The word is in; the idea that you should only be eating three square meals a day is caput! When you are working on your weight-loss goals, one is so often told about all the things they can’t eat that at a certain point it just feels that you aren’t eating anymore! This is especially true when it comes to working out.
One might come to think “Well, if I don’t have anything in my stomach I’ll burn twice as much fat! I will remain faithful and only eat at my meal times!”, but although this seems well intentioned it is not the best thing for your body and can actually keep you behind on your fitness goals! Here are the foods that you should be eating BEFORE your work-out to really make them effective, and say goodbye to belly fat once and for all!
Your metabolism is an “engine” that needs its fuel!
Your metabolism, the body process that converts food and water into energy, needs to constantly be revving in order for you to be burning fat.
Not eating enough, instead of constantly eating bit by bit throughout the day, can indicate to your metabolism to burn the energy contained in your muscles called “glycogen”, which results in muscle mass loss, rather than the fat that is being processed in your liver and kidneys!
However, Martina M. Cartwright, a registered dietitian, author, speaker and adjunct professor of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Arizona recommends eating a “high-carb” food so you can restore the “glycogen” in your muscles during your workout, and your metabolism will go then to your liver and kidneys to burn that fat instead!hh
So what exactly should you eat before a workout? Here are some combos!
- A handful or two of cheerios (or a bowl with a touch of low-fat milk)
- A piece of whole fruit
- A slice of whole wheat toast or half a bagel
- ½ cup of oatmeal with a few raisins
- ½ cup of pasta with a touch of butter
The idea is to get just a little in your stomach as a snack, which isn’t a “meal” to have that little something to deter your metabolism from seeking the glycogen in your muscles and to go for the fat elsewhere.
Additionally, you want to go for something that is quickly digestible so that it can be burned during your workout! Remember the idea is to always have fuel quickly burning through your system constantly!
Check out the video attached below for further tips, and pre-workout food ideas, as well as the added bonus of what to eat AFTER your workout to refuel your body and continue to burn, burn, and burn!
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