• TRENDING
  • Fitness
  • Healthcare
  • Lifestyle
  • Shopping
  • Nutrition
  • Nutrition
  • Life / Sports
  • Nutrition Facts
  • International
  • Vitamins & Supplements

Mind Body Balance Hub

SUBSCRIBE
  • Fitness
    FitnessShow More
    xwerks-motion-review-(2024)
    XWERKS Motion Review (2024)
    December 18, 2023
    assault-fitness-assaultbike-pro-x-review-(2024)-|-breaking-muscle
    Assault Fitness AssaultBike Pro X Review (2024) | Breaking Muscle
    December 15, 2023
    13-best-exercise-bikes-of-2024,-according-to-fitness-experts
    13 Best Exercise Bikes of 2024, According to Fitness Experts
    December 11, 2023
    transparent-labs-bcaa-glutamine-review-(2024)
    Transparent Labs BCAA Glutamine Review (2024)
    December 8, 2023
    how-to-do-the-preacher-curl-for-building-bigger-biceps-–-breaking-muscle
    How to Do the Preacher Curl for Building Bigger Biceps – Breaking Muscle
    December 8, 2023
  • Healthcare
    HealthcareShow More
    experts-agree:-your-next-running-shoes-should-be-asics—we-found-the-best-pairs
    Experts Agree: Your Next Running Shoes Should Be Asics—We Found the Best Pairs
    January 10, 2025
    does-walking-backwards-on-a-treadmill-actually-do…anything?
    Does Walking Backwards on a Treadmill Actually Do…Anything?
    January 9, 2025
    17-simple-fitness-tips-to-help-you-get-the-most-out-of-your-workouts-in-2025
    17 Simple Fitness Tips to Help You Get the Most Out of Your Workouts in 2025
    January 7, 2025
    if-you-want-to-work-out-two-days-a-week:-full-body-routine-2
    If You Want to Work Out Two Days a Week: Full-Body Routine 2
    January 6, 2025
    10-reasons-to-add-rowing-to-your-next-workout
    10 Reasons to Add Rowing to Your Next Workout
    January 3, 2025
  • Lifestyle
    LifestyleShow More
    is-pea-protein-as-effective-as-whey?-5-reasons-to-try-this-plant-protein
    Is Pea Protein as Effective as Whey? 5 Reasons to Try This Plant Protein
    January 10, 2025
    is-working-out-twice-a-day-helping-or-hurting-your-goals?
    Is Working Out Twice a Day Helping or Hurting Your Goals?
    January 9, 2025
    “ass-to-grass”-or-90-degrees?-here's-how-low-you-should-be-squatting
    “Ass to Grass” or 90 Degrees? Here's How Low You Should Be Squatting
    January 8, 2025
    does-it-matter-when-you-consume-protein?-the-anabolic-window-theory-says-yes
    Does It Matter When You Consume Protein? The Anabolic Window Theory Says Yes
    January 7, 2025
    7-facts-about-valentine's-day-chocolates
    7 Facts About Valentine's Day Chocolates
    January 6, 2025
  • Nutrition
    NutritionShow More
    page-not-found-–-healthifyme-blog-%
    Page Not Found – HealthifyMe Blog %
    January 7, 2025
    how-to-get-skinny:-embrace-a-balanced-approach-today
    How To Get Skinny: Embrace A Balanced Approach Today
    December 30, 2024
    how-to-stop-emotional-eating-now
    How To Stop Emotional Eating Now
    December 28, 2024
    essential-workout-routine-for-men:-a-beginner's-guide
    Essential Workout Routine For Men: A Beginner's Guide
    December 28, 2024
    empowering-your-fitness:-gym-routine-for-women-essentials
    Empowering Your Fitness: Gym Routine For Women Essentials
    December 27, 2024
  • Privacy Policy
Reading: 5 Foods You Should Really Avoid Before Working Out
Share
  • TRENDING
  • Fitness
  • Healthcare
  • Lifestyle
  • Shopping
  • Nutrition
  • Nutrition
  • Life / Sports
  • Nutrition Facts
  • International
  • Vitamins & Supplements

