The closer you eat before a workout, you'll want your foods to be in higher carbohydrates and lower in fats. If you are eating 30-60 minutes before: It is recommended that you eat a high carbohydrate, moderate protein, and low fat snack before exercising.
Your body can start extracting small amounts of energy from low glycemic carbohydrates, such as fruit, grainy bread, and oats, within 15-30 minutes of consuming the foods. Elevating your blood glucose levels and beginning to store this energy in your muscles, in the form of glycogen.
The general guideline is to eat a full meal three to four hours before exercising, a higher carbohydrate snack two hours before, and/or a smaller, easy-to-digest carbohydrate right up until you start.
Exercising in a fasted state may burn some quick body fat, but it's not the best option for your body in the long-run. Eat a small snack or meal before and after your workout to ensure that you're properly fueled to perform your best in the gym and recover quickly when you get home.
So ideally, have a balanced meal two to three hours before working out – a bit longer before is fine too. You can get away with not eating before an exercise session if it is low-intensity or less than an hour.
After a big meal: Give your stomach time to digest. Let your body rest 2-3 hours before hitting the gym. In between meals: Your body could use a boost. Eat a snack 30-60 minutes before the start of a workout to give you the energy needed.
For example, foods such as shellfish, egg yolks, almonds, peanuts and cashews are high in arginine, the amino acid that drives nitric oxide production in the body. Research shows that consuming more of these foods increases blood volume in muscles, leading to bigger, better muscle pumps.
A banana and Greek yoghurt, egg on toast, or a low-fat cereal with milk are all easy to eat options, but you can find your own combinations. Eating before a workout will give an energy boost, but it's important to make sure you're eating enough nutritious food and drinking water throughout the day too.
Nuts, cheese, and avocados contain protein, which is good, but their high fat content makes them pre-workout no-nos. “You don't want to eat something high in fat, like fast foods, fried foods, or cheesy foods,” she adds. Avoid them six to eight hours before your workout.
High-Fiber Vegetables
Your body needs fiber, but not before a workout. Vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or cauliflower can be hard to digest and could make exercising uncomfortable. Stick with veggies that are easier on your system, like well-cooked asparagus or potatoes.
Apples, bananas and oranges are a cinch to grab on the go or to toss in your gym bag. Plus, they're packed with easy-to-digest, energizing carbohydrates (roughly 15 to 20 grams of carbs apiece). As important as pre-exercise fuel is, don't forget to replenish afterward.
Eggs are a fantastic source of protein that can turn any breakfast into a great one – but they're also a great meal to incorporate before a workout. Since they are loaded with nutrients and protein, they can help synthesize muscles as they break down during a workout while also providing you energy.
The majority of nutrients in a pre workout meal should come from carbohydrates, as these macronutrients immediately fuel the body. Some protein should be consumed as well, but not a significant amount, as protein takes longer to digest and does not serve an immediate need for the beginning of an activity.
A lot of strength and power is intracellular water retention and sodium will help you retain water better. Get better pumps! The same way that sodium helps you to contract your muscles, it'll also help to flood your muscles with more water, meaning you get much better pumps in the gym.
General guidelines suggest exercising 1 to 2 hours after a small meal and 30 to 60 minutes after a snack to fuel your workout and prevent stomach problems. But the best time to exercise after eating varies based on exercise intensity, meal composition, and other factors.
And to get the most out of strength training workouts, it's best to consume a little protein both before and after, so peanut butter on a banana or peanuts added to oatmeal can be great pre-lifting fuel. The goal with pre-workout fuel is to have a small amount of food so your stomach doesn't feel heavy when exercising.
To increase energy ahead of a workout, a person should consume complex carbohydrates 2–3 hours in advance, and any simple carbohydrates 30–60 minutes in advance.
Rule No. 1: “Avoid pure protein right after the workout, because your body will just use it as energy again,” says Collingwood. Also, steer clear of foods that are mostly sugar (cookies, candy and the like) or mostly fat like a handful of nuts (without yogurt or fruit to balance the fat) or fried foods.
Water is truly the best choice for most types of day-to-day workouts. It will be absorbed quickly and provide the fluid needed to keep your blood pumping, and it will replace fluid losses from sweat during exercise. Aim for half your body weight in fluid ounces per day as a baseline fluid goal.
Pre-workout
Consume 20–30 grams of high-quality protein 30 minutes before beginning a workout session, such as eggs with some vegetables or bread on the side. If you don't have time for a meal beforehand, then try blending some whey isolate with milk or water for a quick pre-workout shake.