Eating before excercise

Hi all,

Sorry if this has been covered before I had a quick look and couldn't find what I'm looking for.

I started doing this bootcamp (bootcamp ireland) thing last week, it's an hour of various exercises, circuit training, jogging, sprints etc. For me it's pretty high intensity.

I'm just wondering, what I should be eating and how long before training? Last night, I had a slice of brown bread with ham and a yoghurt at about 6pm and began training at 7.30, I felt sick shortly after I begun but not from the exercise as such, more from the food bouncing around in my tum. I also got a stitch half way in while jogging.

When I used to train in the early mornings (doing weights) I would eat some chicken or a tin of tuna before hand and be fine but not sure now what to eat doing aerobics late in the evening.

Thanks a mil

neilmct.com

IMO the pre workout meal is the one that requires the most trial and error. I remember playing footie and while some guys would hit the burger van BEFORE a match id be throwing up some cereal after 20 minutes of running about!

You could try the same meal, only lower portions and slightly earlier and see how you go but again this meal comes down to how you feel.

Yeh I wonder if cereal would be the way to go actually. I just can't see myself going with nothing from lunch at 12.30 til I get home from bootcamp at 9! I also don't think I would do as good a workout as I would have less energy.

Davei141

I have been trying out different meals pre workout and i would say a decent bowl of warm porridge 2 hours before should do the trick

helimachoptor

On the days I'm playing matches or plan on doing a lot of running, I generally have a dinner at lunch time and then some toast/cereal about an hour before I start, as said above it's trial an error. I generally have a YOP too

neuro-praxis

I find this really difficult to guage too. If I don't eat I'm weak and good fer nuthin, and if I do, I feel like I need to vomit while I'm on the treadmill.

What I opt for is (a) get to the gym around 5 before the real dinner munchies have set in or (b) if I have to eat, I try to eat something really plain, like cereal, toast or boiled rice, no sooner than 90 minutes before workout.

I still feel nauseous sometimes when weightlifting but I hear that's normal when you're really pushing yourself.

It's just a pain as I finish work at 5 and get home about 5.45 at the earliest. I guess I could bring some cereal or some ryvitas to eat in work before I head off. I suppose I'll just have to play around with it as suggested. I'll give the cereal a go to start.

Yeh neuro-praxis that's just, I don't mind the nauseous feeling from working hard as long as I know there's nothing in my tummy that I might see again

cruizer101

Yeah I have trouble with this, and it can vary from day to day for me.

Sometimes I digest a meal very quick sometimes the same meal could sit for an hour or so.

The more time you can give the better, I also think but have nothing to back it up, that meat will generally take longer to process than other foods.

Other than that, make sure you chew well.

metamorphosis

If im going to the gym in the morning i generally can work on empty for cardio but if not a banana or dried fruit does the trick for me. some simple carbs work best if you have to get to the gym SOON.well that's what works for me

Mealwise i cannot work out after a big lunch or dinner for at least two hours but if i have training and do feel hungry again dried fruit/ banana/ simple carb does the trick for me with a tad of cottage cheese or some nuts.

It's really trial and error for you though.

neuro-praxis

One thing to definitely avoid is anything spicy. Ugh, I had a bad experience only the other day with a home-made turkey burger. The spiciness repeated on me every 30 seconds. Unpleasant!