Winston Salem Fitness

It is not necessarily “good” or “bad” to eat before practice or a game – it really depends on what and when you have eaten that day.

Ideally you wish to eat so you have energy, but you don’t want to eat so that you feel too full and/or experience discomfort. It is a matter of balance.

Research studies show that consuming before exercise, as opposed to exercising on an empty stomach, improves athletic performance.

Normally, a snack taken before an activity will help fuel you for that practice or game (dependant upon how long the sport lasts), also help you from becoming over hungry after the workout.

That being said, consider the following

• It generally takes our bodies about three or four hours to digest a moderate sized meal and about one or two hours to process a light snack (these numbers depend a lot on the kind of food you are eating, not to mention your very own metabolic rate).

It’s a good idea to allow some time for digestion prior to any strenuous activity.

• When you have practice or a game late in the afternoon, eat breakfast and lunch. Include plenty of complex carbohydrates, like whole grain cereals, fruit, and vegetables.

These replace muscle glycogen (our bodies’ storage form of carbohydrates), and are important, namely when you exercise every day.

Without replacing glycogen, your muscles will feel weak and performance may suffer.

• Do not forget to keep well hydrated. Our muscles are approximately 70 percent water and dehydrated muscles perform poorly, too. Drink water throughout the day.

• One meal or one snack isn’t going to make up for a normally unhealthful lifestyle. Eating well assists contribute nutrients your body needs on a continual basis. Apply some of these suggestions regularly.

Select mostly whole grains, fruit, veggies, lean meats, and low-fat dairy. Drink plenty of fluids all the time – it is really important to replace losses from exercise.

Do not go longer than 4 hours without consuming, and plan healthy or energy boosting snacks in-between larger meals.

Snack ideas for pre-game or pre-practice

• fruit (e.g., bananas, oranges, apples, or grapes)

• fruit juices

• unsalted crackers

• graham crackers

• bagels

• non- or low-fat yogurt

• pretzels (preferably with little or no salt)

• low-fat soup, such as vegetable

High in carbohydrates, these foods are rapidly digested and absorbed. Finish eating at least one hour before your practice. Foods high in fat, protein, and fiber take longer to digest and can cause discomfort.

Experiment with various choices. and avoid trying a new food before a competitive event… just in case.