• TRENDING
  • Fitness
  • Healthcare
  • Lifestyle
  • Shopping
  • Nutrition
  • Nutrition
  • Life / Sports
  • International
  • healthifyme
  • Nutrition Facts

Fit And Fresh Zone

SUBSCRIBE
  • Fitness
    FitnessShow More
    the-best-smith-machine-for-your-home-gym-in-2025-–-breaking-muscle
    The Best Smith Machine for Your Home Gym in 2025 – Breaking Muscle
    March 4, 2025
    strongest-pre-workout:-the-best-high-stim-picks-of-2025-–-breaking-muscle
    Strongest Pre-Workout: The Best High-Stim Picks of 2025 – Breaking Muscle
    March 3, 2025
    best-creatine-for-men-of-2025-–-breaking-muscle
    Best Creatine for Men of 2025 – Breaking Muscle
    March 3, 2025
    best-elliptical-machines-of-2025,-reviewed-by-fitness-experts-–-breaking-muscle
    Best Elliptical Machines of 2025, Reviewed by Fitness Experts – Breaking Muscle
    February 7, 2025
    the-best-power-rack-of-2025,-according-to-a-personal-trainer-–-breaking-muscle
    The Best Power Rack of 2025, According to a Personal Trainer – Breaking Muscle
    February 7, 2025
  • Healthcare
    HealthcareShow More
    9-exercises-for-knee-pain-to-help-you-move-(and-feel!)-better
    9 Exercises for Knee Pain to Help You Move (and Feel!) Better
    August 7, 2025
    we-never-want-to-take-these-cute,-comfy-joggers-off
    We Never Want to Take These Cute, Comfy Joggers Off
    August 6, 2025
    do-you-really-get-a-‘better’-workout-with-lagree-than-with-pilates?
    Do You Really Get a ‘Better’ Workout With Lagree Than With Pilates?
    August 5, 2025
    why-are-so-many-women-athletes-tearing-their-acls-now?
    Why Are So Many Women Athletes Tearing Their ACLs Now?
    July 31, 2025
    we-cracked-the-code-to-looking-chic-on-the-golf-course
    We Cracked the Code to Looking Chic on the Golf Course
    July 31, 2025
  • Lifestyle
    LifestyleShow More
    bodi-lava:-slow-burn
    BODi LAVA: Slow Burn
    August 6, 2025
    10-foods-that-have-way-more-calories-than-you-think
    10 Foods That Have Way More Calories Than You Think
    July 28, 2025
    how-targeted-volume-training-solves-training-dysfunction-for-real,-lasting-results
    How Targeted Volume Training Solves Training Dysfunction for Real, Lasting Results
    June 6, 2025
    proximamente-el-10-de-junio-:-25-minute-speed-train-de-joel-freeman
    Próximamente el 10 de junio : 25 Minute Speed Train de Joel Freeman
    May 27, 2025
    a-venir-le-10-juin-:-25-minute-speed-train-de-joel-freeman
    À venir le 10 juin : 25 Minute Speed Train de Joel Freeman
    May 27, 2025
  • Nutrition
    NutritionShow More
    do-probiotics-help-you-lose-weight?-find-out-now
    Do Probiotics Help You Lose Weight? Find Out Now
    May 9, 2025
    how-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-glp-1s:-a-conversation-guide
    How To Talk To Your Doctor About GLP-1s: A Conversation Guide
    May 8, 2025
    fat-burning-supplements-for-men:-hype-or-effective-solution?
    Fat Burning Supplements For Men: Hype Or Effective Solution?
    May 8, 2025
    body-fat-scale:-are-smart-scales-the-smarter-way-to-measure-health?
    Body Fat Scale: Are Smart Scales The Smarter Way To Measure Health?
    May 7, 2025
    best-snack-for-weight-loss:-smart-choices-for-success
    Best Snack For Weight Loss: Smart Choices For Success
    May 6, 2025
  • Privacy Policy
Reading: 5 Foods You Should Really Avoid Before Working Out
Share
  • TRENDING
  • Fitness
  • Healthcare
  • Lifestyle
  • Shopping
  • Nutrition
  • Nutrition
  • Life / Sports
  • International
  • healthifyme
  • Nutrition Facts

