When do you work out? How do you work out? At what intensity? All of these questions are important when you’re figuring out what to eat before your workout. Luckily, the great folds at Eat This, Not That! have a great general guide to what to eat no matter what your workout. Here are their tips, condensed for you:
For strength training
- In the morning: If you like to lift first thing in the morning, your pre-workout snack should start at dinner. Stock up on protein and fiber for dinner the night before (brown rice, steamed broccoli, and lean protein is their suggestion), then have a small snack (a piece of fruit or some nut butter) before your workout. That way, you’ve fueled yourself beforehand and you’re not eating more than you can handle in the half an hour before you life.
- In the evening: If you like to get gains after work, make sure to eat a combo of carbs, protein, and veggies two or three hours before you hit the weights. Eat This suggests a sweet potato, a cup of steamed spinach, and some chicken breast or white fish.
For cardio
- In the morning: Since you don’t have the hour or two to digest that you’d have if you worked out at night, you should eat something that will start up your metabolism without sitting on your stomach. Try a cup of yogurt with some fruit, or a small smoothie to get you going in the morning.
- In the evening: Since you’ve already eaten throughout the day, you’re already pretty energized, but you should still have a small snack before your cardio session. Eat This recommends a bowl of mixed fruit or papaya to keep you energized and hydrated.
For yoga
- A carb-rich snack an hour before class will keep you from feeling too heavy or too hungry while you’re increasing your awareness. Eat This recommends a whole fruit or some whole-grain toast.
For weight loss
- A carb-rich snack is good for this as well, since your body will burn this off first, and then start in on the fat. This is better than working out on an empty stomach, since it’s safer and helps your body get moving before burning the harder stuff.
There you go! Now that you’re armed with the perfect snack for any workout. Eating the right thing before your workout can help you get the most of your fitness, and can keep you safe and energized while you’re getting fit.
