breakfast

[amandarinan]

I'm sorry if you've seen this topic too many times.

The thing is, that I've been going to the gym pretty much every other day for the last 3 months and I'm going to keep it that way. I am pretty much a noob in these things though.

I always go early in the morning(I leave the house 7:30 am) before work, and I usually just have a banana or cheerios with rice milk for breakfast.
I am currently underweight(172cm, 53kg.), so I'm doing this to build up muscle.
I'm not quite sure I'm eating enough before the gym.

So my question is, what do you usually eat before gym so early in the morning. I'm a vegetarian but vegan options are great too since I want to be vegan in the future. I already consume very little dairy and eggs, I don't eat honey nor use fur, leather and silk(there may be wool in some of my clothing:/)

I was just wondering because my boyfriend(he's in weightlifting too, but he's a pescetarian..)says that I need to eat before gym so the food will go straight in the muscles, and ofcourse my body does need something to work with.

Ok, sorry how long this was and thank you for your patience=].

[VibrantVegan]

amandarinan,

I think what you are eating for breakfast before heading out to the gym sounds fine. The question is: Does it provide you with enough energy to make it through your workout? If it does, you're fine.


The real important meal is your post workout recovery meal. Ideally you will eat within 2 hours of your workout. This will hasten your recovery from the micro-damage caused by weight lifting.

For me, the optimal recovery meal is a fresh fruit smoothie. It gives me all the carbs I need to replenish my glycogen stores. Some people like to add protein. I don't find it necessary.

Also, if you are under eating your will be underweight. The only way to gain weight, even muscle weight, is to over eat. If you want the weight you gain to be muscle you have to over eat and lift heavy stuff on a regular basis.

[harvey]

Hi............,
I usually eat For me, the snack was either some animal crackers or a banana. It's better to eat before you go to the gym. You need food to have the energy for a workout. This will be burned afterwards anyway. Whereas if you eat after the workout, the food you eat will be stored as fat because there will be no extreme physical activity(like work out)

[erske]

Hi............,
I usually eat For me, the snack was either some animal crackers or a banana. It's better to eat before you go to the gym. You need food to have the energy for a workout. This will be burned afterwards anyway. Whereas if you eat after the workout, the food you eat will be stored as fat because there will be no extreme physical activity(like work out)

I agree that the pre-workout meal is important as to fuel your workout, but the post-workout meal is equally important!! The carbs you eat will after a workout easily be converted into glycogen and stored in the muscles and together with some protein aid recovery.. not as fat! and what if it did? as long as you eat energy input is equal to your output during the day..

I'd usually have some bread with hommus and soymilk, or soymilk with granola in the mornings before runs...

[Koala]

It all sounds fine apart from the Cheerio part in my opinion but that is becuase I boycott Nestle http://www.babymilkaction.org/pages/boycott.html

Have you tried the NAK D bars?http://www.naturalbalancefoods.co.uk/

Yes bananas are very good as they apparently relsease energy slowly.
Apparently porridge does the same , you can easily use soya milk.

good luck

[baldy]

If you are trying to put on weight then you need to eat lots. Sometimes easier said than done.
Personally I eat porridge with soya milk in the morning before gym, about 20 minutes before I start the workout. I make a big bowl eat as much as I can then use the rest in a smoothie when I get back from gym.

Works for me, to make oats more palatable you can add chopped dates, raisins, banana, berries, cinnamon, nutmeg, syrup, sugar, peanut butter, protein powder, cocoa, chocolate and of course loads of soya milk.

[KaliBaby]

I'm a vegetarian but vegan options are great too since I want to be vegan in the future. I already consume very little dairy and eggs....

how about you just cut those out entirely? as far as eating before working out goes, having just a banana or a bowl of cereal doesn't seem like enough... I don't know how hard you're training though. if you're feeling a little sluggish during your workout, make sure you're hydrating yourself. sometimes I bring a water bottle that has a few splashes of cranberry juice to give me some electrolytes back. post workout I definitely recommend a fruit smoothie, add protein sources as well (soy, rice, hemp etc) to help restore your muscles and energy.

[Professor D]

If you are trying to put on weight then you need to eat lots. Sometimes easier said than done.
Personally I eat porridge with soya milk in the morning before gym, about 20 minutes before I start the workout. I make a big bowl eat as much as I can then use the rest in a smoothie when I get back from gym.

Works for me, to make oats more palatable you can add chopped dates, raisins, banana, berries, cinnamon, nutmeg, syrup, sugar, peanut butter, protein powder, cocoa, chocolate and of course loads of soya milk.

my current favorite for oats is:

1 cup steel cut oats
2/3 cup raisins
1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
1.5 teaspoons cinnamon
0.25 teaspoons allspice
0.25 teaspoons lemon peel

I toss it all it the crock-pot with 3.5 cups of water and let it cook on low overnight. When I get up I eat a portion and save the rest for later.
agave nectar to taste, and you have a fabulous breakfast!

and as a professional in the fitness industry, I can tell you that post workout nutrition is the most important meal you'll eat all day if you are trying to gain any weight at all.

as an omni I would eat ~3000 kcal in a PWO after Squat or Deadlift day and still wake up lighter the next morning than I went to bed!

[alexander]

If you are trying to put on weight then you need to eat lots. Sometimes easier said than done.
Personally I eat porridge with soya milk in the morning before gym, about 20 minutes before I start the workout. I make a big bowl eat as much as I can then use the rest in a smoothie when I get back from gym.

Works for me, to make oats more palatable you can add chopped dates, raisins, banana, berries, cinnamon, nutmeg, syrup, sugar, peanut butter, protein powder, cocoa, chocolate and of course loads of soya milk.

my current favorite for oats is:

1 cup steel cut oats
2/3 cup raisins
1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
1.5 teaspoons cinnamon
0.25 teaspoons allspice
0.25 teaspoons lemon peel

I toss it all it the crock-pot with 3.5 cups of water and let it cook on low overnight. When I get up I eat a portion and save the rest for later.
agave nectar to taste, and you have a fabulous breakfast!

and as a professional in the fitness industry, I can tell you that post workout nutrition is the most important meal you'll eat all day if you are trying to gain any weight at all.

as an omni I would eat ~3000 kcal in a PWO after Squat or Deadlift day and still wake up lighter the next morning than I went to bed!

This forum is really interesting! I been here for month but this is the first time to see some recipe. I have few oats here and thank to you because I know now what to do!