Your Post-Workout Snack Could be Packing on the Pounds

You just finished your workout, burned 350 calories on eliptical machine and are dripping with sweat. You are now  ready for the best part of your workout routine … your post-workout smoothie.  The smoothies sold at your gym must be healthy – right? 

Your post-workout smoothie probably is “healthy” (contains nutrients including protein, Vitamin C, beta carotene, calcium, etc.) However it may also be loaded with calories … maybe even enough to offset what you burned off in your workout!

Here is the scoop on several NYC smoothies:
1.Pit Stop Cafe at Crunch gyms: 
– the “smoothies” come in 20 ounce sizes only. The average caloric intake is ~ 260 calories
– adding a scoop of protein powder would add approximately 100 calories for an average    of 360 calories. 
– the “vegetable/fruit juice drinks”  come in 12 oz and 20 oz sizes. Average caloric intake for 12 oz is 180 calories and 20 oz is 300 calories.

2. Energy Kitchen smoothies are 24 oz. Calories range from a low of 183 calories (“The Vaccinator”) to a high of 374 calories (“Peanut Better” – no I did not misspell that word!). Some of these drinks contains protein powder and others don’t.

3.The Pump smoothies come in 16 oz  and 24 oz. Calories for the 16 oz drinks range from 120 calories (“Cold Buster”) to 310 calories (“Peanut Butter Dream”). Calories for the 24 oz drinks range from 160 calories to 400 calories. A scoop of protein powder will add 80 – 100 calories.

4. Jamba Juice smoothies come in 16 oz, 24 oz and 32 oz (for some flavors). One of the lowest calorie smoothies (Light “Berry Fulfilling”) has 160 calories for 16 oz, 290 calories for 24 oz and 350 calories for 32 oz. The highest calorie flavor (“Peanut  Butter Moo’d “) has 490 calories for 16 oz and 800 calories for 24 oz. Yikes! Better get those running shoes on.

Here is another not-so-fun tidbit of information: Chances are that you really didn’t burn the amount of calories that the machine said. Those machines are notorious for overestimating the amount of calories you supposedly burn.

My advice re: post-workout smoothies:
1. If one of your goals is to lose weight, be careful with your intake of smoothies. Just because something is healthy and contains juice and fruit, it doesn’t mean it is low in calories.

2. Try to get the nutritional information of your favorite smoothie. Once you see it, you may think twice before getting it again!

2. Shakes and smoothies containing peanut butter will contain the highest amount of calories.

3. In general, adding a scoop of protein powder will add 100 calories and 20 grams of protein. Unless you just did a really heavy workout and are trying to build lean mass, you don’t need the extra calories and protein found in these protein shakes.

4. If you have your heart set on having a smoothie post workout  -just make your dinner on the lighter side to help offset those extra calories.

5. Be sure to drink plenty of water while working out. Being dehydrated post-workout can cause you to crave more liquid … which can increase the cravings for smoothies.