Nutritious foods eaten before exercise provide energy for better performance.
Just like a car needs fuel for a trip, your body needs energy to help you get through a workout. What you should eat before a workout depends on the time of day that you exercise.
Morning Exercise
If you're a morning exerciser, rise early so you can eat breakfast an hour or two before your workout. Good choices for providing your muscles the energy they need include bananas, whole-grain cereal or bread, low-fat milk and juice. If you'll be exercising less than an hour after rising, eat a bigger bedtime snack, try a sports drink or eat a lighter breakfast.
Don't Overdo It
Eating too much before exercise will reduce your performance, making you feel sluggish. Large meals should precede exercise by at least three to four hours, small meals by two to three hours and snacks by an hour.
Snack Well
Eating small, healthful snacks just before or during exercise helps most people enjoy a quality workout.. Effective snack options include bananas and other fresh fruit, whole-grain bagel or bread with peanut butter, yogurt and granola bars. Snacks are especially important if you exercise several hours after a meal.
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