It’s never good to start a work out on an empty stomach. With no food in your system, you’ll have no energy to get you through the duration of your exercise. However, everyone works out at different times in the day. Some are early risers, while others are night owls and enjoy breaking a sweat in the later portion of the evening. The time you work out can help dictate what you should be eating before each workout.
Morning
If you’re the kind of person that likes to roll out of bed and immediately slip into some running shoes, it’s important you hit the kitchen first. But stray from a big meal of pancakes, sausage and eggs. Eating a full breakfast isn’t ideal. Stick to a very light snack filled with protein and easily digestible carbs. Meal replacement smoothies are a great way to get some energy without being overly full. Try this protein meal adjusted from FitSugar for a delicious breakfast that won’t slow you down during your workout:
Vanilla Almond Smoothie
Ingredients: 1/2 banana, 1/2 vanilla almond milk, 1/2 cup water, 1 scoop Naturade Total Soy Vanilla, ice, a dash of cinnamon and 1-2 drops of stevia.
Directions: Combine all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. This recipe makes one serving.
Afternoon
Some like to take their lunch break to work out at the office or head on over to the gym for a half hour or so. If you fall into this group, start by drinking plenty of water throughout the morning. This will keep you hydrated and full so that you’re not tempted to eat a large lunch before working out. Keep it small and simple, like a whole-wheat bagel with jam, which is easy to digest and a great way to fuel your workout. It’s best to eat 45 minutes to an hour before working out. If you exercise on a full stomach, you may feel sluggish and not get the results you’re looking for.
Evening
Days can be busy, which leaves only the evening for you to get your workout in. This means you’ll be breaking a sweat around dinner time. Dinner is often the largest meal, but if you’re planning on exercising afterwards, make sure you don’t overeat. One of the best dinners to have before a workout is brown rice with chicken. It’s a simple dish that sits well in the stomach and has plenty of carbs and protein. Beans and lentils are also a good pre-workout snack and a great source of energy. Just remember to keep your portions small.