Fit And Fresh Zone

SUBSCRIBE
  • Fitness
    FitnessShow More
    the-best-smith-machine-for-your-home-gym-in-2025-–-breaking-muscle
    The Best Smith Machine for Your Home Gym in 2025 – Breaking Muscle
    March 4, 2025
    strongest-pre-workout:-the-best-high-stim-picks-of-2025-–-breaking-muscle
    Strongest Pre-Workout: The Best High-Stim Picks of 2025 – Breaking Muscle
    March 3, 2025
    best-creatine-for-men-of-2025-–-breaking-muscle
    Best Creatine for Men of 2025 – Breaking Muscle
    March 3, 2025
    best-elliptical-machines-of-2025,-reviewed-by-fitness-experts-–-breaking-muscle
    Best Elliptical Machines of 2025, Reviewed by Fitness Experts – Breaking Muscle
    February 7, 2025
    the-best-power-rack-of-2025,-according-to-a-personal-trainer-–-breaking-muscle
    The Best Power Rack of 2025, According to a Personal Trainer – Breaking Muscle
    February 7, 2025
  • Healthcare
    HealthcareShow More
    9-exercises-for-knee-pain-to-help-you-move-(and-feel!)-better
    9 Exercises for Knee Pain to Help You Move (and Feel!) Better
    August 7, 2025
    we-never-want-to-take-these-cute,-comfy-joggers-off
    We Never Want to Take These Cute, Comfy Joggers Off
    August 6, 2025
    do-you-really-get-a-‘better’-workout-with-lagree-than-with-pilates?
    Do You Really Get a ‘Better’ Workout With Lagree Than With Pilates?
    August 5, 2025
    why-are-so-many-women-athletes-tearing-their-acls-now?
    Why Are So Many Women Athletes Tearing Their ACLs Now?
    July 31, 2025
    we-cracked-the-code-to-looking-chic-on-the-golf-course
    We Cracked the Code to Looking Chic on the Golf Course
    July 31, 2025
  • Lifestyle
    LifestyleShow More
    bodi-lava:-slow-burn
    BODi LAVA: Slow Burn
    August 6, 2025
    10-foods-that-have-way-more-calories-than-you-think
    10 Foods That Have Way More Calories Than You Think
    July 28, 2025
    how-targeted-volume-training-solves-training-dysfunction-for-real,-lasting-results
    How Targeted Volume Training Solves Training Dysfunction for Real, Lasting Results
    June 6, 2025
    proximamente-el-10-de-junio-:-25-minute-speed-train-de-joel-freeman
    Próximamente el 10 de junio : 25 Minute Speed Train de Joel Freeman
    May 27, 2025
    a-venir-le-10-juin-:-25-minute-speed-train-de-joel-freeman
    À venir le 10 juin : 25 Minute Speed Train de Joel Freeman
    May 27, 2025
  • Nutrition
    NutritionShow More
    do-probiotics-help-you-lose-weight?-find-out-now
    Do Probiotics Help You Lose Weight? Find Out Now
    May 9, 2025
    how-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-glp-1s:-a-conversation-guide
    How To Talk To Your Doctor About GLP-1s: A Conversation Guide
    May 8, 2025
    fat-burning-supplements-for-men:-hype-or-effective-solution?
    Fat Burning Supplements For Men: Hype Or Effective Solution?
    May 8, 2025
    body-fat-scale:-are-smart-scales-the-smarter-way-to-measure-health?
    Body Fat Scale: Are Smart Scales The Smarter Way To Measure Health?
    May 7, 2025
    best-snack-for-weight-loss:-smart-choices-for-success
    Best Snack For Weight Loss: Smart Choices For Success
    May 6, 2025
  • Privacy Policy
Reading: 5 Foods You Should Really Avoid Before Working Out
Share
  • Fitness
  • Healthcare
  • Lifestyle
  • Nutrition
  • Privacy Policy
Have an existing account? Sign In
© Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Fit And Fresh Zone > Blog > Healthcare > 5 Foods You Should Really Avoid Before Working Out
Healthcare

5 Foods You Should Really Avoid Before Working Out

Kayne Collins
Last updated: August 14, 2024 5:54 pm
Kayne Collins
Share
5 Min Read
5-foods-you-should-really-avoid-before-working-out
SHARE

Fatty snacks take a while to be digested and, similar to fried foods, can mess with blood flow throughout your body. Snacking on a bowl of almonds can reroute blood flow away from your brain, heart, and extremities, says Long. And like we mentioned, if it’s still sitting in your stomach when you’re exercising, it can give you nausea or heartburn, or even make you feel bloated.

Is a handful of walnuts going to absolutely obliterate your workout? No. But “it can leave you feeling heavy and slow,” says Dardarian.

High-fiber bars, granola, or cereals

Eating more fiber in general can do wonders for your gut health, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. But unless you don’t mind booking it into the nearest porta-potty mid bike ride, hold off the fiber-rich cereals until you’ve logged your miles. The reason: It can make you poop, and “nobody wants that in the middle of a workout,” Dardarian says.

