What to Eat

In order to get the maximum benefit from your workout you need to eat the right food at the right time. For example, you don’t want to work out with weights on an empty stomach. Doing so will cause you to burn muscle rather than fat. This defeats the purpose of exercising.

What should you eat before exercising? Your pre-workout snack should be a mix of carbs and protein. An hour and a half to two hours before exercising eat a slice of wheat toast with peanut butter and a half banana. Or, eat an apple with peanut butter and a handful of almonds, or have yoghurt with a little fruit. Avoid eating oatmeal or fatty foods prior to working out because when your body is busy digesting heavy foods working out is uncomfortable.

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It is equally important to eat during your body’s post-exercise recovery. The right recovery meal helps your body synthesize and repair muscles. Eating well-chosen foods at this time means that your body burns more calories, taking advantage of Excess Post Oxygen Consumption (EPOC), enabling it to increase muscle mass rather than turning calories into fat.

What to eat within 30- to 60-minutes post-work? Your recovery meal can be heavier in carbs. I recommend 4 carbs to 1 protein. That might be a sweet potato and a side of chicken. It could be a sandwich, or a bowl of oatmeal. This is the best time to eat your favorite forbidden food.

If you would like to build strength, improve your quality of life and create a vibrant, healthy sense of well being, meet me at my brand new 7000 sq ft gym at 120 Country Club Gate Ctr, Pacific Grove, California for one-on-one and group fitness training six days a week.  Call or text me today to get started (831)236-6199.