Mind Body Balance Hub

SUBSCRIBE
  • Fitness
    FitnessShow More
    xwerks-motion-review-(2024)
    XWERKS Motion Review (2024)
    December 18, 2023
    assault-fitness-assaultbike-pro-x-review-(2024)-|-breaking-muscle
    Assault Fitness AssaultBike Pro X Review (2024) | Breaking Muscle
    December 15, 2023
    13-best-exercise-bikes-of-2024,-according-to-fitness-experts
    13 Best Exercise Bikes of 2024, According to Fitness Experts
    December 11, 2023
    transparent-labs-bcaa-glutamine-review-(2024)
    Transparent Labs BCAA Glutamine Review (2024)
    December 8, 2023
    how-to-do-the-preacher-curl-for-building-bigger-biceps-–-breaking-muscle
    How to Do the Preacher Curl for Building Bigger Biceps – Breaking Muscle
    December 8, 2023
  • Healthcare
    HealthcareShow More
    experts-agree:-your-next-running-shoes-should-be-asics—we-found-the-best-pairs
    Experts Agree: Your Next Running Shoes Should Be Asics—We Found the Best Pairs
    January 10, 2025
    does-walking-backwards-on-a-treadmill-actually-do…anything?
    Does Walking Backwards on a Treadmill Actually Do…Anything?
    January 9, 2025
    17-simple-fitness-tips-to-help-you-get-the-most-out-of-your-workouts-in-2025
    17 Simple Fitness Tips to Help You Get the Most Out of Your Workouts in 2025
    January 7, 2025
    if-you-want-to-work-out-two-days-a-week:-full-body-routine-2
    If You Want to Work Out Two Days a Week: Full-Body Routine 2
    January 6, 2025
    10-reasons-to-add-rowing-to-your-next-workout
    10 Reasons to Add Rowing to Your Next Workout
    January 3, 2025
  • Lifestyle
    LifestyleShow More
    is-pea-protein-as-effective-as-whey?-5-reasons-to-try-this-plant-protein
    Is Pea Protein as Effective as Whey? 5 Reasons to Try This Plant Protein
    January 10, 2025
    is-working-out-twice-a-day-helping-or-hurting-your-goals?
    Is Working Out Twice a Day Helping or Hurting Your Goals?
    January 9, 2025
    “ass-to-grass”-or-90-degrees?-here's-how-low-you-should-be-squatting
    “Ass to Grass” or 90 Degrees? Here's How Low You Should Be Squatting
    January 8, 2025
    does-it-matter-when-you-consume-protein?-the-anabolic-window-theory-says-yes
    Does It Matter When You Consume Protein? The Anabolic Window Theory Says Yes
    January 7, 2025
    7-facts-about-valentine's-day-chocolates
    7 Facts About Valentine's Day Chocolates
    January 6, 2025
  • Nutrition
    NutritionShow More
    page-not-found-–-healthifyme-blog-%
    Page Not Found – HealthifyMe Blog %
    January 7, 2025
    how-to-get-skinny:-embrace-a-balanced-approach-today
    How To Get Skinny: Embrace A Balanced Approach Today
    December 30, 2024
    how-to-stop-emotional-eating-now
    How To Stop Emotional Eating Now
    December 28, 2024
    essential-workout-routine-for-men:-a-beginner's-guide
    Essential Workout Routine For Men: A Beginner's Guide
    December 28, 2024
    empowering-your-fitness:-gym-routine-for-women-essentials
    Empowering Your Fitness: Gym Routine For Women Essentials
    December 27, 2024
  • Privacy Policy
Reading: 5 Foods You Should Really Avoid Before Working Out
Share
  • Fitness
  • Healthcare
  • Lifestyle
  • Nutrition
  • Privacy Policy
Have an existing account? Sign In
© Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Mind Body Balance Hub > Blog > Healthcare > 5 Foods You Should Really Avoid Before Working Out
Healthcare

5 Foods You Should Really Avoid Before Working Out

Kayne Collins
Last updated: August 14, 2024 5:54 pm
Kayne Collins
Share
5 Min Read
5-foods-you-should-really-avoid-before-working-out
SHARE

Fatty snacks take a while to be digested and, similar to fried foods, can mess with blood flow throughout your body. Snacking on a bowl of almonds can reroute blood flow away from your brain, heart, and extremities, says Long. And like we mentioned, if it’s still sitting in your stomach when you’re exercising, it can give you nausea or heartburn, or even make you feel bloated.

Is a handful of walnuts going to absolutely obliterate your workout? No. But “it can leave you feeling heavy and slow,” says Dardarian.

High-fiber bars, granola, or cereals

Eating more fiber in general can do wonders for your gut health, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. But unless you don’t mind booking it into the nearest porta-potty mid bike ride, hold off the fiber-rich cereals until you’ve logged your miles. The reason: It can make you poop, and “nobody wants that in the middle of a workout,” Dardarian says.

Your body can’t absorb or digest fiber, so it passes right through your gut. Then couple that with the fact that exercise makes your gut muscles contract, and you can see why you might be searching for a toilet, stat.

