What to eat before a workout

What should you eat before your workout?

What to eat before a workout is as important as the workout itself. Food not only fuels your body in preparation for your exercise routine, it can also affect your mood, metabolism, and ultimately the kind of experience you get during that session.

So as you develop a steady routine and a regular workout schedule, you need to be disciplined about what to eat before you workout.

Firstly, let’s start consider what is an ideal period to eat before working out.

A good practice is to eat something light, forty-five minutes to an hour before the workout session. Fruits, a light salad, or snack is a safer bet.

The portion of food is also important.

What you would eat before, say a Fitness Kickboxing class or anaerobic type activity; might be different if you were doing another type of exercise.

Also keep in mind that what happens to your body during a Yoga class is slightly different if you were lifting weights, for example.

Although the end goal might be similar, the way your body will process what you eat before and after the workout is slightly different in the interim. This is one of many considerations why what to eat before a workout is important.

Some common sense examples of what not to eat before your workout.

Don’t binge-eat carbs right before your workout

This seems obvious, but it is worth noting. Carbohydrates are an important part of your nutrition, but it won’t serve you well if you down a bowl of pasta 20 minutes before jumping into a spin class.

Carbohydrates are best eaten well before the workout. You need ample time for digestion. Especially if you don’t want it spilling out of you while you workout 🙂

No alcohol

Yes. This is another no-brainer, right? Deciding on what to eat before a workout can be tricky, but holding on to unhealthy habits or lifestyle will be counterintuitive to one’s fitness goals.

That being said, consuming alcohol before you workout can suppress the production of needed protein that is essential to repairing your muscles after exercise.

It can also impede one’s athletic performance during the workout session. Not to mention the bad experience it would create for others if one’s sweat smells like booze 😉

Avoid coffee or caffeinated drinks before you workout

This is a slightly controversial one in some circles as there are also some pre-workout energy drinks that contain some amounts of caffeine.

While the body uses calcium to initiate muscle contractions, and caffeine helps mobilize calcium ions, it also can have some adverse side effects after your workout.

For example, if you consume lots of caffeine as a late day picker-upper to help boost your energy for your evening workout, it may affect your sleep and ability to rest at night.

So discretion is needed when it comes to caffeinated and energy drinks before you workout.

Suggestions of foods to eat before you workout

So if we can time our meals properly, and have a good handle on what to avoid before gym time, here are a food suggestions to eat before a workout:

Try whole grain foods like toast, peanut or almond butter and banana slices.

These are great, healthy choices, which are nutritious and are also good for your metabolism afterwards.

A plate of grilled chicken thighs with rice and steamed vegetables.

Eating full meal ninety minutes to two hours prior to gives ample time for the food to digest before exercising. This means you wouldn’t feel bloated while working out.

Oats, berries, eggs, avocado or nuts are also a healthy choice.

Overall, let common sense prevail. If you can avoid processed foods altogether, eat something light and healthy, and make sure not to do it too close to workout time, you are on the right track.

In summary, don’t overthink what to eat before you workout. Eat something light and use be discretional on whole close to exercise time you it.

With a good routine, consistency and self-discipline, you are on your way to crushing your fitness goals. The very thing that might make or break this could very well be what to eat before a workout.