It's never a wise decision to start a workout on a full stomach.
Tale as old as time; Everyone has been in a situation where they ate a little too much, and now they're in a full blown Food Coma.
But even if you don't overeat, a belly full of food is your enemy if you want optimum performance during a workout. Digestion takes energy, and we want as much energy as we can get.
Some people opt to work out on an empty stomach, but that isn't a good idea either.
It's best to eat a small, smart meal so that our bodies have enough energy to sustain us through a workout.
As discussed in a previous article on Carbohydrates the best choice for fast energy are simple carbs. This will give us a quick insulin spike that will give us enough energy to perform our best during the day's workout.
Here's an example of the type of thing I consume pre-workout:
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
- 1/2 cup blackberries
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1 banana
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons agave nectar or stevia to taste
Without getting too 'Nutrition Geek' on you guys, let's briefly discuss some of the benefits of these ingredients and why they are wise choices for pre-workout nutrition.
The Berries will give us our simple carbohydrates in the form of fructose while the bananas, in addition to more fast carbs will give us Potassium.
Potassium is absolutely excellent for preventing (and alleviating) cramps and fighting through the soreness still lingering from yesterday's workout.
The Greek Yogurt will give us Probiotics, and also a decent dose of Protein, which, as discussed in my article on Calories is necessary for building lean muscle.
All of these things combined will result in the perfect nutritive cocktail for a great workout.
Using food to our advantage can make a huge difference, make sure that your food is working for you, and not against you.
Cheers,
John.
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