How to Improve Your Pre-Workout Meals
When it comes to our workout snacks, we tend to be too concerned with our post-workout meals that we forget about pre-workout snacks. Remember that our pre-workout meal is as important as our post-workout meal, since it is what fuels our body before working out. Without enough fuel, your workouts won’t be as intense or productive as they should be. That said, we’ve listed down some tips on how you can improve your pre-workout snacking – and ultimately, your workout routine.
- Eat Your Meal 30 to 90 Minutes Before Exercising
An easy way to improve your pre-workout snacking is to eat your meal 30 to 90 minutes before your workout session. This meal will serve as your body’s much needed fuel during your workout. If you’re going to have a larger meal, wait the full 90 minutes; a 30-minute gap is already enough if you’ll just be eating a small snack. You can choose to eat farther or closer to your workout time depending on your stomach sensitivity.After all, you wouldn’t want to start your workout session when you’re feeling bloated and full.
- Go for Proper Snack Bars
Consuming nutritious snacks that are high in fibre and protein will keep your full in between meals and control your hunger pre-workout. So make sure that you keep one or two nut or granola bars ready to help you stop over-indulging on a snack or meal that’s too sugary or carb-heavy.
- Keep Your Fibre Intake as Low as Possible
Consuming a good amount of fibre on a daily basis is important, but it is not ideal as a pre-workout snack because it tends to slow down digestion – and a slower digestion can be counterproductive for getting the vital nutrients to your muscles.
- Consume a Good Amount of Protein
Consuming a good amount of protein will provide your system with the essential amino acids necessary for your muscles to repair and rebuild itself. Filling your body with these building blocks before exercising will keep your muscles from breaking down.
- Figure Out What Works for You
An ideal pre-workout snack is something that’s easy to make and is a good source of protein and fibre. Sadly, it isn’t that easy to come by. That said, test out different pre-workout snack options – rich in protein, high in fibre and healthy fats – and see what will work for you and your workout routine.
Planning out your pre-workout snack is as important as effectively preparing for your post-workout meal. So put the aforementioned tips to help you improve both your pre-workout snacks and workout routine as a whole.
