Before attending any workout session, it is important to prepare and condition yourself for it, be it physical preparation or loading your system with energy. Pre-workout preparation always goes a long way in developing and maintaining overall fitness. You would experience quick and lasting results and overall fitness as your fitness goals will have health and nutrition as the basic premise of all your fitness activities.
Fitness is 70% diet and 30% workout. The mistake people make is that they either don’t eat since long before working out or eat the wrong food. Your body needs a lot of energy before working out. For the body, the prime source of energy is carbohydrates. But remember, consume carbohydrates that are easily digestible.
Working out with a full stomach is not really the best option.
Here are our top recommendations for pre workout foods:
- Oatmeal: If you have a habit of working out early in the morning, then oatmeal is a good option. Add a dash of fruits and some fresh yogurt maybe. Oatmeal is light and easy to digest, fibrous and is a great source of energy.
- Peanut butter sandwiches: There are many ways you can go about with this option. You can either have 2 spoonfuls of peanut butter. They are great to taste and are rich in energy and fat, both of which are ideal for pre-workout consumption. In case you’d like to get a light breakfast, opt for a peanut butter sandwich with some honey and wholegrain/multigrain bread. Honey is a great source of natural sugar, and will not add much to your calorie count. Remember, you have been fasting for 8-9 hours and your body needs fuel if you are working out in the morning.
- Smoothies: Swap your sugar-packed juices with real whole fruit smoothies. You can add your protein powder of choice to drink, along with spinach, yogurt, bananas, and almonds. These are huge energy boosters and will help you remain active through the length of your workout session. You can also opt for greek yogurt instead, or maybe some hard boiled eggs. They are all great sources of protein.
Moreover, drink plenty of water. It is important to stay hydrated before you head to the gym. To check your hydration level, you can check the color of your morning’s first urine. The goal here is to reduce dehydration levels in your body which can cause muscle cramps and spasms when you work out. Even during workout, try staying as much hydrated as you can.