FACT OR MYTH: Forgoing food before a workout helps you burn fat...

MYTH!!!....

Many people think that with an empty stomach, and no other source of "fuel" available to burn, the body will burn more fat.  Not true in the slightest.  In reality, when you're hungry your body will go into survival mode.  Instead of pulling protein ("fuel") from the kidneys and liver like it normally would, the body will start getting the protein ("fuel") it needs from your muscles.  Side effect of this, muscle loss.  Consequence of muscle loss, slower metabolism.  The more lean muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn at rest, therefore increasing your metabolism.  Overtime, if you consistently exercise on an empty stomach, your muscle mass will decrease and the slower and slower your metabolism becomes, making it increasingly harder to lose weight.        

Fact is, our body needs energy to perform at its highest and maximal levels.  Just as a vehicle needs fuel to run, our bodies are machines that need calories/nutrients to perform.  Feeding our bodies the right foods at the right times will help us to efficiently burn calories, keep our energy levels up, build lean muscle, lose weight and speed up the recovery process.  All of these vital and necessary factors.

What to eat pre-workout?  The best pre-workout snacks include a complex carbohydrate, as well as a protein.  My fave is 2 slices of low sodium Ezekiel Bread (toasted) with almond butter (2 tablespoons).  Here are a few other recommended options:

• Brown rice (1/2 cup) with black beans (1/2 cup)
• Small sweet potato with steamed or lightly salted broccoli in olive oil (1 cup)
• Greek Yogurt with Kashi Go Lean Crunch (1 serving)
• Oatmeal (1/2 cup) with berries (1 cup)
• Apple and walnuts (1/4 cup)

Tomorrow I will be posting on the importance of POST-workout eating.  Stay tuned! :)

Until next time....  Bactive, Bhealthy, Bstrong, Bfit, BYOU!!

XOXO
B