Best case scenario, having a bowl of fiber-heavy cereal will just give you a normal bowel movement before your workout. But many people who graze on bran flakes ahead of their exercise wind up with the runs or, if they’re not drinking enough fluids, backed up. Because of this, Dardarian says that professional athletes are trained to avoid fiber entirely the day before and morning of a big game or race. “That’s when everyone has white pasta and white bread, as they contain less fiber,” she says.

A glass of milk, a hunk of cheese, or any other dairy-based treat

If Michael downing a pan of fettuccine Alfredo before Dunder Mifflin’s fun run hasn’t forever turned you off to a pre-jog dairy-based snack, then you might be one of the lucky ones who can stomach dairy before bouncing around on a treadmill. But for most folks, it doesn’t go so well.

That’s because dairy, which contains both protein and fat, can agitate your GI system, even if you’re not lactose intolerant and especially if you’re working out in hot weather, says Long. Maybe, like Michael, you’ll feel like you have a ton of bricks sitting in your stomach. Or worse, you puke it all up. Because of this, Long, who previously worked with the Chicago Cubs, advised players to avoid milk, cheese, and yogurt on gameday.

So what should you eat before a workout?

In general, the best thing to eat soon before working out—whether that be taking your dog on an easy walk, doing hot yoga, or running a half marathon—are simple carbs. They’re the easiest thing for your stomach to break down and, unlike protein that takes a while to be converted into energy, give you instant fuel. “Carbs help your body operate more efficiently so you can exert more power with less effort,” says Long. “I call it bang for your buck.” If you need help whipping up a plan, check out SELF’s pre-workout meal and snack guide.

But one thing to keep in mind is that everything here comes with one major caveat: Foods can have vastly different effects on different people. For instance, Dardarian says her daughter isn’t a big fan of breakfast, so she opts for cheese (yep, dairy) and crackers (some fiber in there!) before field hockey practice. It doesn’t make her feel sick and it gives her the carbs she needs to perform. Would Dardarian recommend this combo for everyone? No, of course not, she says.

So yep, consider these recommendations general guidelines, but remember, how you eat before a workout is very individualized. Experiment with different foods—remember, “nothing new on race day” though, so save your tests for a lesser-stakes day—and tune in to how you feel. You just might find the best way to fuel a workout for your body.

Related:

  • What to Eat Before a Morning Workout: 18 Breakfast Options to Try
  • What to Eat Before a 5K—And All Your Training Runs
  • You Might Not Be Hungry After a Workout—But You Should Still Eat Something

Get more of SELF’s great service journalism delivered right to your inbox.

You Might Also Like

Experts Agree: Your Next Running Shoes Should Be Asics—We Found the Best Pairs

Is Working Out Twice a Day Helping or Hurting Your Goals?

Does Walking Backwards on a Treadmill Actually Do…Anything?

“Ass to Grass” or 90 Degrees? Here's How Low You Should Be Squatting

17 Simple Fitness Tips to Help You Get the Most Out of Your Workouts in 2025

TAGGED:FitnessFood / Nutrition
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

New Releases

- Advertisement -
Ad image

Trending Stories

metabolic-age:-what-it-means-for-your-health?-–-healthifyme
Nutrition

Metabolic Age: What It Means For Your Health? – HealthifyMe

April 19, 2024
can-you-build-as-much-muscle-using-vegan-protein-powder?
Lifestyle

Can You Build as Much Muscle Using Vegan Protein Powder?

December 3, 2024
take-your-push-ups-to-the-next-level-with-the-archer-push-up
Lifestyle

Take Your Push-Ups to the Next Level With the Archer Push-Up

November 6, 2024
whey-protein-isolate-vs-concentrate:-which-is-better?
Lifestyle

Whey Protein Isolate vs Concentrate: Which Is Better?

September 24, 2024
element-26-hybrid-leather-weightlifting-belt-review-(2024)
Fitness

Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt Review (2024)

December 7, 2023
what-is-my-body-type,-and-can-i-train-for-it?
Lifestyle

What Is My Body Type, and Can I Train for It?

December 16, 2024

Follow US on Social Media

The following Terms and Conditions govern the use of Mind Body Balance Hub and are in place to protect everyone who uses the website. 24 Bit Agency owner of Mind Body Balance Hub has the right to revise and update these Terms and Conditions at any time without prior notification; therefore, you should visit this page periodically to review these Terms of Use including the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy of our owner 24 Bit Agency

Mind Body Balance Hub

2024 © Proudly powered by 24 Bit Agency All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?