When we exercise we use the energy stores in our body to fuel this activity. This energy may come from sugars stored in our muscles and from our body fat stores. After exercise the muscles are keen to replace their sugar stores. So there’s a greater chance that carbohydrate rich foods (such as cream cakes) eaten immediately after a hard workout will be channelled in this direction, and less chance of them contributing to increased body fat.

The situation is very different if you eat carbohydrate rich foods at other times. When sitting at your desk in the middle of the afternoon your resting muscles will not be so sugar hungry. So at this time, there’s a much greater chance that that cream cake will go straight to your hips!

But don’t be fooled in to thinking you can binge on chocolate and cakes after every workout at the gym. It’s all to easy to eat more calories than you’ve burned off. As a rule complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, whole grain cereals and bread and wholemeal pasta release their sugars slowly so provide a better option to help maintain a healthy weight. Faster releasing carbohydrates such as white bread and pasta and sports drinks provide additional fuel options for sports men and women around the time of regular intense training sessions.