10 Jun Planning Mealtime Around Your Workout Routine

Have you ever thought about when you will eat in relation to when you work out?  If you are planning to get serious about your workout routine, meal planning becomes even more important than it used to be.  After all, you want to make certain you have plenty of energy to make it through your routine.  At the same time, you probably want to burn fat while working out rather than burning off the calories you just consumed.  So, here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to eating and working out.

Working Out in the Morning

If you plan to work out in the mornings, you might want to eat a light snack before you start your routine.  Ideally, this snack should only be about 100 to 200 calories and should be eaten about 30 minutes before you start working out.  A piece of fruit, a slice of bread or even a spoonful of peanut butter can all help you get the energy you need to make it through your morning workout.  If you can’t give yourself 30 minutes to digest your morning snack before you workout, you might want to try having a high-carb snack before you go to bed, such as a glass of hot cocoa.  This way, your muscles will be more likely to have some leftover stored energy for your morning routine.

After your morning workout is over, you can help your body recover more effectively by consuming some simple carbs.  Grabbing a glass of juice or a handful of whole-grain cereal should do the trick and should hold you over until you are able to sit down and have a real breakfast.

Working Out in the Afternoon

If you workout right before lunch, you should plan on eating a light snack that is rich in carbohydrates and protein about two hours before your workout begins.  If you exercise after lunch, on the other hand, you should give yourself about 2 hours to digest your meal before you workout.  Then, grab a snack right after you work out in order to help increase your metabolism and to build muscle.

Working Out in the Evening

If you eat dinner before your workout, you should give your body about 2 hours to digest the meal before working out.  If you don’t eat dinner until after your workout, you should still grab a light snack about 2 hours before working out.  This way, you won’t be starving after your workout is complete and you will be less likely to overeat.  If you can’t eat a snack before your workout, try grabbing a satisfying snack such as a handful of nuts right after you workout. This way, your initial hunger can be satisfied and you will be more likely to eat a healthy meal at dinnertime.