Morning workout and food

Fab140

Happy Monday fit and sexy people!

I have a question. I get up five days a week at 5am to workout. I do weights M-W-F and cardio Tuesday and Saturday. I have been having a breakfast shake in the morning to give my body the energy it needs to workout, but the calories and the sugar are just too much.

What should I eat before my workout and then again after it? (I go for about 30-40 minutes) I'm making some little spinach quiches from my South Beach diet book and some Fiber One muffins tonight. Any suggestions on which to eat when?

:smooched:
Thanks in advance!

Fab140

Happy Monday fit and sexy people!

I have a question. I get up five days a week at 5am to workout. I do weights M-W-F and cardio Tuesday and Saturday. I have been having a breakfast shake in the morning to give my body the energy it needs to workout, but the calories and the sugar are just too much.

What should I eat before my workout and then again after it? (I go for about 30-40 minutes) I'm making some little spinach quiches from my South Beach diet book and some Fiber One muffins tonight. Any suggestions on which to eat when?

:smooched:
Thanks in advance!

shkaki

ideally you want to eat something with some good carbohydrates before your workout so that you will have the energy to get through it and perform well (this might be a good spot for those bran/fiber muffins) then have something with some good protein post-work out to help rebuild muscle broken down. This is a good time to have nuts, protein bars, eggs (egg substitute), turkey bacon,...etc. Same goes for afternoon or evening workouts too. Some good healthy carbs/fiber pre workout, and protein post workout!

good luck!

Fab140

Thanks!

pinktoque

ideally you want to eat something with some good carbohydrates before your workout so that you will have the energy to get through it and perform well (this might be a good spot for those bran/fiber muffins) then have something with some good protein post-work out to help rebuild muscle broken down. This is a good time to have nuts, protein bars, eggs (egg substitute), turkey bacon,...etc. Same goes for afternoon or evening workouts too. Some good healthy carbs/fiber pre workout, and protein post workout!

good luck!

This is great advice, thanks!

I'm really horrible about this. I tend to jump out of bed and do my workout immediately, then jump into the shower and THEN I get a chance to eat. I drink lots of water during all this, though, but I definitely need to find a way to sneak in a little food before the workout. My problem is that if I get up and sit and don't get to the workout right away, I find myself finding excuses to keep putting it off... and then oops! it's time to leave for work. I'm worried that if I take the time to eat before I workout I'll lose my first-thing-in-the-morning motivation, but I'm also worried that if I don't take the time to eat before, I'm just hurting myself

ericarey85

honestly i would go with quich first then the Fiber One muffins, but that also depends on what your doing for cardio, because you don't :noway: want that fiber one muffin to kick in when your a mile down the road on your run, I learned the hard way :laugh:

jamdblake4

I do a pre-workout protien shake and a post-workout shake if it's a leg da y I'll eat 1/2 cup of oatmeal before the workout, then 30 to 40 min after the workout I'll have breakfast.

RachVR6

After my morning workouts I normally have a protein shake. 1 cup of milk, 1 scoop of protein, and 1 cup of frozen strawberries or raspberries, all blended up. Yum!

carvan

What shkaki said is true. However, it is said to do cardio on an empty stomach, supposedely you are targeting your fat stores by doing it this way. That being said, I still have to eat a little something, 1/2 protein bar such as clif builder does it for me.

Fab140

honestly i would go with quich first then the Fiber One muffins, but that also depends on what your doing for cardio, because you don't :noway: want that fiber one muffin to kick in when your a mile down the road on your run, I learned the hard way :laugh:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Hadn't thought about that!!

Right now, I do incline wakling or the bike.....the elliptical is too hard to keep my heart rate up on. Usually I really need the nutrition when i'm lifting, especially legs, because I'll poop out half way through, faster if I didn't eat anything after 8pm the night before.

Pinktoque: Just don't sit sweetie! Munch on your granola bar or protein shake while walking around. You're getting the blood pumping and your coordination re-coordinated (hehe...the very reason why I gave up on yoga in the mornings. I can barely walk a straight line, much less hold the tree pose!)

Clover51

I am only able to work out MWF and I do 60 minutes cardio and 30 minutes weights. I dont eat anything prior to my workout and I feel fine... so I cant help you there. My question is why are you doing three days on weights and only 2 days cardio? If you are looking to lose weight cardio is the way to go (along with with weights to tone of coarse). I burn 800+ calories in 45 minutes on the eliptical and then I will do some weights to tone. It seems like you doing a great job, keep it up!

