Understanding pre-workout meal
The study and many fitness experts and influencers say that doing a proficient gym workout or spending hours in the gym with no sufficient nutrition or diet gives you no progress when it comes to the growth of your body or achieving your fitness goals. When we talk about a pre-workout meal plan, an accurate amount of nutrition and routine meals in a day are more important than just hitting the gym.
Doing a workout without good nutrition is just like driving a car without fuel. Only routine and scheduled meals, a quality workout, and good sleep can help you achieve your body goals. Routine meals, including sufficient nutrition at different times of the day, are the prior activity of every workout plan. Whether you are working out for weight loss or to gain muscle, routine meals are equally important for your workout plans. A person should have a better understanding when it comes to a common routine diet and workout diet.
What is a pre-workout meal?
Common routine meals are just the foods that we eat to fulfil our daily calorie intake in the form of breakfast, lunch, and dinner whereas workout meals are more focused on the fulfilment of a sufficient amount of nutrition. We heard people taking workout meals at different times of the day, which are commonly known as breakfast, lunch, pre-workout meals, post-workout meals, and dinner. These meals are more focused on specific types of nutrition. Eating a nutritional breakfast in the morning, a heavy lunch in the afternoon, and a light dinner at night is what keeps you energized throughout the day.
Pre and post-workout meals are not just a plate of food to take before and after the workout; they are a collection of nutrition that determines our performance during the workout and the growth of our body. Pre-workout meals are mostly prepared by adding nutrients, which provides stamina and energy to perform better in the gym, while post-workout meals are prepared by adding nutrients, which help in muscle building and recovery.
Importance of a pre-workout meal
Pre-workout meal can be considered one of the most important meals of the day, as they can be described as the administrator of your workout. They will decide how you will perform in the gym, what amount of energy you will need to execute a certain exercise, and how much weight you can lift. We often notice that skipping the pre-workout meal leads to underperformance and a lack of energy during workouts. There are some major macronutrients on which one should focus while preparing the pre-workout meal, like carbohydrates, a lesser amount of protein, and caffeine.
- Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the macronutrients that our body needs as working fuel. Our body stores carbs, which increase the intensity of your workout and make you feel energetic for longer. Sweet potatoes, bananas, quinoa, and chickpeas are some of the most accessible, modest, and best sources of carbs.
- Protein
Pairing carbs with protein is important in pre-workout meals as it improves the performance and recovery of muscles. Though taking protein before a workout is important, the amount should be minimal, as protein is not easy to digest just before the workout.
Best time to have pre-workout meals
The most crucial aspect of preparing a pre-workout meal is the timing. What should be the timing and how much gap is needed between the pre-workout meal and workout? Experts say that a complete meal containing carbs, protein, and other nutrients should be consumed 2-3 hours prior to your workout. The right timing will help with proper digestion and maximize your training.
Some nutritional additions to your pre-workout meal
A pre-workout meal is not just about taking in the required nutrients or filling up your body with food. This can be fun and enjoyable if prepared mindfully and with experimentation with different recipes.
Below are some healthy suggestions one can add to their pre-workout meals:
- A pre-workout smoothie with bananas, berries, honey, and oats can be prepared.
- Boiled sweet potatoes with curd or Greek yogurt can be added.
- A whole-wheat toast with banana smoothie can be added to your pre-workout meal.
- Boiled broccoli salad with cucumber and other light veggies can be added.
- Besides the workout meal, one can also add pre-workout supplements like Proquest Nutrition Advanced pump up pre-workout, which comes in different exciting flavors.
To conclude, we can say that understanding the importance of a pre-workout meal in your workout plan is crucial, as it is the major source that determines your workout performance.
