As we all know, along with working out frequently, we have to have a healthy diet. However, some healthy foods you’re eating before your workout could be slowing down your progress at the gym. Even if what you’re eating is good for you, you may be wanting to steer clear of it until you get back from the gym so it doesn’t get in the way of your full workout. It can be hard to figure out what to skip out on before working out, so here are 7 healthy foods you need to avoid two hours before you burn some calories.
1. Good fatty foods
I’m talking about avocados, and nuts. They’re so slow to digest. This makes your body fight with itself for blood supply that can lead to a cramp during your workout. On top of all that, these foods can leave you feeling full, which will weigh you down.
2. Salads
Leafy greens are great for you, but the high-fiber slows down your digestion process. Eating this before a workout will make you bloat. So, stay away from salads!
3. Beans
The high fibre content and the indigestible carbohydrate raffinose will leave your stomach extremely upset. Think twice next time you’re about to grab the hummus for a pre-workout snack!
4. Citrus fruit
Citrus fruit like oranges and grapefruit can cause you to have heartburn during your workout. I know they can be the perfect “grab and go” snack before you head to a fitness class, but you can end up with some major burning in your chest because of the citrus. Next time, grab an apple instead!
5. Juice
It’s tasty, but even fresh squeezed juice leaves you feeling tired during your workout. The high sugar content makes your body use up the energy from the juice quickly, which makes your blood sugar level drop. In other words, while you’re at the gym you’re going to be feeling sluggish after the first ten minutes of your jog.
6. Spicy foods
If you want to carb up before hitting the gym, don’t eat a bowl of spicy pad Thai. If you eat something with some spice to it before working out, you may get nasty heartburn. This is because spicy foods stimulate the digestive system. Better stick to bland easy-to-digest foods before a workout!
7. Protein Supplements
Shakes and protein bars are popular exercise foods. However, you’re supposed to eat them after a workout. Protein helps your recovery process, and helps build muscle, but it doesn’t have enough nutrients to fuel your body before a workout.
Now that we covered what you shouldn’t eat, of course we are going to fill you in on what you should be eating before you exercise! You should be fueling yourself with carbohydrates that are low in fiber. For example, you can eat breads, muffins, bagels, and pasta. What you eat plays a huge role in the quality of your workout, so make sure you are eating properly!
Photo by Mariana Medvedeva on Unsplash
