Sluggish
Workouts? Your Diet May be the Culprit
Have you
ever noticed that how energetic you feel during your
workouts varies from day to day? One day you feel great
and the next day, it takes so much more effort to move
your arms and legs. Well, your diet could be the culprit.
The kinds of foods that you eat and when you eat them
greatly affect performance. The good news is that you
can give your workouts a boost by making some changes
in your diet.
- Instead
of reaching for a cup of coffee as you roll out of
bed, drink a large tumbler of water. Your body requires
at least eight glasses of water each day, and probably
even more if you exercise strenuously. The slightest
amount of dehydration can make you feel weak and can
short-circuit your workout.
- Eat a
high-carbohydrate breakfast that includes modest amounts
of protein. Since you have fasted for at least 10-12
hours through the night, blood sugar levels need to
be restored, and complex carbohydrates are the body's
preferred energy source. Hot or cold whole grain cereal
with fruit, or pancakes with fruit or syrup and a glass
of low-fat milk are good choices.
- Grab
a nutritious snack around mid-morning and late afternoon.
After four or five hours, blood sugar levels take another
dip and people who skip meals in the morning are more
likely to binge on high-fat, high sugar lunches. Whole
grain crackers, fresh fruit, or low-fat yogurt can
be stashed in your backpack or desk for easy access.
- Eat a
balanced lunch that includes lean protein and complex
carbohydrates. A lean roast beef or turkey sandwich,
black beans and rice, or a chicken stir fry with noodles,
along with a piece of fruit or salad are all low-fat,
energizing meals. Get into the habit of replacing softdrinks
or juice with water as your beverage of choice. A cup
of caffeinated coffee or tea is fine and may even aid
workouts.
- Eat a
lighter evening meal, especially if you schedule your
workouts earlier in the day. Most people are less active
in the evening and therefore, don't need as many calories.
A hearty vegetable stew or chili or a pasta salad with
vegetables are light and can replenish waning carbohydrate
stores
|
Did
You Know?
|
