The Best Foods to Eat Before and After Your Workout
You wake up wearily first thing in the morning, put your gym gear and your runners on and you hit the pavement, gym or PT session. Afterwards, you are famished and dreaming of a carb-loaded breakfast and strong coffee, right!?
Unfortunately, that’s not a good way to maximise the effect that a workout is going to have on your body. With a little more planning, and knowledge you can make sure the foods you eat, both before and after your workout, ensure that all the sweating is actually making maximum impact on your body.
Why Should You Eat Something before Your Workout?
Some people think it’s better to work out while hungry, rather than trying to move on a full stomach which may make them feel cumbersome. However, fueling yourself before a workout will allow you to maintain carbohydrates – these make for a great fat burning and muscle building session!
Research from the Australian Institute of Sport states that eating 1-2 hours before a workout is best to make sure your body has the fuel available during a period of exercise. This will ensure that your body has fully digested the food and has the energy it needs to push through that workout, without feeling full and uncomfortable!
What Should You Eat Before You Work Out?
If you are getting up early in the morning to exercise, you might not have a lot of time to spare. It’s still important to eat something light, though. Remember, your body has been fasting while you have been asleep so it needs some fuel before exercise. Combining protein with a low GI snack is the way to go before you get moving. Here’s what might be suitable if you work out before breakfast:
- Wholemeal toast, with thinly spread almond butter and half a banana
- A tub of yoghurt with fresh berries
- An apple with a handful of cashews or walnuts
If you are working out at other times of the day and are able to eat a couple of hours before your workout you might consider something a little heavier:
- Oats or sweet potato is a good option for complex carbohydrate consumption
- Ricotta cheese on wholemeal toast is effective too. Ricotta cheese contains whey protein, perfect for increasing energy during a workout
What Should You Eat After a Workout?
While it’s tempting to dive straight into a high fat meal after a big workout, high protein foods are perfect after a workout as they help your muscles recover after exercising. Try these muscle building, high protein foods after a workout.
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Whey protein shake
- Brown rice or quinoa
- Salmon
GFitness offer a free gym trial. Come on in to burn some calories and build some muscle, and talk to our experts the right nutritional balance to meet your goals. Check out our personal trainers in Freshwater and Rhodes Sydney.