What to Eat Before and After a Workout

eating before a workout

Nourishing your body well is crucial if you participate in any exercise program. Eating before and after your workout has multiple benefits for your body and even your workout. While most people think the key to weight loss is eating less, sometimes eating more can help you get better results and make your fitness routine more effective.

Before a Workout

Before your workout, you want to make sure that you do not eat something that will weigh you down. Eating a light snack of complex proteins and carbohydrates can help keep you going throughout a routine without hindering your activity level. Having a piece of fruit with some nut butter or crackers with hummus before a workout can give you just the right amount of energy without weighing you down too much. Gary Abdullah is the smoothie master at Franklin Athletic Club’s smoothie bar called Dilvia’s Café. Gary provides interesting pre-workout snacks like Lenny & Larry’s Complete Cookies and even ostrich jerky. Supplements like “Spark” are also very popular lighter pre-workout option.

After a Workout

The importance of eating after a workout if often underestimated. Your body needs nutrients after working out because it has just expended a great amount of energy. Kristi Ensminger, the manager of the Franklin Athletic Club, says that she, “has to eat no less than 30 minutes after lifting weights.” Having a snack or a meal soon after exercising can also help your results. Try having a slice of whole grain bread with peanut butter or a high protein smoothie after your workout to refuel your body. Since eating gives more fuel to your body, it helps repair muscles and keeps your metabolism up.

Some people prefer to work out on an empty stomach, but it is important to listen to your body and make sure that you have enough fuel to keep your body going through a workout safely. Be sure to listen to the signals that your body gives you and find the combination of foods and drinks that works for you.

About the Franklin/Murfreesboro/Nashville Athletic Clubs

Your full-service hometown health clubs where everybody fits in! Each Club offers a wide range of state of the art equipment, programs, and services to keep you motivated and enable you to reach your personal health and fitness goals.

Franklin Athletic Club            Murfreesboro Athletic Club                   Nashville Athletic Club
112 Rand Place, Franklin        710 Memorial Blvd, Murfreesboro     5035 Harding Place, Nashville