Your body can’t absorb or digest fiber, so it passes right through your gut. Then couple that with the fact that exercise makes your gut muscles contract, and you can see why you might be searching for a toilet, stat.

Best case scenario, having a bowl of fiber-heavy cereal will just give you a normal bowel movement before your workout. But many people who graze on bran flakes ahead of their exercise wind up with the runs or, if they’re not drinking enough fluids, backed up. Because of this, Dardarian says that professional athletes are trained to avoid fiber entirely the day before and morning of a big game or race. “That’s when everyone has white pasta and white bread, as they contain less fiber,” she says.

A glass of milk, a hunk of cheese, or any other dairy-based treat

If Michael downing a pan of fettuccine Alfredo before Dunder Mifflin’s fun run hasn’t forever turned you off to a pre-jog dairy-based snack, then you might be one of the lucky ones who can stomach dairy before bouncing around on a treadmill. But for most folks, it doesn’t go so well.

That’s because dairy, which contains both protein and fat, can agitate your GI system, even if you’re not lactose intolerant and especially if you’re working out in hot weather, says Long. Maybe, like Michael, you’ll feel like you have a ton of bricks sitting in your stomach. Or worse, you puke it all up. Because of this, Long, who previously worked with the Chicago Cubs, advised players to avoid milk, cheese, and yogurt on gameday.

So what should you eat before a workout?

In general, the best thing to eat soon before working out—whether that be taking your dog on an easy walk, doing hot yoga, or running a half marathon—are simple carbs. They’re the easiest thing for your stomach to break down and, unlike protein that takes a while to be converted into energy, give you instant fuel. “Carbs help your body operate more efficiently so you can exert more power with less effort,” says Long. “I call it bang for your buck.” If you need help whipping up a plan, check out SELF’s pre-workout meal and snack guide.

But one thing to keep in mind is that everything here comes with one major caveat: Foods can have vastly different effects on different people. For instance, Dardarian says her daughter isn’t a big fan of breakfast, so she opts for cheese (yep, dairy) and crackers (some fiber in there!) before field hockey practice. It doesn’t make her feel sick and it gives her the carbs she needs to perform. Would Dardarian recommend this combo for everyone? No, of course not, she says.

So yep, consider these recommendations general guidelines, but remember, how you eat before a workout is very individualized. Experiment with different foods—remember, “nothing new on race day” though, so save your tests for a lesser-stakes day—and tune in to how you feel. You just might find the best way to fuel a workout for your body.

Related:

  • What to Eat Before a Morning Workout: 18 Breakfast Options to Try
  • What to Eat Before a 5K—And All Your Training Runs
  • You Might Not Be Hungry After a Workout—But You Should Still Eat Something

Get more of SELF’s great service journalism delivered right to your inbox.

You Might Also Like

9 Exercises for Knee Pain to Help You Move (and Feel!) Better

We Never Want to Take These Cute, Comfy Joggers Off

BODi LAVA: Slow Burn

Do You Really Get a ‘Better’ Workout With Lagree Than With Pilates?

Why Are So Many Women Athletes Tearing Their ACLs Now?

TAGGED:FitnessFood / Nutrition
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

New Releases

- Advertisement -
Ad image

Trending Stories

10-most-common-yoga-form-mistakes-you're-probably-making
Lifestyle

10 Most Common Yoga Form Mistakes You're Probably Making

June 25, 2024
all-your-little-questions-about-the-us-open,-asked-and-answered
Healthcare

All Your Little Questions About the US Open, Asked and Answered

August 26, 2024
it-shouldn’t-be-this-expensive-to-be-a-paralympic-athlete
Healthcare

It Shouldn’t Be This Expensive to Be a Paralympic Athlete

August 30, 2024
how-4-pro-athletes-balance-parenthood-with-big-olympic-and-paralympic-dreams
Healthcare

How 4 Pro Athletes Balance Parenthood With Big Olympic and Paralympic Dreams

May 10, 2024
best-whey-protein-powders-of-2025-–-breaking-muscle
Fitness

Best Whey Protein Powders of 2025 – Breaking Muscle

January 30, 2025
9-serratus-anterior-exercises-for-ripped-ribs!
Lifestyle

9 Serratus Anterior Exercises for Ripped Ribs!

April 8, 2024

Follow US on Social Media

The following Terms and Conditions govern the use of Fit And Fresh Zone and are in place to protect everyone who uses the website. Health Fuel Zone d.o.o owner of Fit And Fresh Zone has the right to revise and update these Terms and Conditions at any time without prior notification; therefore, you should visit this page periodically to review these Terms of Use including the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy of our owner Health Fuel Zone d.o.o.

Fit And Fresh Zone

2024 © Proudly powered by Health Fuel Zone d.o.o. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?