Think of all the sweat you're pouring out during a workout. Your body loses tons of electrolytes and fluids through exercise, so it's a huge mistake to not rehydrate when you're low.
"Even though it feels counterintuitive to take in calories after you've just burned them off, not eating or drinking after a workout puts your body at risk of going into 'starvation mode,' which means your metabolism will slow down and you'll hang onto water weight, which is the opposite of what you want," said Milan Costich, celebrity boxing trainer and the owner of Prevail boxing in West Hollywood, CA.
"Hydrate before, during, and after your workout to get the maximum benefit of your post-workout metabolism boost," Costich said. This can be water, coconut water, a smoothie or protein shake, tart cherry juice, or even homemade Gatorade for electrolytes.
