Foods That Are Best to Eat Before You Workout

Everyone knows that when it comes to working out and exercising that what you eat is important. However, many people are uncertain about what foods to eat to get the most out of their workout. Here are some ideas of things that can help you along the way.

Foods You Should Eat Before You Workout

First of all, you need to eat before your workout – especially if you’re trying to lose weight. This may seem counterintuitive; however, remember that your body needs food to function!

Think of food like the gas in your car. You may say, “I don’t want to use any gas because I’m trying to save money.” However, you have a road trip planned that you need to drive for. You hop into your car that morning to leave and your car doesn’t move. Why? Well, obviously, it’s because you didn’t put any gas into it!

Our bodies work the same way. “I don’t want to eat anything because I want to lose weight.” This doesn’t work. Our bodies need to have sugar to be able to create energy. If you choose to workout or exercise without any nutrients in your body it will begin to EAT ITSELF! That means that while you are burning away your fat, you will also be burning away your own muscle mass!

Here are some ideas of simple foods to eat before your workout to give yourself the edge on your workouts.

Oats

Oats are a great food item to have before your workouts because it will gradually release your carbs into your bloodstream. This is because of the high amounts of fiber that oats contain. Since your body is getting a steady flow of carbs instead of a huge spike, your body is able to workout longer.

Recommendation: One cup of oats thirty minutes before you begin exercising.

Bananas

Bananas are full of potassium. This is important because that potassium helps to maintain your nerve and muscle function throughout your workout.

An important note is that since your body doesn’t store potassium for a long period of time you should eat the banana about thirty minutes before you workout. This will allow your body to have the maximum amount of nutrients from the banana.

Recommendation: Eat a medium banana thirty minutes before you workout

Whole Grain Toast

Whole Grains are similar to the oats. They are packed with fiber to help you have a consistent stream of energy instead of a huge spike at the beginning. Topping it off with some jam or honey for some more energy

Recommendation: Eat a couple pieces about 45 minutes before your workout

Greek Yogurt

Most yogurts are a great addition to any diet but Greek Yogurt should be at the top of that list. Greek Yogurt contains as much protein as 2 to 3 ounces of lean meat, 15 to 20 grams. This helps to make it a good source of protein for those who are vegetarian. Greek Yogurt has twice the protein of regular yogurt.

A word of caution, Greek Yogurt has a lot more saturated fat than the alternative. Make sure to check your labels and gravitate towards low-fat or fat-free ones. For more info, http://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/diet/articles/2011/09/30/greek-yogurt-vs-regular-yogurt-which-is-more-healthful

Just Eat!

The biggest thing to remember is that you need to eat before your workout. The timing is important, too. If you eat too early, the nutrients will be gone before your workout even begins. Too late and your body will still be in the process of digesting and risk getting sick.

There are many different websites and ideas for what to eat. Go out, experiment, and figure out what you enjoy most!

For more tips and support, visit our website here!

Sources:

Buzzfeed.com

Jillianmichaels.com

Mensfitness.com