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2016-05-26 10:45 AM


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Subject: Newbie Gel/Pre-Workout Question
Most of my workouts take place in the morning before the wife and kid are up and most of the time I will eat something small before them because that is just what I am used to; however, once in a while I need to do some training at night (sometimes middle of the evening and sometimes late evening like 9pm). My issue is I typically eat lunch around 1pm, but because of my hours at work I don't usually eat dinner until late which means after my workout. So that could mean really late if my workout isn't until 9 pm. I'll have some small snacks throughout the day, but nothing substantial. So I was wondering if any of you eat anything in particular before a workout if you are in a similar situation? Would you resort to things like gels? Since I am new to endurance sports I haven't really ventured into the world of gels and what not. So today I have a track workout scheduled with a fair amount of sprints and my guess is I won't get to the track until about 7/7:30, so I don't want to feel too low energy when I get there.

Thanks in advance for the help.


2016-05-26 10:51 AM
in reply to: cdoug55

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Master
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Falls Church, Virginia
Subject: RE: Newbie Gel/Pre-Workout Question
I'm sure others will chime in, but if I have an evening workout I usually go for a banana. They sit well on my stomach no matter what, and are cheap.
2016-05-26 12:32 PM
in reply to: cdoug55

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Expert
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Pfafftown, NC
Subject: RE: Newbie Gel/Pre-Workout Question
I went for a 27.1 mi training ride with my tri group last night (before dinner). About an hour before the ride, I had a PB and banana sandwich.

I eat either a single pop tart or a honey stinger waffle before I swim in the mornings.

I don't do workouts on an empty stomach.
2016-05-26 1:11 PM
in reply to: cdoug55


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Subject: RE: Newbie Gel/Pre-Workout Question
I try to save my gels for during races/training, not as a pre-workout fuel. I'd rather grab a banana, piece of PB toast, or usually something like a clif bar before a workout than eat a gel. With that said, I eat gels during my workouts if they are longer to help fuel and think its good for you to know how you react to using them prior to a race.
2016-05-26 1:26 PM
in reply to: ilikepizza


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Subject: RE: Newbie Gel/Pre-Workout Question
Thanks everyone for the responses. That was my guess that something like a banana or bar might be better and just try the gels during the actual training. In the mornings I usually eat oatmeal with almond butter before any workout that just seems to sit well with me no matter what I have to do later on.
2016-05-26 1:29 PM
in reply to: cdoug55

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137
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Birmingham, Alabama
Subject: RE: Newbie Gel/Pre-Workout Question
I don't always eat before an early morning workout, but when I do I eat a banana and wash it down with a few gulps of water.

Cycling is the only sport (of the 3) I can stand to do with food in my stomach. As a result, I rarely run or swim at night.

I use gels on long runs (10 miles +).


2016-05-26 2:21 PM
in reply to: cdoug55


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Subject: RE: Newbie Gel/Pre-Workout Question
I am a newbie to fitness.
I used to be a fat guy. If I go by AA definitions, I still am. Hello, my name is J. I'm fat.

Here's what I found.
IF I'm eating properly, I can have a regular meal and for the most part work out within relative minutes.
Granted, "that's just me"...
However, I'm not eating monster meals anymore. Ideally, I'm having the 4 "small" meals. Or if it's 3, I'm not having two plates of dinner and can go to the gym, hit the road etc.

For me, there's just a few things that are.....unpleasant to have consumed right before a workout
Acidic stuff (pizza sauce, pasta sauce") and meatloaf. But that's about it. And it could be the catsup/ketchup based 'sauce' my wife (who's been dubbed "The Meatloaf Queen" by various neighbors/coworkers/etc. she's helped out in a time of need by making a meal or two. You know, that whole north Midwestern "Oh, you just had a baby/death in the family/_____(insert other significant event), let me send over a meal" thing.

But it that's mainly just 'cause it makes me burpy and acidic burpiness is not kind to me.
I look at gel as two things.
-a tastier version of a sugar packet
-an easier way to carry around a handful of grapes or raisins ('nature's sugar)' on a bike or on a run.

I definitely do not look at it as food.
2016-05-26 2:35 PM
in reply to: jhaack39


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Subject: RE: Newbie Gel/Pre-Workout Question
Yeah I guess I was just thinking if I needed some quick energy before a workout and didn't have "real food" readily accessible I could just use a gel as a pre-workout boost.
2016-05-26 2:54 PM
in reply to: cdoug55

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New user
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Philadelphia
Subject: RE: Newbie Gel/Pre-Workout Question
My thoughts are if you are training hard for something, nutrition and fuel are very important. If you are feeling hungry or it has been many hours since a meal, you should have something. Low BS is a motivation killer.

