What to Eat Before Workout in the Morning

Your alarm goes off early in the morning, and instead of snoozing, you decide to get up and go straight to the gym. However, halfway through your training session, you start losing strength and feeling sick to your stomach. This is most often due to not eating anything before your workouts.

It all looks so effortless in movies and TV shows – news anchors get up at half past three every morning, exercise, get ready, then work their fingers to the bone until 7 pm, and somehow survive. You may feel motivated to try, but you'll soon realize it's not as easy as it seems.

If you have a habit of skipping breakfast before workouts, read on to find out why it's not such a good idea and what you could eat before your training sessions to avoid sickness and loss of energy – and somehow manage to push through the busy day.

Why You Should Eat Before Workout

Perhaps, you figured that exercising on an empty stomach may help you burn fat faster and improve your performance. However, studies suggest otherwise – no snack or breakfast before training will hinder your performance in certain types of exercises.

This is because your blood sugar levels drop after a long night without food, making you feel sluggish and tired in the morning. Food is our fuel. Carbohydrates are especially important pre-workout because we draw energy from them. When you do more intense exercises or have longer workout sessions, it's simply necessary to have a small carb-based breakfast or snack before.

However, eating right before training can cause an upset stomach since the food may not be digested properly. Also, you simply might not have enough time for breakfast early in the morning or have no appetite whatsoever.

No worries, here are several early breakfast ideas for your morning workouts that are light enough but will give you enough strength and energy.

What to Eat Before Morning Workout

The food you might want to go for before working out in the morning will depend on your personal preferences as well as the intensity and length of your training sessions. However, some general rules of thumb would be to:

• Go for fast-digesting carbs: In the morning, you'll need something that will digest fast, give you bouts of energy, and not linger in your stomach for long;
• Avoid too much fat: Fat will take much longer to digest – so avoid peanut butter toast pre-workout;
• Add protein: Having protein-based meals before and after a workout will give you strength and help rebuild muscle tissue.

And finally, here are ten pre-workout breakfast ideas that dietitians recommend:

#1: Oatmeal

A classic bowl of oats is always a good idea. It's packed with good carbs that will give you enough energy for your morning workout. Plus, there are endless variations and additions to make it more appetizing for no-appetite mornings, like berries, bananas, fruit yogurt, and protein powder. Also, soaking your oats overnight in yogurt will make them much easier to digest.

#2: Smoothies

Smoothies with fruit, honey, yogurt, and almond milk are a great meal replacement for all of you having a hard time eating early in the morning. Blend some almond milk, banana slices, berries, honey, and a couple of pieces of dark chocolate, and you'll get a quick and tasty bomb snack, perfect for lighter training sessions.

#3: Fruit

Bananas and dates are easy to digest, and they are full of slow-releasing carbs and sugars that won't spike your blood sugar levels. Instead, they will give you a steady energy supply and enough fuel for 30 to 60-minute workout sessions.

#4: Granola Bars

For all the busy bees, having a quick granola bar snack before a workout might be a very appealing option. It's tasty, healthy, doesn't require any preparation, and will give you enough energy for workouts of medium intensity. In addition, it's a perfect snack to have on your way to the gym.

#5: Rice Cakes

Another ready-made snack to grab while running out the door. If you have a bit more time on your hands, have them with sliced banana or strawberries, as well as yogurt, some hummus, or avocado spread. This way, you'll get a fast and light meal packed with healthy fats, sugars, and carbs.

#6: Yogurt

Yogurt, especially Greek yogurt, is an excellent early morning meal. It's rich in protein, calcium, and probiotics that will give you some energy boost without being heavy on the stomach. Plus, there's an endless possibility of mix-ins since yogurt has a pretty neutral taste and goes with almost anything. So, for more sweetness, you can have it with banana slices, strawberries, figs, cornflakes, and/or peaches, as well as some honey.

#7: Bagels

Bagels are a carb-packed and pretty delicious snack to have plain first thing in the morning. However, if you have several minutes to spare, you can top it off with an egg and avocado spread. That way, you'll be adding some extra protein and healthy fats and have a really nutritious pre-workout snack.

#8: Avocado Toast

You can't go wrong with a classic avocado toast. Avocados are chock-full of healthy fats, minerals, and vitamins – everything your body needs for a good workout and post-workout recovery. Add a piece of whole-grain bread into the mix, and you'll get a hearty snack with plenty of healthy carbs too.

#9: Eggs

Hands down, eggs make for a perfect snack before your workout in the morning – both scrambled and sunny side up – as long as you have them at least one hour before. This is because they are rich in protein your body needs for an energy boost and faster muscle recovery. However, steer clear of hard-boiled eggs as these are quite heavy on the stomach and will take longer to digest.

#10: Whole Grain Crackers

Whole-grain crackers, with some banana, hummus, or cottage cheese on the side, are easily digestible and filled with energy-boosting carbs. As long as you don't overdo it, they should be just filling enough not to cause you any discomfort while exercising.

Takeaway...

Except for eggs, all of these meals are made up of fast-digesting carbs that won't weigh you down but will give you the boost of much-needed energy throughout your workout. However, each individual's nutritional needs are different. So, it's best to listen to your body and choose the foods it likes best. In the end, you need to feel good and satisfied to get the most out of your training sessions.

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