Day 27: Is It Better to Eat Before or After a Workout to Lose Weight?
Exercise and proper diet are key when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off. When you’re adjusting your diet to get to your ideal weight, you may wonder whether to eat before or after a workout to lose weight. Turns out, you need to eat food both before and after your workout to get the most benefits.
The timing of your pre- and post-workout meal or snack is what’s most important, however. Consult your doctor before starting a weight-loss plan and making changes to your diet or exercise program.
Eat Before Your Workout
Whether you like to eat food before or after a workout, it’s important that you have at least some calories in you for exercise. As you’re working out, you want to make sure all your hard-working muscles are used to their full potential. Eating before you work out helps fuel your muscles so that they perform their best.
To prevent indigestion while working out, you should eat a meal three to four hours before exercising. Be sure to include healthy carbs, such as whole grains, fruit, vegetables or nonfat milk or yogurt in your pre-workout meal. Carbohydrates energize your workout and provide your muscles with the nutrients they need to function optimally and grow.
A healthy pre-workout breakfast meal might include oatmeal with a few chopped walnuts and sliced bananas. If you work out in the afternoon, fuel up with a cup of bean and vegetable soup, whole-grain crackers, an apple, and low-fat string cheese at lunch.