Do you NEED to eat before you workout? And if so, what?
This depends on a few things:
- The intensity of your workout
- The duration of your workout
- Personal preference
INTENSITY
If your workout is bound to be intense, have yourself a snack (if limited time) or even if able a small meal 2-3 hours before. Intense workouts call for more carbs as fuel and having a bite can aid performance, increase your ability to exert yourself and help with recovery and workout quality. If the workout is a short 2-3 mile jog at a low pace, or a leisurely walk, you should have enough glycogen stored and a snack isn’t crucial.
DURATION
If your workout is planned to be longer than ~45-60 min, and intense, a snack or meal is advised. If you aren’t properly fueled, you’ll feel sluggish and less energized, resulting in poorer performance, potential injury and even poorer recovery.
PREFERENCE
Eating before workouts is also largely preferential. If someone is greatly accustomed to morning workouts with no food, or has a very sensitive stomach, etc. it’s okay to not eat. I feel there is great contention over this but I truly believe what works for YOU, works for YOU and forcing yourself to change isn’t the key to success if you’re already patterned. Giving a snack a try and seeing if it helps is a good idea, though.
GOOD SNACKS:
CARBS, CARBS, CARBS!!! Simple carbs are the best pre-workout.
Ideas:
Banana w/ peanut butter
Toast with peanut butter
Rice Krispy Bar (my favorite)
Oatmeal
Waffle with honey
Whole grain cereals
I hope this helps!
