Good Foods to Eat Before a Workout

on November 10, 2009 at 7:30 AM

apples banana Some people can eat an entire meal before working out. I am most certainly not one of those people. In fact, it would be quite unpleasant (for me and people around me) if I decided to do this.

I exercise first thing in the morning, so I rarely eat before working out: first, because I don't have time, and second, because eating so early in the morning makes me nauseous.

But some fitness exerpts recommend eating before exercising because they say it can give you more energy and help you to last longer, especially during a hard workout...

It is possible to "train" yourself to eat before working out. I actually did this last summer when I was training for a race. I was getting light-headed during some of my longer morning runs and found that if I ate a small, healthy snack before running, I felt stronger and felt better.

But I had to start with teeny tiny portions, and work up from there. My first few runs post-eating were not pretty, but I got better as the summer continued.

Here are few good foods to eat before exercising (recommended to me by my local running store):

Small banana
Small apple
1 cup non-fat or low- fat yogurt
Juice
Half a slice of wheat toast spread with 1 tablespoon peanut butter
Small handful of trail mix (with nuts, raisins, etc.)

Do you eat before working out?

Different Cravings for Different Exercises

Would You Try It? Calorie Restriction Diet?

About the author Kim Conte

has shoes that make people stop her on the street and ask "Where did you get those?" but it doesn't work for taxi cabs as she was hit by one ... and lived to tell the tale. She has more freckles than Lohan but way less attitude. And she's a fierce cook with tons of recipes to share -- and wishes she could share some with Bourdain.

Filed Under: eating healthy, exercise, nutrition

Comments (8)

aurorabunny

on Nov 10, 2009 at 8:57 AM

I normally don't. That intense cardio makes me feel like I have to puke if I've eaten within the past few hours.

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Nattiesmom9603

on Nov 10, 2009 at 10:04 AM

I usually eat something light like a piece of fruit.If I attempt to run after a meal its disasterous lol.

Cafe Cynthia

on Nov 10, 2009 at 10:41 AM

I have to eat before working out. Last night I had some yogurt with granola, or I'll have two Laughing Cow cheese wedges. Fruit doesn't cut it for me, I need something with protein and fat, as counterproductive as that sounds.

brandoneaglemom

on Nov 10, 2009 at 10:50 AM

Last night I actaully ate dinner first and then we went to our workout. We seemed to be okay. To each their own but i think that eating a little something does help give you some energy to last a little longer.

navyma23

on Nov 10, 2009 at 11:12 AM

I am horrible about eating breakfast period. I just sometimes am not hungry. I literally have to make myself eat. I can usually stand a banana or yougurt.

dragonflylovr19

on Nov 10, 2009 at 2:30 PM

Usually a banana if I workout first thing in the AM. Otherwise if i wait I just eat like I normally do!

tupperlove

on Nov 10, 2009 at 3:44 PM

Yes, I eat before my workout. I had an early a.m. workout and getting to the gym on time usually meant skipping my morning meal. It was disastrous. I was physically struggling to finish my hour routine. My trainer knew exactly my difficulty was from my lack of breakfast (-basically my overall nutrition). I have since changed my bad habit of skipping meals and can have a completely physically beneficial cardio-aerobic workout 3 times per week. Before a workout, it is primarily a carb meal. After workout it is carb & protein. Plus the continued balance of carb, protein, fruits, veggies and fat throughout the day--usually a 5-meal/snack day.

AgentBrez

on Nov 11, 2009 at 1:00 PM

i run right after dinner b/c its the only time i can go since my husband is home to watch the kids. i dont think it effects my run one way or the other. i actually prefer running later in the day b/c i am more stretched out than if i went first thing in the morning.