What not to eat before the gym?

[Roisin]

I know we've been here before somewhere, but I can't find the thread.

My eating routine on gym days, just doesn't seem to be working. Please advise! This is what I currently do:

8 am Breakfast - usually muesli and fruit
[9-1 at work: so not easy to eat 'properly']
1 pm In the car straight after work, quick apple and cereal bar
1.20 - 2.30 GYM. Now my gym cards take longer, I am feeling utterly exhausted as I'm so hungry
AFTER Feel ravenous, and tend to eat anything I can lay my hands on; it seems a funny time to have a meal!

So in an ideal world, when should I eat a 'main meal' - after the gym or before?
If after, what can I eat before to give me sufficient energy to get through the gym session?

bump

Message withdrawn

Could you take a sandwich at work and eat it an hour or so before it's time to leave? Or bring a flask of soup to have in the car with your apple and cereal bar? I know that when I used to work out first thing in the morning I could never face any food beforehand. But after you have been up and about for a few hours I think it's more difficult to sustain yourself through a workout on so few calories.

apparantly it is best to eat main meal after as you burn the calories more efficiently after a work out. something about metabolic(cant remember the word)

Thanks for the suggestions, I think I'll try adding a banana tomorrow and seeing if that makes it easier. I usually intend to have my quick snack earlier, but nearly always forget!

I think I heard that too Champs about the meal afterwards. Maybe if I manage to get through the workouts a bit better, I'll still have the energy to prepare something properly when I get back.

Hmm... Tried a banana an hour before the gym today, and that did seem to improve my stamina. Thanks for the tip

Only just seen this.

The only breakfast which gets me through the morning without the 9.30 munchies is porridge (microwave, 2 mins); museli & ordinary cereal don't work for me these days.

I swim before work and then have an apple or a couple of satsumas mid morning.

On non-work days I swim & do a gym class at lunchtime so have a banana or cereal bar (I love Geobars, from all major supermarkets) at around 11.30 then have a late lunch after class, around 13.45.

I'd def recommend having a substantial snack around 12, then you've enough time to digest it before your workout. Try setting your phone alarm to remind you to eat !

You could also make up an 'energy' drink for the gym: use ordinary squash (full sugar version !) with a pinch of salt to help to replace your fluids, assuming you are working hard at the gym & sweating/perspiring