthy options, including salads, soups, burgers, and sandwiches.
3. Your Brain is Seeking a Reward
Every day, we are faced with decisions. Decisions about what to wear, what to eat, and what to do. And for the most part, we’re pretty good at making them.
But every once in a while, we make a decision that isn’t in our best interest. We might decide to not skip the gym but follow it up with eating unhealthy foods.
At first glance, it might not seem like there’s anything wrong with enjoying a little bit of unhealthy food every once in a while. But the truth is that our brains are actually hardwired to seek out rewards.
And when it comes to food, the most rewarding foods are the unhealthy ones.
This means that when we make the decision to eat unhealthy foods, we’re actually triggering dopamine signals in our brain.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for feelings of pleasure and happiness. And when it’s released, it can be very difficult to resist temptation.
So how do we combat these cravings? One way is to try to get into a routine of eating healthy foods.
There are plenty of healthy foods good to eat post workout. They are rich in essential nutrients like carbs and proteins, and they can easily fulfill your food cravings.
And remember, it’s always okay to indulge in your favorite unhealthy food every once in a while like once or twice a month. But just be sure to balance it out with healthy foods as well.
4. You have a Habit of Eating Junk Food
Working out is great for your health, but it can also leave you feeling ravenous. If you find yourself snacking on unhealthy junk food after a workout, you’re not alone.
Many people crave junk food after working out because they have developed the habit of eating junk food.
There are several ways to break the habit of eating junk food after working out.
One way is to make sure you have healthy snacks on hand, such as fruits and vegetables, so you’ll have something to eat when you’re feeling hungry.
You can also try to schedule your workouts earlier in the day, so you’ll have plenty of time to eat a healthy meal before snacking on junk food.
Finally, make sure you’re getting enough protein and carbohydrates after your workout, so you won’t be as hungry later on.
5. You want to do it for Social Media
It has been found that when people work out, they tend to crave unhealthy foods like junk food. However, this craving is not really because of the workout but because of the desire to post about the workout on social media.
There are multiple studies done on the impact of social media on your workouts and food cravings, and it has been found again and again that people who worked out were more likely to post about their workout on social media and were also more likely to eat unhealthy foods.
Conclusion:
That’s all in why you crave junk food after working out. Habit of working out is good but eating junk food and working out together is never a good combination.
No doubt a heavy session of exercising will leave you feeling hungry and craving to eat food especially the unhealthy junk food.
But if you understand the reasons behind it, and know the alternatives, you will be able to save the extra effort required to balance the calories.
This article looked at five possible reasons why you crave junk food after workout. By understanding them, you can take steps to minimize the cravings.
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