As the temperature gets chilly outside, we begin to see many dudes rocking their winter coat...more facial hair! I clearly remember a group of guys in my early college days that embraced the winter coat and made a pledge to not shave for the full month of November – it was quickly coined ‘No Shave November’. The changing leaves and crisp fall air brought this memory to mind. For that reason I think it’s only appropriate to discuss Mustaches...yes, you too can rock the stache. Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to make a statement, instead embrace a milk mustache this fall!

After a few tips from a top nutritionist and a little reading, I started to become very fond of chugging a big – ice cold glass of chocolate milk after a hard workout. A good friend, who happened to be a standout collegiate runner, first put this idea into my head. In conversation she mentioned that her coaches started having the team drink lots and lots of milk following long training runs. This got the wheels turning, so I decided to do my homework.

Come to find out, it has been suggested that chocolate milk is one of the top recovery drinks. Nutritionist and fitness experts suggest that it essentially puts sports drinks to shame and offers extended benefits during the post workout recovery time. Several studies have proven this theory and support the facts that drinking a tall glass of H2O after a workout is not enough. Water simply replaces the sweat lost during a workout, and will by no means replenish fatigued muscle. The H2O alternative … chocolate milk! You might question why chocolate milk? Compare the nutritional facts on a gallon of plain milk to chocolate milk. Chocolate milk offers nearly double the carbohydrates and protein. Additionally, the tasty beverage is high in water, thus preventing dehydration. The benefits go on and the numerous studies support this idea that chocolate milk competes as the top recovery drink. So go ahead, rock the milk mustache this fall as you refuel after a long workout.

-Allison O'Brien