Preworkout Nutrition

by ErikS on Oct 4, 2007 2:38 PM EDT Comment 3 comments

Hello All.

I am just finishing up NRoL and am really excited about the concept of having a long-term direction to my workout program instead of my current condition of isolated workouts.

I am looking for some suggestions / advice on preworkout nutrition. I am 34 y.o. and have 2 preschoolers at home. I have been working out in the mornings before work for the last 18 months and know that I am completely deficient in the available muscle energy department when exercising after fasting (i.e.-sleeping).

I am looking for input on what would make a good pre-workout "meal". Requirements are that it needs to be fast & easy to prepare, deliver available sugar/energy to my muscles within about 30 minutes, and preferably able to be eaten/drunk in the car on the way to the gym.

I typical drink a protein shake made with milk, protein powder, and raw rolled oats post-workout, but I'm not sure that would fulfill my 30-min requirement pre-workout.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
-Erik

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You've got the right idea

The same shake you use post-workout would be fine pre-workout, although I'd leave out the rolled outs. You don't really want that kind of digestive challenge while you're working out.

For that matter, I'm not sure I would have the milk either pre-workout, since milk has a combination of fast- and slow-acting proteins.

All that said, I'm not sure that these kind of details matter, unless you experience gastric discomfort while training. Really, you just need to put something in your stomach between the time you wake up and the time you work out. As long as it has some protein and carbs, and a minimum of fat or fiber, you should be fine.

(And, of course, at most other times of the day, you want fat and fiber in your meals. Pre-workout just happens to be one time when you don't.)

by Lou Schuler on Oct 7, 2007 7:49 AM EDT reply actions

Is not eating pre-workout bad?

Lou,

I am currently half way through the NROL Fat Loss II workouts. I live super close to my gym and I typically only get up 45 minutes before I workout. I usually only drink water before my workout. Is this bad? I usually drink a EAS Myoplex Lite shake post workout, should I be drinking one before I workout as well?

George C. NROL - FLII

by gc3 on Oct 9, 2007 7:30 AM EDT reply actions

Depends

Are you getting the results you want? Do you feel you have enough energy? If the answers are both affirmative, then I wouldn't change it up.

The first two Fat Loss workouts in NROL aren't particularly high-volume, so you don't really have to worry about catabolizing muscle tissue because you're training with depleted glycogen stores.

But if it's not working for you, I'd recommend putting something in your stomach before you train.

by Lou Schuler on Oct 9, 2007 8:02 AM EDT reply actions