There’s nothing like getting good exercise in, whether it’s a long game of basketball, a jog around the park, or a solid rep of dumbbell lifting. But when it comes to most cardio exercises, it’s important to make sure that you’re taking care of your body before the workout. One of the best ways to do that is to eat a meal at the right time—and to not eat a meal at the wrong time before a workout.
Give Yourself a Solid Gap
If you know you’re going to be engaging in a rigorous cardio workout, make sure that you eat a meal no less than an hour before the workout. If it’s going to be a heavy meal, we’d honestly recommend no less than two hours. Then again, you probably shouldn’t be eating a heavy meal at all if you’re going to be working out later on.
It’s The Opposite After The Workout
Conversely, you get plenty of great benefits if you eat shortly after you work out. Nutritionists say that one of the best times to have a meal is within 30 minutes of a workout, so make sure you’re utilizing that.
At the end of the day, no one’s putting a gun to your head and you can do whatever you please. You can still have a great workout if you eat 20 minutes before it—but you’re just going to be making things harder for yourself.
