Paying attention to what we eat after a workout is critical to maximizing recovery. In the first 15-30 minutes immediately following exercise our muscles are like a sponge, ready to absorb. Glycogen stores are depleted, bloodflow is high - all the conditions are right to deliver key nutrients directly back to our muscles, fueling recovery and preparing us for the next worout.
15-30 minutes is not a lot of time. My post-workout routine typically has: 3 minutes of panting and staring at the ground...5 minutes of hanging out and laughing about the WOD...and then maybe 10 minutes of stretching. By the time I've changed out of those sweaty shorts my recovery window is pretty much gone - no matter what I do in the next 24 hours I won't be fully recovered. This is why I bring fuel to the Lab every day, every WOD. Philosophies can vary(Zone, paleo, etc.), so I won't go into specifics about what you should eat. Each athlete should find what's right for their own needs. But remember this: what you eat(and when you eat it) will fuel today's gain and tommorow's workout.
1200 notes: Shout out to Tom Offerman: still fresh out of boot camp, often learning the movements just prior to throwing himself into the WODs...we see his dedicated hard work and know it will pay off!