Pre-workout Food

After vacation last week, I'm clearly in need of getting back on the healthy eating wagon! Totally worth it, though : )

I went to boot camp last Friday after we got back, and it was terrible. I woke up late and didn't have time to eat a good breakfast beforehand-just a granola bar in the car. Dear readers: don't be as dumb as me. I bonked hard. Usually the workout is tough. I'm sweating, sometimes a little light headed, and I'm breathing hard struggling to finish the exercises. Friday was just...wrong. Vision going black, sweating yet freezing cold, nauseous. I had to sit with my head b/t my legs for most of it b/c I was so dizzy. I'm super prone to head rushes (orthostatic hypotension: that dizziness, blurry vision that occurs sometimes if you stand up too quickly and your blood pressure falls.) I get these alllllll the time. It felt like that the entire time. Usually he is checking in with us, making sure we are ok and helps get us through the last reps or dig deeper. He looked at me and just said are you ok? Me: blank look, shaking my head. Him: dude. you look awful. go sit down.


 So today's topic is Eating Before Exercise!

Before boot camp I usually eat a piece of bread with some peanut butter, or a banana with yogurt, or something like that. A bit of quick carbs with a little protein. I can't eat too much or I feel like I will throw up. I am not much of a morning person, so I have to make myself eat something. If you exercise late in the day it isn't so much of a concern.


Some people advocate working out on an empty stomach. The theory behind this is that without glucose, your body has to start using fat for fuel. A fun little process called glycolysis. This is an unusual and inefficient process-so usually it slows you down quite a bit. The argument is that if you continually exercise and your body has to go into glycolysis 1) who doesn't want to burn fat? and 2) your body becomes more efficient at it eventually won't slow you down as much. That is also a very quick and dirty explanation of how low carb diets work.


I admit that I don't know enough about this topic and haven't read much research on it. Bad dietitian, bad! Instead I thought I would ask you lovely people.

--Do you workout on an empty stomach if you work out in the morning? Do you think it makes a difference? 

--Do you have a pre-workout snack? What is it? 

--Do you have an opinion on running/working out with a bit of glucose/glycogen depletion?


And as a survey note to my tens of readers: do you read posts like this that are kind of wordy and a tiny bit more educational? I would like this blog to be somewhat informative, but I don't really know how much people want to actually read ; ) So weigh in and tell me!

Its National Nutrition Month!

12 Ways to Enjoy More Fruits, Vegetables, Whole Grains and Dairy

1. Have fun using vegetables as pizza topping. Try broccoli, spinach, fresh basil, tomatoes, mushrooms, zucchini, and squash.

2. Mix up a breakfast smoothie with low-fat milk and any combination of frozen fruit: strawberries, blueberries, peaches, raspberries, pineapple, and a banana.

3. Make a veggie wrap with roasted vegetables and cheese rolled in a whole-wheat tortilla.

4. Try raw crunchy vegetables instead of chips with your favorite dip. 

5. Grill colorful vegetable kabobs packed with tomatoes, green and red peppers, mushrooms, squash, zucchini,  and onions.

6. Stuff an omelet with vegetables. Turn an omelet into a meal with broccoli, squash, carrots, peppers, tomatoes or onions with cheddar cheese.

7. Sandwich in fruits and vegetables. Add pizzazz to sandwiches with sliced pineapple, apple, peppers, cucumbers and tomato as fillings.

8. Make a habit of adding fruit to your morning oatmeal, ready-to-eat cereal, yogurt or toaster waffle.

9. Top a baked potato with beans, salsa,  or broccoli and low-fat cheese.

11. Sneak in some vegetables. Add grated, shredded or chopped vegetables such as zucchini, spinach and carrots to lasagna, meat loaf, mashed potatoes, pasta sauce and rice dishes.

12. Make your main dish a salad of dark, leafy greens and other colorful vegetables, fruit, and nuts. Mandarin oranges, cranberries, blueberries are great on salads. Add some almonds or walnuts for extra healthy fats.

 *adapted/stolen from: eatright.org


Yes, I know it is March 2 but I had a traumatizing  day yesterday b/t going to the dentist and then falling dramatically down my outside stairs onto the driveway. Let's just pretend yesterday didn't exist, shall we?