Eating Before & After a Workout....Is it ok?

Eating your pre- workout meal (before) and post-workout (after) is more than ok. It is necessary! Only under certain circumstances would it be ok to ditch the pre-workout but that's mainly a medical reason. This is actually a rookie mistake that many of us tend to do. We have the mentality that less is more when it comes to losing weight.. So the less we eat, the skinnier we will get. Sorry to break it to you chica, but that is not the case!

Since I’ve always worked out early in the morning, I used to skip my pre-workout meal. I mean who wants to waste time eating and cooking? I just wanted to get up and go. However, I wasn’t getting the results I wanted. I spoke to my coach at the time and she almost murdered me when she found out I was skipping my meal before the gym.

You may not be able to stomach an entire meal before a workout and that's ok. You just have to find what works for you. During the weekdays, I prefer a shake since I’m up so early and anything heavier doesn’t settle well. On the weekends, since I go a little later, I do go for some oatmeal and egg whites. However, each person is different.

I have clients that can’t eat oatmeal because it just sits in their stomach. So we just find something that allows them to perform their best without feeling stuffed. However, skipping meals is not ok. You need fuel to be able to have the energy to workout and give it your all. You will not be making any changes to your body if your half assing workouts. You need to challenge yourself each and every day. Ideally what you want to eat is fast acting carbs, lean protein and under 7 grams of fat. Your carbs should consist of 25% of your daily amount.

Post workout is equally, if not more important than your pre-workout. During your workout you lose glycogen so naturally your body wants to repair and rebuild any damage done by the workout, along with increasing muscle size and restore energy. By consuming particular nutrients after your workout you improve your body composition, performance, and overall recovery. You want to consume 30% of your daily carbs post workout along with lean protein in order to get the best results. I have some yummy (and pretty too) post workout meal ideas here.

What are some of your go-to post workout meals?