Morning workout and food

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!

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

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.

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.

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!

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?

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

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!!