Pre- workout nutrition, workout prep – whatever you call it – has changed. Arsenal football club offered a match-day full English to its players until the mid '90s. Anyone who has tried this approach in a Sunday League nutrition experiment of their own will know it leaves you feeling as though you’ve swallowed a medium-sized luxury saloon.
What you consume in the hours before exercise matters. Here’s an expert guide to the best pre-workout food and drink. When it comes to energy, carbohydrates are where your focus should be.
There's been a big debate about carbs (bread, pasta, bananas, rice etc), and they've been frequently demonised, but they're vital, says Lululemon ambassador and The Food Medic Dr Hazel Wallace . “There’s some evidence that having protein pre-workout might help with muscle repair but in terms of fuelling the workout, carbs are king,” she explains. “If you’re a reasonably active gym bunny, carbs and protein in the pre-workout meal are your go-to nutrients.
” The scheduling of pre-workout meals is another heated discussion. Wallace says all meals are, in a way, your pre-workout nutrition, with protein a part of your diet throughout the day. Two or three hours before your workout, eat a meal with all the key food groups, “You can probably fit a full, balanced meal in – carbohydrates plus some protein, such as chicken or fish,” advises Wallace.
“But think about limiting the amount of fat and fibre.” According to Wallace, fat and fi.