Pre-Workout Snacks: Eating for Fuel
The London Games may be over, but there’s no doubt you’re still feeling inspired by all the Olympians’ athletic prowess! For those of you tying up those sneakers or heading to the gym, remember that you need to take care of your body before asking it to do things for you. And that includes what you put into it!
Like any vehicle, our bodies need fuel and especially during exercise. Eating before getting active should be an important part of your workout routine. Eating the right food will not only help you enhance your workout, but it will also give you the energy you need to complete it to the best of your ability.
I know it may seem like a contradiction, but you need calories in order to work out. Calories are what enable you to exercise at your best. Sometimes we need a little something for extra energy, so there’s nothing wrong with starting with a snack. Bottom line: if you’re not well-fueled, your body isn’t going to let you work as hard.
And even though most of us won’t be running an Olympic marathon anytime soon, we still need to prepare our bodies for activity. If you’re working out for 90 minutes or longer, eating beforehand is definitely a good idea. If not, you may begin to feel weak, light-headed or just plain exhausted. Try fresh fruit, whole wheat toast with almond butter or a glass of fruit juice or chocolate milk. A banana or a pack of raisins or are great choices and easy to grab and go.
Conversely, if you’re just hitting the gym for a 30-minute treadmill session, you probably don’t have to worry too much about your pre-workout food intake. You do, on the other hand, need to stay hydrated. Staying hydrated helps keep you cool in addition to replenishing all the lost sweat. While many professional athletes grab sports drinks and electrolyte replacements for this, it’s likely that lighter and less involved workouts won’t require such products. Water will do the trick just fine, plus you can avoid the extra calories.
Most important of all, it’s a good practice to take note of your own reactions to food and drink in relation to working out and figure out a plan that’s right for you.
