I have never claimed to be a nutritional expert. But, I do feel I can give solid advice and ensure my clients and athletes develop strong habits that will help them with their fitness and training routines. Occasionally, I do have a question, and I always turn to Lucho Crisalle for answers. He’s a Registered Dietitian and has worked with thousands of high profile celebrities and athletes and has even created a nutritional software program.
When I started the program for the Results Only POWER Transformation, I knew my clients needed to hear a few things from an expert other than me before they got started. As a trainer, I know that when you present similar things over and over again, even in different ways, sometimes you need another presence to make your point. I didn’t know I would acquire a major tool for my own personal training the day Lucho came to speak to my group.
Sometimes, I like to workout in the morning before breakfast and before my day kicks into high gear. I am less likely to skip it if things get out of control and it revs me up for the whole day.
Most of the time I rolled out of bed, stumbled to the gym and I worked out on an empty stomach. I knew it wasn’t ideal, but it worked for me. Little did I know, I was missing the boat.
The other day as I prepared for an upcoming session, I was reviewing a video Lucho and I did for the program and listened to the section again on working out and eating plans. Lucho explained in the seminar why everyone MUST have a little bit of healthy carbs and protein roughly 30 minutes before morning workouts. Right now I am talking about morning workouts in particular, but if you workout late in the day (6 pm??) and you haven’t eaten since lunch (noon??) this applies to you as well.
So read on and learn.
For a change I decided to take a protein shake right after I got up. I answered a few emails, sent the guys off to school and went to work out. What a difference! I felt more vibrant and energized during my workout.
And here’s why…
When you wake up in the morning, you are in a fasted state because you haven’t eaten anything since the night before. That is why they call it breakfast. You are breaking the night time fast. You have not eaten since the time you went to sleep. Often times it is longer if you eat an early dinner.
The theory is you burn more calories as fat because science shows that your workload capacity is decreased if your energy and nutritional stores are depleted. Therefore you don’t have the energy needed to increase your intensity for the short bursts of activity in the workouts I prescribe.
Unfortunately, the end result is less overall calories burned and a substantially less intense workout. Your body could also rely on hard earned muscle for energy rather than unwanted body fat because it can take up to 20 minutes for fat burning to actually begin.
If this doesn’t convince you that a pre-workout snack is important I don’t know what else to do.
I want to lose fat, not muscle.
Try it and see if your workouts are not 25 -35% better.
I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
