When it comes to exercise, training and overall performance, we want to aim to get the most out of our bodies. This means fueling for the work, ie exercise, we are about to do. Regardless of whether your goals are performance or maybe weight loss related.
At the end of the day, if we give our bodies the fuel they need to perform, we will feel stronger during exercise and also feel better after, because our recovery is improved. We will also not feel like we want to eat everything and anything in sight for the remainder of the day- a common challenge in those who skip that pre-exercise snack or meal. Ultimately, this will lead to us being happier, stronger and faster- if that is what you want 😉
So what exactly should we aim to eat before our exercise sessions?
Our body’s primary source of fuel during exercise are carbohydrates. This means that we want to aim to eat easily digestible and low fiber carbohydrates before our exercise session. The options are endless but here are some examples
– Toast with peanut butter
– Banana
– Granola or oat bar
– Oats with banana
– Hot cross bun
– Rusk
And if you are someone that really struggles when it comes to fueling before workouts, especially early in the morning, then something like some jelly sweets can also do the trick! Easily digestible carbohydrates, that you can get down are the most important thing!
It is important to note that the quantity of your pre-session fuel does depend on what you are about to do. For example if you are about to go out and run easy for 20 minutes, you will not need to eat as much as someone who is about to go out and run a marathon.
In summary, make sure that you always fuel before your sessions because it will help you get the most out of your training and you will also feel a lot better for it!