Before Your Workout
Before you workout, it is important to remember that working out on an empty stomach is worse than working out on a full one. This is true for a few reasons: the first being that even with a completely full stomach, you should have vast amounts of energy to help fuel your lifting. The second is that while working out on an empty stomach, it is very possible you will let your hunger get the best of you and you will rush through each exercise, maybe even defeating the purpose of lifting. Now you know that it is important to eat something before you lift, but what, and when?
What should you eat?
When planning or creating a pre-workout meal, try to keep two fundamental parts: carbohydrates and proteins! Carbohydrates will fuel your workout and protein will help start the rebuilding process of broken down muscles during your exercise. An ideal snack which includes these components is a cup of yogurt with oats and protein powder. This quick to make and eat snack will provide you with the energy and protein you will need for a great workout.
When should you eat it?
When it comes to when you should eat before a workout, there are only a few things to consider. The first thing to consider is how big your the meal you eat is. Obviously, the larger the meal, the longer you should wait to lift, and vice versa. Also, you should plan your meal time according to how intense you plan your workout to be for that day. If you plan on having a light day, its ok to eat a larger meal or a little closer to your workout time.
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General Guidelines
Whether you are trying to get in shape or stay in shape, it is always a good idea to have a diet rich in protein with a good amount of carbohydrates and little fats. Also, even if you are trying to pack on the muscle and lose the fat, it is ok to cheat a little bit. Having a sinful treat once in a while will satisfy your urges and keep you on the right track to accomplish your goals.
Note: diet is a word that is too often carelessly thrown around. It is commonly used to mean a weight-loss program, but it simply means the kinds of food a person habitually eats. Now, go out and impress your friends by using diet in the correct manner!
Pre-Workout
