Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. When I wake up I am starving and in the kitchen within five minutes busily whipping up an egg and spinach omelette and if anyone gets in my way they will likely get whacked over the head with my Paula Dean non stick skillet. Although it may be my favorite meal of the day, it is not necessarily the most important. You see, if you are gym junkie or fitness enthusiast, or even just like to lift a few weights a couple of times a week, your post workout meal can determine whether all that work you have just done will equate into muscle growth or be in vain. And if you think consuming large amounts of protein is the answer, then you will be surprised. Today we are going to take a look at how and why post workout nutrition should be your most important meal of the day, and show you a ratio that will optimize your muscle growth that can apply no matter where or what you eat after you workout.

So why is what you eat or drink after you workout so important? Well when you are in the gym, lifting weights or performing resistance training, you are breaking down muscle fibers and depleting your muscle's glycogen stores to use as energy. When you step off the weights floor your body is in what's known as a catabolic state, which means that because of all the stress you have just put on it, you have hormones circulating that are counterproductive to muscle growth. You need to switch your body into an anabolic state, where you have replaced muscle glycogen stores and given your body the right amount of calories and nutrients to help your muscles repair.

So what nutrients can help you rebuild muscle and replenish glycogen stores? Protein, fats or carbohydrates? Well most people believe that consuming a high protein meal or shake is the answer, but it is not. You see, while protein is important in your post workout meal or shake to provide your body with amino acids to help rebuild muscle tissue, carbohydrates are more important as they not only help rebuild tissue, but also replenish glycogen stores. While healthy fats such as EFAs and Monounsaturated fats are important to any healthy diet and muscle building eating plan, and should make up around 20 - 30% of your diet, it should not form much, if any, part of your post workout meal. Why? Because fat is absorbed slowly by the body, and will slow the rate of which any meal is digested and after you workout you need to get nutrients absorbed as quickly as possible to get your body into that anabolic state. So it is best you avoid overloading your protein shake with too many scoops of peanut butter.

Now we know that both protein and carbohydrates are important, how much of each is best? Well whether you are eating a meal post workout, or throwing back a shake, you should follow the ratio of 2:1 carbohydrates to protein. If you are currently having a shake with a low carb protein powder, and not including any other carbs in your shake, then you simply are not providing your muscle with enough energy to replenish glycogen stores and you will be missing out on optimum muscle growth potential. If you have a meal or shake with 20 - 30 grams of protein, you should also be having 40 - 60 grams of carbohydrates. This should make your meal around 400 calories which is pretty much what you need to be aiming for.

Most people tend to choose a post workout shake as their meal after they workout, and this is probably the one time of the day where this is optimal. Whole foods should be consumed throughout the day to provide your body with slow digesting energy and protein, however because protein shakes in the form of whey protein are absorbed so quickly, they are the best option after you workout. If you do some searching on the internet for the best carbohydrates post workout, you will find a ton of articles talking about fructose vs glucose, some say newer forms of carbs on the market are better than others, but truth be told, you really don't need to worry that much about it. Whether it's a banana, some oatmeal, fruit or honey, they will all provide your muscles with when they need to replenish glycogen stores, so chose whatever works for you and what you prefer. Just ensure you are having 40 - 60 grams and you will be fine.