Small Mistakes That May Be Sabotaging Your Workouts

Not Eating A Pre-Workout Snack

People who maintain a diet that is low in carbohydrates may notice that their peak performance while exercising is affected negatively. Eating a small pre-workout snack, such as pasta salad or a peanut butter sandwich, an hour or so before exercise is ideal to sustain energy levels while working out. Glycogen, which stores and enables the use of energy in the human body, retains this energy from carbohydrates, even those consumed the night before working out. Glycogen is converted into glucose, which is a human's primary fuel during exercise. People who work out in the morning and prefer to not eat before exercising should eat a dinner rich in carbohydrates the night before. This will ensure they have enough fuel to perform at their peak level.

Eating The Wrong Kind Of Food

Working out on an empty stomach can make it hard to sustain ideal energy levels, but eating the wrong kind of food before exercising can also have negative effects. Avoid spicy and acidic foods before working out as heartburn or indigestion can take over and bring a workout to a halt. In addition, stay away from salt and salty food before exercise because these foods absorb water in the body, forcing people to consume more water before and after their workout to sustain adequate hydration. Heavy foods, including fried foods, take longer to digest, which is why eating fried food at lunch can affect a nighttime workout. People can enjoy these foods after a workout, but consuming them beforehand may impede progress.