What Should One Eat Before And After a Workout?

[Willow]

I had neglected exercise lately :o and was very excited to go running yesterday! I felt very cleansed and refreshed afterwards :) Afterwards, I started thinking about proper nutrition before and after exercise...

After exercising, I am very thirsty, but want something more than water. I used to drink Gatorade (only when I exercised, otherwise drank pretty much only water), but haven't drank it since I became a vegan (it seems vegan, but I'm not sure and I haven't asked the company yet). I definitely noticed a big difference between drinking just water and drinking Gatorade. I've looked at the nutritional content of Gatorade and it doesn't seem all that nutritious (only tiny percentages of several nutrients like sodium, potassium, etc), but for some reason it helps TREMENDOUSLY.

Yesterday, when I came back from running, I ate several pieces of fruit to restore nutrients (e.g. a banana for the potassium), but is it a good idea to eat right after exercising?

Also, should you eat something before exercising (for instance, something with protein), and if so, how long before exercising?

And what about drinking water before, during, and after exercise? How much should you drink? Before exercising: should you drink water and then wait for some time before exercising? After exercising: should you wait for some time after exercising before drinking water?

Any ideas on what (besides water) I can drink after exercising?

I'm very interested in proper nutrition and health, so I would very much appreciate any advice you all can offer :)

[thevegantwins]

I don't know what the guidelines are but I know people have their own protocols that work for them. I could never eat before exercise, I got to the gym two mornings a week at 6:30am and just drink water before and during my workout and have breakfast around 8:30am (oatmeal and tea). I drink alot of water during a workout ie this morning, I walked 3 miles in 45 minutes on the treadmill and drank a liter of water during that time. I think the idea of eating fruits afterwards sounds like a sound idea, much better than that artifically laden Gatorade crap. :)

[Peas'nHominy]

It is much better to drink water while you work out. I would even say it is very important. :agree: Personally, I'd stay away from the Gatorade.

I know several people who eat a fruit after a long run. I think it is a good idea considering the metabolic processes going on during a long and good workout.

When I was running long distance, my trainer had me eating a little something every 2 to 3 hours all day (every day), so I never noticed if I needed to eat just before or just after a run. If it had been 2 or 3 hours, then I'd eat. So technically, I did eat after a run, but I wasn't thinking about it much.

[Willow]

Thank you for your advice vegantwins and Peas! I really appreciate it:) Eating a banana after a run does help a lot. I find it hard to drink water before or during exercise (same goes for eating). It upsets my stomach and I feel all cramped up and like my stomach is twisting inside out during exercise. But, I make sure to rehydrate myself after I'm done with exercising.

[Cherie]

I would drink enough prior to running where you feel hydrated but not full and like you'll have to pee halfway through your run.

Nuts and fruit would be good after exercise, if you're hungry!

[Willow]

Ooooh, nuts, I hadn't thought about that as an after-running snack! Good idea:agree:

[Phoenix]

When I used to do weight training at the health club - I now do a scaled down version at home because I can't afford the health club anymore - the instructors suggested that I eat fruit & bread before the workout & drink water before, during and after exercise. Then I used to wait for a couple of hours before I ate anything - but that was mainly because I was too tired to perpare anything anyway. :)

[Cherie]

bread sounds good, too!