what to eat before a workout

hi anderson,
like mikey said it depends on your goals to how much you eat before and after workouts. what i am about to say is totally my opinion (i am by no means an expert on this subject and i am not a doctor...my advice is worth what it is costing you) the foods you eat and nutrition is pretty much the same for anyone regardless of their physical activities. what is different is how much you eat and the times you eat. here is my spill on the matter. i am going to assume you are past middle age just like myself. you want to gain some muscles but loss some fat in the process. first you got to eat a pretty high protein diet to build muscles but you still need energy to work your muscles. this is why you need to eat carbs also. but the carbs you eat are very important. absolutely stay away from all white things (potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, etc...) if its white don't eat it. the carbs you do eat need to be from fruits, vegetables and whole grains. if you don't eat the correct amount of carbs you just are not going to have energy and you will feel light headed. if you aren't pushing weights very hard it does not matter how much protein you eat. i think everyone's carbs needs vary. you need to start writing down everything you eat!!!! don't worry so much about calories. my rule of thumb is to never be hungry but never full either. i would suggest drinking whey protein 30 minutes before you go to the gym and drinking whey protein immediately after you finish your workout. about an hour before you go to the gym eat a fruit of your choice. it does not hurt to eat a fruit after you finish working out also. but by keeping a journal of what you eat all day will help you know how much to eat and what foods seem to be working for you (making you feel good and having energy). i weigh myself every single day also. by keeping up with my food and my weight i can see trends. there is so much more so say but i would do as mikey says....research as much as you feel comfortable doing but don't get overwhelmed. forget all the supplements you will see (most are meaningless and waste of money). the only supplement i buy is whey protein (and casein protein which i drink before i go to bed). i do take vitamins and oil tablet (omega 3, 6, 9). but for the average guy like you and me (who will never be lifting weights professionally) get all what we need from the foods we eat. i will be glad to be friends with you if you like and we can talk more. but the main thing is KISS (keep it simple stupid). also get plenty of sleep...as much as you possibly can (8 hours is a minimum) wish you all the luck my friend

If its more than an hour before, oatmeal or yogurt.
If its right before or during, water, gel or sports beans. Otherwise I just want to throw up/poop.