Some people like exercising on an empty stomach. While not always, this can affect your workouts by making you weak and unable to go through your session successfully. It is wise to take a small meal before workouts in order to boost your performance and energy. Taking water before and during exercises is important because it helps your body to recover the lost water through sweat keeping you strong for the job. Pre-workout supplements are also sometimes important depending on the type of exercise and level of body energy. Let us look at what a pre-workout meal should contain.
Carbs
It is wise to fuel your body with the right nutrients prior to exercise and carbs is one of them. Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy as the muscles require glucose from carbs for fuel. Muscles are the major source of energy during HIIT exercises. Since glycogen stores are limited, they might be exhausted during long workout reducing your energy towards the end of the exercise. Having carbs before a workout can significantly impact your performance helping you to last for long. Foods rich in carbohydrates include whole grain bread, rice, vegetables and lentils.
Protein
For high energy consumption exercises like running proteins are important. If you mostly involve yourself with high intensity exercises, taking proteins before a workout may improve their performance. Consuming proteins before a workout can boost the body functions that strengthen muscles and improve their mass. Other benefits of pre-workout proteins include, enhancing muscle mass, performance, and recovery time. Foods rich in protein include beans, soy, fish, nuts, and eggs.
Fats
While fats are essential source of energy, doctors advise people to minimize their intake. But this does not mean you should completely avoid fats. Your body needs fats for some functions. What you should focus on is consuming healthy fats, particularly before a workout. Your meal should contain more carbohydrates and proteins and some little amount of healthy fats. Eating excess fats before exercise can affect you performance because fat takes much time to be broken.
Supplements
While most health professional do not recommend supplements before workout, a pre-workout supplement may be helpful for those requiring an extra boost to get going. The good thing is that they are safe for healthy individuals. When buying a pre-workout supplement, consider a pre-workout with creatine because it helps in energy production and muscular strength. It helps in boosting performance, especially for the weight lifters, athletes, and bodybuilders.
Most pre-workout supplements are considered safe for adults engaging in exercises whether at the gym of at home. Supplements can save you when your body feels like it is too much. They can help you go through challenging workouts with excellent performance. Just make sure you buy from reliable and trusted supplier to evade health problems. You should also talk to your doctor for health examination and guidance.
In conclusion, a pre-workout mean may not be as bad as many think. Taking a healthy meal before exercise can boost your energy, enhance your performance and prolong your exercise time. You only need the right foods to eat for maximum benefits. Consider taking carbohydrates and proteins. You may also take healthy fats like olive oils and nuts.
