When you eat is just as important as what you eat. “Unless you’re picking the right foods before and after your workouts, you could be working against yourself,” says Lankenau Medical Center’s Dr. David Targan.
Working out on an empty stomach may seem like a good idea, but the body needs protein and nutrients while it exercises, or it will draw protein from muscle mass. Remedy that by eating a pre-workout snack two hours before exercising. Try healthy carbohydrates like whole-grain cereals or pasta, low-fat or fat-free yogurt, a sweet potato, fruits, and vegetables. Skip saturated fats and avoid too much protein; they take longer to digest.
Post-workout, eat more carbohydrates and a healthy serving of protein. And be sure to hydrate. Water can be a body’s best friend
