What Should I Eat Before My Workout?

Zeina Khawam August 15, 2017 Eat Well, Health, sports

Do you ever get tired or sick to your stomach halfway through your workout? Are you starving right after your gym class? Or maybe you’re not getting the results you are expecting. If so, you’re pre-workout meal or snack may be to blame!

If your activity lasts less than one hour, there are no clear guidelines for nutrition before or after the workout (sorry!). In general, a well-balanced diet consisting of all 4 food groups should be able to provide you with the right amount of energy to power through your activity as well as enough protein for recovery. BUT, if you fall into any of the scenarios described above, optimizing your pre-workout nutrition can help you feel great while working out and lead to great results. Below are solutions to the most common issues.

I am too tired during my workout

This may be because there’s too long of a gap between the last thing you ate and your workout or you’re not eating the right foods. Energy comes mainly from carbs (yes, I said carbs!); they should be your best friend. Some great sources include fruit, smoothies, bread and crackers, and dairy products. The time between your last meal and workout will depend on your tolerance. Some people can eat a complete meal an hour before their workout without feeling sick, while others will eat 2 hours before and will feel their meal coming back up. This will require some trial and error, but you can find some helpful tips on the next page.

Pages: 1 2 3

Author

Zeina Khawam

Zeina is registered dietitian member of OPDQ and Dietitians of Canada. She consults a clientele that desires to change their lifestyle habits, whether it is to lose weight, increase muscle mass, increase energy levels, improve performance or simply live healthier.