What is the Best Thing to Eat Before an Early Morning Workout?

by | Sep 27, 2022

What is the Best Thing to Eat Before an Early Morning Workout

Science tells us that starting the day with a workout is the best way to energize and set your immune system up for success. This trick has an extensive list of benefits. Of course, it conflicts with breakfast. If you start by working out, you can not eat first. That would cause all sorts of problems. When you are starting your day, breakfast is a must. Going without it would leave you tired and hungry for hours, so you have to schedule around a workout. 

Snacks on the go

If you are planning to workout during the morning and do not want to indulge in a full breakfast before you head out, try to incorporate small snacks into your wake up routine. It will give you the energy you need for a workout and tide you over until you can get to breakfast. If you are going on a long or intensive workout, you may even want to bring a few snacks with you to keep your fuel up. Just like cars, food acts like fuel, giving us the resources to continue on. If you decide to indulge, try to hit all 6 of the essential nutrients. Snack packs with cheese, nuts, and fruit are a great start to achieving this goal. If you can not incorporate all 6, the big two for a small workout are carbs and water.

Just drink it

Many companies have gotten on board the shake craze. That means that you can grab a bottle to go with high levels of protein, fat, and carbohydrates to maintain and sustain your energy throughout the workout and into your day. This option is great if you want to avoid a stomach ache brought on by eating solid foods and then moving around a lot. Sticking to liquids is a good choice for those with sensitive stomachs.

What are real examples?

This article from Forbes breaks down what a good balanced snack would look like depending on the workout. It references the research of Barbara J. Chin, a professional in the field of fitness and nutrition, who recommends different types of food for different workouts. In order to specifically tailor your diet to your wellbeing, you have to adjust the amount of fats and carbohydrates you consume depending on your workout. Chin suggests sticking to “easily digestible carbohydrates” and limiting “high-fiber, high-protein, and high-fat foods if you’re eating less than an hour before your workout.” This could look like a banana and a piece of toast, some dried fruit, or pretzels and peanut butter.

How to master the early morning workout

For some people, even getting to the gym in the morning is a feat. If that sounds like you, balancing fitness and a work schedule with your normal life, just know that whatever you can do is a great start. If you are feeling the heat at work, working out in the morning can help bring you on your A game and burn off some steam. If you need the extra push, it can also provide more engagement to your day. Especially by starting in the morning, you will set up for success. One strategy to hold yourself accountable to a fitness journey in the middle of a busy time is by getting someone else to help. Bringing a friend to the gym makes you far more likely to go regularly, and encourages them as well. This is a great trick especially if you are looking to bond with coworkers who have the same goals as you. People love shared interests, and the gym is a great place to connect and find common ground.

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