05 Jan My 5 Pre-Workout Snacks for 5 Days of the Week
I’m always trying to get the most out of my swimming sessions and sometimes mental preparation just isn’t going to cut it. Generally exercising on an empty stomach isn’t a good idea so when I’m feeling a little run-down I prepare a light snack for about 45 minutes – 1 hour before I hit the gym.
A snack note: The key to eating before exercising is to make sure you have enough energy to fuel your body while not consuming excess calories.
Here are a few of my favourite pre-workout snacks,
Monday – Fruit Smoothie
After a weekend of lounging around I always find I need some-what of a detox on Monday. Filled with healthy carbohydrates, I love mixing my favourite fruits in a blender with a scoop of yoghurt before I head out of the house for training.
Tuesday – Trail Mix
I love an alliteration so I make Tuesdays for trail mixes. With a high fat and protein content these have loads – and I mean loads amount of energy.
Wednesday – Overnight Oats
Oats are packed with fibre which allows the carbohydrates to release a slow, continuous amount of energy. I always have a hard swim session on a Wednesday and need that mid-week treat to keep me going.
Thursday – Fruit Bowl with Nut Butter Drizzle
Again, fruit. Berries, mango, banana, pineapple are all my favourites. And I love getting creative by adding some granola, cocoa nibs and drizzling nut butter on top.
Friday – Date Bar
And lastly, I like either taking a date bar or date balls before a race or training because they are one of the fastest energy releases when it comes to snack packing.
5 benefits of dates: help muscles recover, slow carb releaser, rich in vitamins, give loads of energy, prevents cramping.