GETFIT Blog

 By Joli Guenther, MSSW, NASM-CPT

With the range of exercise equipment and activities available, making fitness a priority has never been easier or more enjoyable. Once you’ve committed to a regular training schedule, timing nutrition can make a huge difference in both your performance and the effectiveness of your workouts. Whether your day involves intervals on the elliptical or a quick strength training session on your home gym, the first step to eating for performance is to ensure that you are adequately fueled for the workout you have planned. Eat too much too close to your training time and you’re likely to experience digestive difficulties. Training without adequate nutrition is also a dangerous trap, likely to result in poor performance, as well as the breakdown of muscle tissue. Over time, this results in a loss of muscle and reduction in both our metabolism and performance. While there are no hard and fast rules about what to eat prior to your workouts, the link below provides an overview of the types and timing of foods that may improve your performance. You’ll need to experiment to find the approach that works for you and you may need to alter your approach based on the demands of your workout on a given day. When you start fueling smarter, you’ll find that your time on the treadmill flies by.

Visit this site for more information on fueling effectively for your workouts. http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/sportsnutrition/a/EatForExercise.htm