how do you fuel long workouts?

amw8675309

hi--I've been wondering how I should best time my meals/calories on days where i have heavy workouts. For example, on Thursdays I go to a bootcamp class at 7:30 pm and do an hour of cardio prior to this from 6-7 (some mix of running/elliptical). How should I time my snacks/meals etc. so that I have enough energy throughout the workout?

I would typically eat around 1900 calories on this kind of day and am having difficulty timing everything right--i typical have breakfast at 9, lunch at 12, a snack around 3, a pre-workout snack of a banana and then something in between cardio and bootcamp (i've been having a fruit leather for this so that i just get a quick shot of carbs/sugar but don't have a full stomach). The only other thing i can think of is maybe using some gatorade? or possibly turn my 3pm snack into more of a second lunch?

breakfast and lunch are usually around 300 calories for me and dinner 400--leaving about 900 calories for everything else

susannahsutton1

I eat an extra 200 or so calories the day before to help of complex carbs that are slow burning

Mummyadams

How about having half your lunch at 12 and the balance at say 2.30. Snack at 4 and maybe a protein shake or banana at 6. 2 hour work outs - wow.

d2footballJRC

Either some quick oats before I work out

or sometimes I'll use a PreWorkout supplement. (Craze, Wyked, Maniac, Jack3d Micro, etc...)

SJ46

I would eat something decent sized with protein and complex carbs around 4, then a banana prior to the start of the workout.

redraidergirl2009

Sounds like you're overworking out.

amw8675309

yeah.. i think i need to treat my afternoon snack as more of a fourth meal, i could do some greek yogurt with kashi go lean crunch to get some protein/carbs and see if that helps and save the banana for between the cardio and bootcamp

yeah i know it's a heavy gym day, just works out with my schedule that way for that one day, most days aren't quite so intense