replenish, don't replace

This is a common adage used by Hammer Nutrition, when they are talking about hydration (drinking fluids) during a race. Their point is to drink fluids as you race as a means to prevent dehydration, not replace everything that you are sweating out.  I was reading “No need for Speed” by Jeff “The Penguin” Bingham and he was using the idea in relation to post workout eating.

I would agree him on this idea. Too many times, we (including myself) will do a hard workout, long run and then think we can go eat a whole pizza because we “earned it” or must have burned off 10x that many calories. Unfortunately, this is rarely true-at least until you get to the marathon/Ultramarathon level. A typical high energy boot camp class may only burn 400-500 calories max and that is if you are working the full hour.

So, keep that in mind the next time you chow down after a workout, the most appropriate thing may be just a small yogurt/hard-boiled egg or power bar even though you would love that stack of pancakes with yummy syrup….

Remember, train smarter.