PRE-WORKOUT NUTRITION.
While most people know they should eat something before they workout, they may be surprised to learn that the pre-workout meal contributes far less to your overall output during that session than they are led to believe.
When we look at the rates of digestion and glycogen synthesis (the fuel your muscles use), we see two things:
Most food takes about 4 – 5 hours to fully digest and become usable fuel.
Glycogen synthesis takes place on a 24hr basis.
While you can create a small amount of fuel from eating carbs 90-120 minutes before your workout, this pre-workout meal is more about blood sugar control and nervous system function. If you haven’t eaten within that window and go on to do an intense workout, you can experience low blood sugar. This can look like light-headedness and dizziness, weakness and even nausea.
It is recommended that you eat protein and carbs in this window and skip the fats, which will slow down digestion and can lead to less-than-optimal nervous system function, which prefers carbs as a fuel source.
So, if you are working out at the 5 pm class, what you eat for lunch is important for properly fueling your workout.
If you are working out in the morning, your fuel comes from your dinner the night before. So, it is crucial that you don’t skip the carbs at dinner if you want to perform your best at the 5:45 am class.
Keep Reading
Our Program ExplainedProject type
Understand Training VolumeProject type
Coach's Role: From Gym to LifeProject type
Embrace The Moment, Make Adjustments.Project type
Hybrid Membership ExplainedProject type
Accountability with MadlabProject type
Five Reasons To Have A Fitness CoachProject type
What Is RPE And How Do I Use It? - DuplicateProject type
Senior Strength - Spring 2023Project type
BreathingProject type
HEART RATE VARIABILITY: PART 3.Project type
A Few Relaxation StrategiesProject type
Change Takes GritProject type
HEART RATE VARIABILITY: PART 2.Project type
Space: Your Mobility's Final FrontierProject type
What is mindset coaching?Project type
Your Hips and Your Golf SwingProject type
Fitness: A Term Thats Hard To Nail DownProject type
HEART RATE VARIABILITY: PART 1.Project type
Why Madlab is the Last ‘gym’ I’ll ever joinProject type
Fitness is Like InvestingProject type
INTRODUCING THE SLANT BOARD.Project type
PRORESS REQUIRES DISCIPLINEProject type
A TANGENT FROM COACH CHESTYProject type
TWO HOURS IN NATURE.Project type
Stress + Rest = ProgressProject type
How to improve your conditioning - Part 2Project type
The Importance of Strength Training as You Age.Project type
How to improve your conditioning - Part 1Project type
Mechanics-Consistency-IntensityProject type
Post Workout NutritionProject type
Breath Through Your Nose - Part FourProject type
Five Things You Need To Know About IronProject type
2021 Dude AwardProject type
Competency.Output.CapacityProject type
Understanding the Numbers on the Rowing MachineProject type
Push-Up Strength CalculationsProject type
Breathe Through Your Nose Part TwoProject type
Know your NumbersProject type
Qualitative before QuantitativeProject type
Don't Forget Your FiberProject type
Breathe Through Your Nose Part OneProject type
PowerProject type
How to Become a More Positive Person in 24 HoursProject type
Three things to remember about trainingProject type
What it means to play the long gameProject type
COVID-19 Safety PlanProject type