The snacks you eat before your workout can affect how energized you are during your session and how quickly you recover from your fitness feat. Factoring pre-workout snacks into your fitness routine can help you comprehensively attack your fitness goals. Here are some pre-workout snacking tips to help you plan for a productive session.
When snacking for a healthy lifestyle, remember that calories are not your enemy; in fact, you need calories to provide the energy you use during your workout. Instead of obsessing over calorie numbers, try to focus more on what those calories are made of. The FDA suggests limiting the Saturated Fat, Trans Fat, Cholesterol, and Sodium of your healthy snack selection. Try instead to focus on protein and simple carbohydrates for an optimized workout.
It is also essential that you consider serving sizes and sugar levels in your pre-workout snack consumption. It is okay to indulge periodically, but maintaining a healthy balance in your snacks can have long-term benefits on your well-being. Here are some healthy pre-workout snack tips designed to help you create nutritious treats that are easy to prepare and exciting to enjoy!
Protein is a crucial element of your pre-workout routine. If you have a go-to protein powder that you trust, it can be used as a reliable, consistent source of this substance. Other sources of protein include lean meats, eggs, beans, nuts, oats, greek yogurt, nut butter, oats, lentils, quinoa, chickpeas, almonds, and more!
For pre-workout snacks, consider stocking up on greek yogurt, fruit, nuts, natural granola bars, and other easy-to-grab, protein-filled foods.
By pairing your favorite healthy sources of protein and carbohydrates before your workout, you can create endless combinations of healthy pre-workout snacks. Healthy sources of carbohydrates include whole fruits (apples, bananas, pineapple, berries), vegetables (cucumber, kale, broccoli, celery), grains, sweet potatoes, and more! Remember to eat at least 30-minutes (if not a full hour) before your workout to give yourself enough time to digest your healthy snack. It is also imperative that you engage moderation in your pre-workout snacking, as overloading your body will only hold you back in your workout.
Remind yourself to hydrate before and after your workout for a quick and healthy recovery. After your workout, enjoying a snack with protein and carbohydrates is still a healthy option, but something with more substance can help you re-energize and recover quickly. You must take care of your muscles post-workout to bounce back before your next personal training session or group fitness class.
The professionals at O2 Fitness are committed to helping you build and maintain a healthy lifestyle, both inside and outside of the gym. Our fitness specialists proudly serve areas throughout both North Carolina and South Carolina, including Charleston, Raleigh, Mount Pleasant, Chapel Hill, Wilmington, Durham, and beyond. Contact your local O2 Fitness location to learn more about our accessible services, outstanding personal training options, motivating group fitness courses, and more!