icεmαή;2824136 said:
I'm considering switching my work outs to early morning instead of in the evenings... Now, I generally can't eat much right after getting out of bed... Whats the minimum intake of food I must take before working out? And what should ideally be the time between my meal and the time I start working out?
what do you consider a " work out " ? I mean cardio, lifting, some martial arts, abs, pilates?
if you're going to do an all around cardio/lifting workout, I'd go with a nice fruit/protein powder shake that isn't as big as a meal replacement ( 300 cals ) about 30-45 min before your workout and then be sure to restore your glycogen levels WITHIN an hour after you completed your work out..
if you're just doing cardio, I'd go with a slow burning carb such as oatmeal mixed with some protein to keep me going during my routine. ( I also like to use the liquid based gatorade performance 01 drink as I noticed it helped me get through that last bit of the work out easier )
if you're going with straight lifting, then have a banana/protein shake and a handful of nuts to get you going an hour before and another shake or carb/glycogen/protein replacement within an hour after, ( peanut butter sandwich, greek yogurt with nuts )
I usually eat nothing when doing abs ( like dooz said ) simply because if you're doing them right you'll get a wicked stomach ache if you don't give it enough time to settle in your stomach BUT I do take in liquid carb/protein for energy.. I't comes down to personal choice as well.. I know people who can't eat anything before a workout because 30 min into a hard cardio routine, its coming out. I also know people who " fuel " up immediately after while only having a light snack to give them that little boost before. I used to not eat anything before a workout simple because I train hard, very hard and I rely on liquid carbs/protein to help me get through and then I eat breakfast within 30 min ( NO FATS! )