Food and Exercise: Important Tips to Consider When You Start Working Out

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When you start exercising regularly, you may find that you are hungry more often, or even feel more tired than usual. This is normal, as you start to embark on your fitness journey but shouldn’t become the norm. One key element that can change the way you are feeling and curb hunger, is to adjust your eating accordingly.


What can often be overlooked, is the need to change your diet when you start exercising. It doesn’t have to be anything too drastic, but as you start to exercise, your body is using more energy and therefore, requires more food (aka, fuel) to help give you energy for the workouts, for the rest of the day and to help your muscles recover quickly.



Here are some top things you need to consider to maximise your energy and your workouts.

#1 Notice how you feel

Take note of how you are feeling, during the day and before, during and after exercising. Your body is the best guide there is. If you find you are hungrier than normal, then consider larger portions, or packing extra snacks.

#2 Eat a colourful plate

Make sure every meal you eat has a range of vegetables on it. It is also important to consider macronutrients and incorporate a good size of protein and carbohydrates. All these wholesome foods are jam packed with vitamins and minerals that are vital to our health and performance. Eating a variety of food on a daily, or weekly basis, can help ensure you are getting the full range of nutritious foods in your diet.

#3 Consider supplements

We cannot always get all the vitamins and nutrients we need from the food we eat. In some cases, either from dietary requirements such as being vegan or because of internal health issues, we can be deficient in certain areas, which can hinder our performance and energy levels. There are many different types of supplements you can buy, such as calcium, vitamin D, iron and protein that enable you to increase the levels you need. Protein is probably one of the most popular in the fitness industry, as it aids in vital muscle repairs. Supplements are important if you are not getting enough of the vitamins and nutrients you need in your diet. You can obtain supplement samples for free to see which ones work best for your diet and routine.

#4 Fuel up before you workout

Whether you like to work out early in the morning, or late at night, you must eat no less than one hour before exercising. Eating before exercise will ensure you have enough energy to get through the workout and increase your performance. Experts have suggested that something with carbohydrates or sugar is key for exercise, as it provides you with fuel and energy to burn. If you do not eat before exercising, you run the risk of giving up quicker or feeling light headed.

#5 Stay hydrated

Water is important before, during and after your workouts. When you exercise, you are going to be losing fluids as you sweat. Water is the best and quickest way to keep yourself hydrated, but you need to consider this all day, as opposed to just before the workout. If you are going to be exercising for a long period, there are special sports drinks you can obtain that help you balance electrolytes and increase energy.

Remember, that your body will tell you where and when you need to adapt. You must listen to what it is telling you, so you can get the most out of your exercise.