Usually my consistency to do cardio and strength was being broken because of agonizing over the session.
So I was analysing how to improve my consistency with Gemini, and it pointed out that prolonged training elevates cortisol, which fast acting carbs and the resulting insulin response can help counteract. So I tested it for 30 days before posting. And it worked out for me.
Did 50 minutes moderate cycling daily at morning for a month except 2 times a week strength (a strength session lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes). 1 or 2 rest days in the month. Earlier I was not usually tired but just found it mentally tough to do. Now I don't have that problem.
Usual diet was 1 fruits and 2 roti for carbs directly after the daily session.
Has anyone else noticed that immediate post-workout carb timing impacts mental friction and motivation?
Scientific explanation - During intense or prolonged exercise, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activates to mobilize energy substrates. Cortisol rises to stimulate gluconeogenesis, lipolysis, and protein breakdown to ensure adequate circulating glucose.
Consuming carbohydrates during or immediately after exercise:
Elevates blood glucose, eliminating the physiological need for continued endogenous glucose mobilization.
Triggers insulin secretion, which acts antagonistically against cortisol. Insulin suppresses adrenocortical activation and accelerates the clearance of circulating glucocorticoids.
Numerous trials demonstrate that ingesting carbohydrates post-workout significantly accelerates cortisol's return to baseline compared to fasting or non-caloric placebos
https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1998.85.4.1544doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1998.85.4.1544https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8175597/.
International society of sports nutrition position stand: nutrient timing (2017) -
doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0189-4.
The University of Texas at Austin. Dietary supplements affect the anabolic hormones after weight-training exercise (1994) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8175597/.
The Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University. Hormonal responses to consecutive days of heavy-resistance exercise with or without nutritional supplementation (1998) - [doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1998.85.4.1544](https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1998.85.4.1544) doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0189-4.