Let’s get one thing straight: these pre-workout meal suggestions have nothing to do with pre-workout drinks. You know, those chemical experiments in a can? Who really knows what’s in them other than some underground, unregulated shady manufacturer bent on profit only. But that’s a whole other post.
These are tried and true pre-workout meals that fuel the hard work in the gym to come. Real food with names you recognize and can actually pronounce. I’ll say it briefly here without getting too much into the weeds: nothing is more beneficial to your muscle-building or fat-loss desires than real food. Period.
Below are three of my best pre-workout muscle meals. These are a few that I’ve used over the years whether I was competing or not. They’re mainly for building muscle or keeping the muscle you’re built while dieting. Or you can just ditch the carbs if you’re trying to strip off body fat.
First some pre-workout rules:
- Keep it simple. The more you complicate things the more frustrated you’ll get and the less you’ll progress. Guaranteed.
- These meals should be eaten at least an hour before training. One of the worst things you can do prior to training is pool a ton of blood to your GI tract away from your arms and legs. They should be easy to digest.
- Don’t sweat it. Try one then adjust where necessary. They should give you plenty of energy. No can of chemicals needed.
Yogurt and fruit
I like to have a cup or so of natural (not the sugary kind) Greek yogurt for easy to digest protein. And then a piece of fruit – either banana or apple, but you can substitute with any of your personal favorite.
Whey and oatmeal
If you’re the type who needs a little more food to stick to your ribs then try some organic oatmeal. It’s packed with complex carbs, a little fiber, and is pretty easy to digest. Finish with some easy to digest whey protein and your good to go.
Eggs and wheat bread
Okay, this one take a bit more prep, but is still easy. A whole egg with two more additional egg whites scrambled between two slices of 100% whole wheat bread. Not 100% while grain or honey wheat – 100% whole wheat only.
Eat up!
Brad Borland 