Whether you're a competitive athlete or a weekend warrior, it's important to fuel your body correctly so you can feel your best during exercise. When you eat foods that give your body the micro- and macronutrients necessary for peak performance, you'll be able to get a sense of how far you're able to push yourself. Proper nutrition also helps your body through the recovery process, helping to prevent injury and illness after a tough workout.
While sports nutrition can be somewhat personal (you might find that you feel best eating some fruit before you start a morning high intensity interval training workout, while others may find that they prefer early morning workouts on an empty stomach), following these general guidelines can help you get what you need to perform at a high level.
Importance of macronutrients: protein, carbs, and fats
Macronutrients—commonly referred to as macros in the fitness world—are nutrients that the body needs in large amounts in order to function.
The three primary macronutrients include:
- Proteins: Comprised of a variety of amino acids, proteins are vital in a wide variety of the body's processes, including muscle repair, growth, and more. Eating enough protein is vital when it comes to maintaining lean muscle mass and helping the body recover after physical activity.
- Carbohydrates: Despite what you might hear on social media, carbs are usually the body's main source of energy, and are necessary for fueling exercise. When you eat carbs, your body stores energy as glycogen, which supports endurance and high-intensity performance.
- Fats: Essential for ongoing energy, fats are also important to support healthy hormone production and overall health. Many vitamins are fat-soluble, meaning you need to consume fat in order to extract them from food sources.
Your ideal macronutrient ratio can depend on several factors, including your health and fitness goals, the type of workouts you prefer, the intensity of your workouts, and the types of foods you enjoy most. Endurance athletes tend to perform best with a higher carbohydrate, moderate protein, and lower fat diet, while strength and power athletes tend to require a higher protein, moderate fat, lower carbohydrate diet.
Paying attention to how you feel is vital in figuring out what macronutrient combination works for you. If you have special health concerns, such as high blood pressure, it's important to talk with your doctor about the best way to fuel your workouts.
Pre-workout nutrition tips for sustained energy
Many athletes find that eating before a workout helps them take their performance to the next level. Whether you're heading out for an early morning Pilates class or you're gearing up for a workout at home, it's smart to give yourself at least half an hour between your pre-workout meal and the start of your sweat session. You'll want to shoot for a balance of carbs, protein, and fats to give your body the fuel it needs.
Try these pre-workout meal options to rev up your energy levels:
- Turkey on a tortilla with shredded cheese and sliced veggies
- A piece of fruit with peanut butter
- Yogurt topped with fruit
- Fish or chicken with a baked potato and veggies seared in olive oil
Pro tip: Stay away from high-fiber and high-fat foods prior to exercise—both can be tough on your digestive system, and eating meals loaded with fiber or fat can make it tough to get through your workout.
Post-workout meals to support recovery
If you're working out at a high intensity level, or you're exercising for more than an hour, it's likely that you need to ingest some post-workout calories to support your muscles as they recover. When you eat is as important as what you eat—you'll want to consume a combination of carbohydrates and protein within the hour after your workout.
Try these post-workout options to fuel your body after a tough workout:
- Grilled chicken breast over brown rice
- Salmon with sweet potato cubes
- Oatmeal topped with yogurt and fruit
- Whole-grain toast topped with peanut butter and strawberries
Hydration for optimal performance
Hydration can be tough for athletes. You want to be sure that your body has the water it needs for optimal performance, but you don't want to have to constantly run to the bathroom when you're trying to exercise.
There are several factors to consider when choosing your hydration strategy, including:
- Type of exercise: You're going to need more water if you're running than if you're walking. You may also find that you have no problem sipping water during lower-intensity exercise, but are only able to consume small amounts during higher-intensity workouts.
- Temperature: You'll need more water if you're exercising in hot weather, especially if you're in a new climate (going for a run while on vacation in a warmer area, for example). Humidity can also increase fluid loss, requiring you to drink more water to feel your best.
Staying hydrated can help to control your blood pressure during exercise, keep your energy levels high, and can improve your speed and flexibility. It can take some time to figure out what hydration strategy makes the most sense for your needs. No matter how you choose to hydrate, it's key to drink before, during, and after physical activity.
Using Evidation and connected apps to track nutrition and performance
At Evidation, we're here to help you make the most of your health data. When you choose to share information that you're already tracking with our free app, we'll aggregate your data for you, providing you with cross-platform, personalized, content-based insights that work to help you take steps toward becoming your happiest, healthiest self. We're excited to support you, and we can't wait to hear how your performance evolves as you put the tips we shared today into practice. Click here to learn more about how Evidation works and download our app today.
