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Post-Exercise Window

Meaning

The Post-Exercise Window, often referred to as the “anabolic window,” is the acute period immediately following physical exertion when the body’s sensitivity to nutrient uptake and protein synthesis is significantly heightened. This physiological state is characterized by enhanced glucose transporter activity and increased blood flow to skeletal muscle, facilitating the rapid replenishment of glycogen stores and initiation of muscle repair. Optimizing nutritional intake within this window is a key strategy for maximizing adaptive hormonal responses, such as insulin-mediated anabolic signaling and mitigating the catabolic effects of exercise-induced cortisol. The duration of this window is dynamic and depends on the intensity and type of the preceding workout.