What you take into your body before you put yourself through a routine is absolutely critical to the energy you will require. Plus, what you take into your body is also critical for how you will feel while your going through your routine. If you just eat whatever before your workout without giving any thought to it, you are going to have problems.

Here are 3 specific nutritional and eating guidelines for a pre-workout session:

1. Drink about 8 ounces of water 2 hours before you exercise!

These 2 hours give your kidneys time to rid your body of any excess fluid, which helps offset sweat loss during your workout.

2. Eat 2 to 2.5 hours before your workout!

This is to ensure your body maintains proper blood sugar levels for energy stability. Choose high-carb foods that are low on the glycemic index, such as whole grain bread or crackers, or even a health food bar. Try to aim for 600 to 1000 calories for this meal. This amount of calories should supply you with plenty of energy for your workout without making you feel sluggish.

3. Completely avoid highly processed sugars and foods that contain saturated fats before you exercise!

The highly processed sugary foods will make your blood sugar levels unstable, and the saturated fatty foods will bog you down. It takes energy to digest food, and one of the types of foods that takes the most energy is foods that are loaded with saturated fat! You want to use energy for your workout, not to digest all that heavy food.

Conclusion

Your body needs proper fuel to keep your heart pumping, and to give you the endurance you need to keep going.

Eating smart before your workout, particularly food that supply the proper types of carbohydrates, will provide a host of benefits. Your muscles will receive the nutrients you'll need to help maximize the results of your workout, and your brain will remain stable with proper blood sugar levels. If you have ever stopped exercising or working out because you felt weak, dizzy, or nauseated, it's simply because you didn't prepare yourself for what you were about to do.

In order to accommodate your workout schedule, and to get the most from your workout efforts, you will certainly need to take better care in planning your eating before hand.