Training Day Meals

[Ponteira]

I know not to eat a lot immediately before training, but what are some foods that would be good for eating before you train and how long before training should you eat them? The reason I ask is because I have Muay Thai weekdays from 6-8 pm which is right around my dinner time.

[ncmatt]

oatmeal,sweet potatoes,brown rice

[Filero]

I like to eat a small meal a couple of hours before I work out. So in your position, I would reduce the size of my meals, and eat a small lunch, a small supper by 4:00, and then dinner afterwards.

I feel great about two hours after a small meal, so this works well for me. However, not everyone likes that, and many people have schedules that don't accomodate a bunch of small meals. In that case, I'd go with what I think is the most common recommendation for a pre-workout snack: little-to-no fat, moderate-to-no protein, and plenty of carbs. For me, fruit like an apple or banana fit the bill perfectly. For me, ncmatt's recommendations, if they're meant to be eaten immediately before a workout, don't really work -- I'm more likely to eat those foods hours before my workout, not immediately before. Different strokes, though.

I would strongly recommend that you try out different foods to see what works for you. It'll probably work best with something a bit sugary, like fruit, immediately before.