What to eat right before the gym

[JKurz1]

Anyone else?

 

[cemkamil]

i would think high carb food before gym will make you tired. i know it makes me tired. better stick with protein.

This is related to your Blood Sugar Level. If you take carbs before gym your liver will try to lover your BSL. And in the gym your muscles take more BS from your blood. In conclusion your BSL goes so down and you will feel tired. The best way is, not to take anything (including protein, fat and fiber) at least 1-2 hours before the workout.

 

[Slowmo21]

...define "right before." Do you mean in the car on your way to the gym? Or a meal an hour before?

You really shouldn't have anything in your stomach while in the gym, IMO. Trying to eat and digest at the same time will degrade the quality of one or both.

Eat a good meal (protein, carbs, fats, fiber) a couple hours before your workout, and if you need something, then drink a little bit of your post-workout shake just before your workout (like in the car on your way to the gym).

Another reason not to eat heavy before your workout is that you don't want anything still in your stomach when you slam your post-workout shake (which should be simple carbs and whey protein; no fats, no fiber). Save the heavy meal for about an hour after your workout.

Natedog is correct. Often the reason people puke during workouts is because they have eaten right before. Have a nice slow GI & quality protein meal 3-2 hours before working out and then nothing until your post workout shake. Believe me, the human body doesn't need food right before exercise like weightlifting and you will have better energy going on (relatively) empty stomach.

 

[teshtronic]

I have a question about the post-workout protein shake - i drink alot of water when i'm at the gym like 40-50oz over the course of the hour and a half i usually spend there. should i cut down the water a bit for the sake of the protein shake? or does it not affect the benefits of the shake?

 

[Big BX]

I have an ultramet about an hour and a half before the workout.

280cals, 42g pro, 23g carbs(3 from sugar), an 3g fat.

 

[descanting]

I eat lunch around 12:00 -12:30, and have a meat (anything from egg, tuna, ham, up to peanut butter and molasses) around 14:30-15:00.. I have a large coffee with milk or cream, no sugar on my way to the gym, I train around 16:00... I'm no heavy weigth and genetically slim, I don't have (yet) to fight about losing weight but more about gaining.. I consider myself a hard gainer, but whatever.. My diet is pretty flexible too, I just try and eat alot of protein, and use a shake after the gym to meet my daily quota.. which is also the last meal of the day for me since my shake is ice cream, 3 raw eggs, peanut butter, flax oil and 5 scoops of Enlarge2.. it makes for almost a full blender..

 

[Gigantasor]

I typically hit a protein shake about 42 grams and about 1/4 cup cherios. This works well for me because I don't get too much going on in my stomach before I lift.

 

[juice34]

ive always found fruit is good before a workout

 

[Synpax]

7 hours before (5 AM) - Protien shake (55g protien, 4g carbs) + 5g creatine + 5g glutamine
(run)
5.5 hours before - apple + recovery drink (9g carbs, 0 sugar)

3 hours before - tuna sandwich (1 can + 2 slices whole wheat)

1 hour before - Protien shake (55g protien, 4g carbs) + 5g creatine + 5g glutamine

On walk into gym (banana)

Immediatly after shower - Tuna sandwhich (1 can + 2 whole wheat)

1 hour later - protien shake + 5g glutamine

3 hours later - Tuna sandwhich (1 can + 2 whole wheat)

5 hours later - 2/3 cup of spinach

7 hours later - 2 chicken breasts, steamed

9 hours later - protien shake