Fab140

I am only able to work out MWF and I do 60 minutes cardio and 30 minutes weights. I dont eat anything prior to my workout and I feel fine... so I cant help you there. My question is why are you doing three days on weights and only 2 days cardio? If you are looking to lose weight cardio is the way to go (along with with weights to tone of coarse). I burn 800+ calories in 45 minutes on the eliptical and then I will do some weights to tone. It seems like you doing a great job, keep it up!

I'm doing more weights than cardio because I have no muscle tone. Also, I want to be strong, not super skinny. I do cardio to burn fat, but in all honesty it's a chore for me! I love weight lifting. I'm following a strength training reigmne from Womens Fitness.

That's fabulous for you on the elliptical, but again, I get bored and it's a chore. I play with the speeds and incline on the treadmill to keep myself from yawning. :ohwell:

Thanks Clover!

pinktoque

Pinktoque: Just don't sit sweetie! Munch on your granola bar or protein shake while walking around. You're getting the blood pumping and your coordination re-coordinated (hehe...the very reason why I gave up on yoga in the mornings. I can barely walk a straight line, much less hold the tree pose!)

Haha some mornings I know exactly what you mean.

"Squat left, right, side kick *loses balance* back kick" *falls over*" lol

I'm afraid if I say "oh it's ok, I'll do my workout when I get home tonight from work" instead of doing it first thing in the morning, I'll find too many reasons to put it off or excuses to not do it that evening. Some days when I get home I'm pretty tired and the last thing I want to do is workout. Though this past week I've had a lot more motiviation and energy thanks to MFP, so I may switch some days to an evening routine instead of first thing in the morning.

Maybe I should have a quick pick-me-up near the bed to eat when I wake up before I hop into my routine. I can munch while I find my workout clothes and make sure I have water ready and available. That usually sends me downstairs and back to have some cold water on hand. And then I'll try putting together a little protein shake as suggested -- it sounds yummy! Then I can take it on the go

I really need to get me one of those little "magic bullets" -- if I have to lug that heavy full-on giant blender out every morning and wash it every day I may grow tired of those protein shakes really fast hehe. My best friend says she uses a magic bullet -- anyone else use it and/or have feedback on it?

Fab140

:laugh: :happy:
I know what you mean about evening workouts. After a long boooooorrrrring day at work, the last thing i want to do is try to navigate the gym filled with bodies. (the mornings are busy enough!!) I just get up every day at the exact same time, no thinking about how much I would love to stay in bed (which is easier now tih a kitten that noms on fingers in the morning! ouch!). I cherish my two days a week off. Sleep in, easy morning routine. and I stagger them so it's not too hard to wake up when workout day comes around again!!

angelajiniel

I can never personally eat much before a workout. If I do eat anything, it'll be before a big cardio session, and it's only applesauce or a banana. Just enough to take the edge off and get a little energy, but nothing big. And I follow with high fiber cereal and fruit. I'm personally not looking for muscle bulk, so I don't do protein shakes, etc.

I have heard mixed reviews on the magic bullet. For shakes and smoothies it might work well, but as far as using it for things like salsa and other chopping chores, it turns everything to mush. It would sure beat having to clean the blender every day though. I've stopped daily smoothies b/c of that, and no dishwasher

jamerz3294

I try to get in some good calories for breakfast (usually) in the form of a banana (or half) with peanut butter. Sometimes a glass of 2% milk as well.
Then, after my morning workout, I usually eat a decent lunch of whatever is leftover in the fridge *giggle*. It's the after dinner hours that get to me. :drinker:

arewethereyet

I've stopped daily smoothies b/c of that, and no dishwasher

I put warm water in the blender and run it for a minute, then rinse. Cleaned while I drink my protien shake!!

MFS27

Happy Monday fit and sexy people!

I have a question. I get up five days a week at 5am to workout. I do weights M-W-F and cardio Tuesday and Saturday. I have been having a breakfast shake in the morning to give my body the energy it needs to workout, but the calories and the sugar are just too much.

What should I eat before my workout and then again after it? (I go for about 30-40 minutes) I'm making some little spinach quiches from my South Beach diet book and some Fiber One muffins tonight. Any suggestions on which to eat when?

:smooched:
Thanks in advance!

I workout at 5:30 AM every morning, and I HATE to eat early in the morning, so I just eat 1/4 of a Clif Bar with water before working out for some carb energy (so my body doesn't think we need to go in starvation mode), and then after work out I eat one stick of string cheese for protein/recovery snack. Later in the morning I'll eat breakfast (cream of wheat, etc.) Works well for me and keeps the calories low so I don't starve the rest of the day, lol!