If it is a ride, I can eat a few bananas or a PB&J really quickly and it settles fine.

If it is a run w/o, I can eat some of a banana, dates, or my favorite is an Amrita Bar. The Amrita bars settle really easy (I would say I have a more sensitive stomach than most) and give you smooth energy.

Hope this helps!
2016-05-26 2:59 PM
in reply to: NurseHeather


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Subject: RE: Newbie Gel/Pre-Workout Question
I can't do anything in the morning until I've had my bowl of:
-Coco Puffs
and/or
-Chocolate Toasted Oats (the store brand we get here is far superior to Chocolate Cheerios)
and/or
-Chocolate Chex (but that's a rarity, my wife won't buy cereal unless it's under $2)
2016-05-27 4:13 AM
in reply to: cdoug55

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Master
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Subject: RE: Newbie Gel/Pre-Workout Question
I think it's very individual as far as what foods sit well before a workout, while filling you up just enough and giving you energy to do the workout. For me, it's pretty much always a granola or energy bar and small cup of coffee. Not a super-sweet kind of bar or I will sort of get a sugar high then crash. I always have an oat or brown-rice based one as wheat does not tend to sit well, especially if the workout is intense. I can eat that literally five or ten minutes before a swim, bike, or run, and it's never been a problem. Occasionally if I'm particularly hungry for an after-work session I'll add a handful of nuts. Others swear by fruit, gels, etc.

If the workout wasn't until well after work, I would definitely be having something more substantial, maybe even an early dinner. I never train as late as 9 (that's bedtime!) but I used to have master's swimming from 6:30 to 8. I would actually eat a light dinner (maybe a sandwich or rice noodle soup) around 4:30 or 5, and another light mini-meal (or big snack) afterwards. I have a really high metabolism and active job, and need to eat that much--not sure about others.


2016-05-27 1:08 PM
in reply to: cdoug55

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Vancouver, BC
Subject: RE: Newbie Gel/Pre-Workout Question

My weekday schedule is usually something like this:

Wakeup 7am

Breakfast pretty much right away, 7:30ish

Work by 8:30am

Lunch noon

Snack 4:30pm

Leave work 5pm

Workout 5pm-8:30pm 

Dinner 9-9:30pm

Bed 10:30-11pm

Breakfast is usually, oatmeal, cereal or just a shake

Lunch is often dinner leftovers, or just a sandwich or a salad and some cottage cheese

Snack is usually an apple with peanut butter on it, sometimes yogurt with some granola or nuts, sometimes a banana, sometimes a bar or sometimes a piece of toast with peanut butter on it. Usually the apple though.

Dinner usually a salad and a piece of fish or muscles, sometimes lentils or pasta or something. Actually often it is sushi. I pretty much live in the sushi capital.

If my workout is really long, usually on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, it is one more more races, then I sometimes have a bar during that too.

2016-05-27 1:09 PM
in reply to: Hot Runner

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Regular
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Euless, Texas
Subject: RE: Newbie Gel/Pre-Workout Question
My wife just finished reading a triathlon nutrition book. It talks about how the body absorbs protein, carbs, etc. She told me that eating a gel before a workout does absolutely no good.
2016-06-06 10:55 AM
in reply to: cdoug55


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Subject: RE: Newbie Gel/Pre-Workout Question
No sense starting a new thread... good info on here and have a similar question.. Maybe I am overthinking this nutrition thing.

Instead of feeling stronger each week as I increase my mileage, I seem to get tired towards the end. I don't know if it's just that I am also trying to keep a certain quicker pace at the same time of increasing miles or I am just needing more energy. Every other thing I read indicates, you really don't need gu or other energy because your body uses the stored GLYCOGEN.

But then I read about taking some food in 1/2 hr - 1 hr before your work out. As some of us , I started running to loose weight; but at this point I am withing a few pounds of my goal, so not as concerned to running "empty" in order to burn fat and focusing more on having the energy.

I have read peanut butter sandwich, banana, granola, etc... Maybe I am over thinking it. So, would taking 1/2 hour before a run (I am at 7-8 mi distance at this point) I could take in carbs in the form of , for example, cereal (I shy away from this due to the sugar content, but not sure?), a granola bar, yogurt, maybe a cup of strawberries or grapes, or a banana?

Thank you
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