pre/post workout foods

I usually workout after work, before dinner. I have a late afternoon snack, usually carb based, so I believe this to fuel my workout. If I workout after I eat I get side aches. My dinner is usually all protein and maybe just a lil' carbs. So the protein from my dinner helps my muscles.

I prefer working out in the am, before breakfast. Not everyone is confortable with doing this as they feel they need carbs for the energy. I prefer it because I am working out in a fasting state and therefore feel the fat calories are forced to be burned immediately rather than the food I have just consumed. I do drink a protein drink immediately after to help with recovery.

I workout around 4:30 a.m. and I have a 1/2 a bananna and 1/2 cup chocolate milk. Post workout I drink another 1/2 cup chocolate milk and then breakfast, which usually includes egg whites and wheat toast.

There is something to be said about chocolate milk and how great of a pre and post workout drink it is. It has something to do with the carb protien ratio. I'm sure if you google it you can find more information on it.

I typically have either a slice of whole grain bread with natural PB or a mini clif bar before a work out. Afterwards I shoot for either my protein shake, edamame salad, or greek yogurt. Nothing substanial is needed, it's all fuel and needs to be treated as such...just make it the best fuel possible.

I too workout early in the morning and do not eat until after my workout. It works well for me. If I eat first it can actually make me sick to my stomach, which is never good. I eat a high fiber and protein breakfast and am good to go for the morning.

I've done workouts at night and just don't enjoy them as much. Different strokes for different folks. I guess the most important things is that you work out!

If you work out after breakfast, you don't need a pre-workout snack IMO. I normally have breakfast (steel cut oats) and work out about an hour to 1.5 hours later.

What you have should probably depend on how soon you want to work out after eating ... if it's within half an hour then something that digests quickly is the way to go (some kind of fruit, a small piece of toast, or even chocolate milk).

Post workout I used to have chocolate milk (to get both protein and carbs). But I'm cutting my sugars right now so I'm going for PB with celery on toast these days.

I used to be big on carbs before and protein after..but then I changed things up just to see what would happen...i've seen better results since i've stopped eating my carbs beforehand, and now eat them afterwards with a protein, i've also tried eating nothing at all afterwards.....and know what...No negative changes have happened to my body, if anything I seem to have leaned out even more..i'm starting to question all this broohaha about eating within 45minutes afterwards...I dunno...I think i've been a little brainwashed, my results have proven otherwise, i'll keep at it, and see what happens. I also don't beleive that higher protein diets are necessary to maintain muscle. Just my own observations, on what my body has been showing me

Thank you all! I have been trying different ways and haven't noticed much of a difference energy wise. If I eat carbs before or after hasn't seemed to make me feel anymore or anyless tired. And I've only done protein after a workout, usually not before a workout so I might try switching that up too.

Interesting to hear about the chocolate milk! I never knew it had good benefits. Are you drinking a certain type of chocolate milk to be sure it is low in sugar?

If you're doing choc milk as a post workout snack..i'd make my own, skim milk and a little squirt of chocoalte syrup, I can't justify the added unnecessary sugars in processed chocolate milk..just my two cents, I love the stuff and always have it post workout.

I typically workout in AM before work. If I am hungry I will have a snack before. Mostly bananas. Sometimes a piece of cheese and lastly vitatops if I am out of banana or cheese and that is if I am hungry. I usually stick to drinking water before, while and afterwards. My own rule is whatever I eat I like it to be under 100 calories for the most part.

In the winter time other items I eat before workout is fiber one bars, a handful of trial mix or any kind of nuts. I keep these in trunk of my car for my workouts. I don't bring into my house because I can not stop eating them. I will start doing the same for mozzeralla sticks also.

A trainer advised me to eat something before workout that way you have more engery to have a better workout. I did need something when I was working out with her because she really pushed me to another level! But I really never could tell the difference-- that is why I only eat snacks before I work out IF I am hungry -- which is 2 to 3 times a week out of 5.

After my AM workouts I eat breakfast which always include protien. I love trader joes turkey bacon, but it is high in sodium but excellent source of protien for any kind of bacon.