FOOD
Fitness Fuel By Abigail Baker
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t can be difficult to stay motivated enough to stick to your workout routine during the darker and colder months. Your duvet feels more and more enveloping, your home cosier than ever, and your slippers practically glued to your feet… The good news is that there are ways to help you get back out there in spite of the weather. One of them is nourishing your body with the right fuel to leave you feeling energised, strong, and in a positive state of mind. Follow the tips below to help you work out more regularly and perform better, as well as avoid injury, maintain your blood sugar levels, alleviate aches and pains, and improve your recovery time. Pre-Workout Nutrition It’s very important that you consider how long before your workout you are going to eat, and how much you’re comfortable consuming before you start moving. While it’s imperative to fuel your body so that you’re not running on empty, if you eat a heavy meal right before your session, you might experience stomach discomfort, and as your body processes your food, it can reroute oxygen and energy-delivering blood from your muscles. Try to eat a light meal between 30 minutes and three hours before working out, so that you have time to digest but also have the opportunity to burn through the calories you’ve consumed. If you’re short on time, try some of these easily-digestible pre-workout snacks: • Fruit and nuts • Yoghurt and granola • Egg on toast • Oats and protein powder
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