Before you go go

Planning for a great workout begins well BEFORE we hit the pavement. Fueling your body to preform what you'll ask it to do is all important. So when you are training for any event, be it life in general or a half marathon, practice your food choices as well.

Begin by thinking about what you eat day in and day out. Tossing in some chips and chocolate chips everyday may keep you sluggish even if you eat a perfect breakfast an hour before the workout. So here are a few general notes on good, whole food, healthy choices for athletes first.

Water

Hydration is a whole subject of its own...hmmm another blog post maybe. Your goal should be a minimum of half your body weight (the real number ladies) in ounces. If you weight 150, you need at least 75 ounces of water. More on days you exercise.

Food

thebalanceplate.com

Less from boxes, more fresh, whole, lo fat food each day. Half your plate at each meal in fruits & veggies. www.choosemyplate.gov is an awesome resource on what this looks like and how to get there. Love, love, love this plate from the balance plate.com that gives you a daily visual and reminder too. Juice Plus+ is a simple way to bridge the gap with fruits and veggies in capsule form.

Combining the whole food and water efforts will enable your body to fight oxidative stress, improve your immune system, recover quickly and build muscle.

That day

Before our workouts, say an hour or two before, our body needs food that is easily digested and long lasting. A combination of carbohydrates and protein fits the bill. Easily digested is the all important, just for you part to consider. If your body doesn't like dairy, greek yogurt isn't going to make you happy 20 minutes into jumping jacks. Try out a few and see what works best for you.

My all time favorite is a Juice Plus complete shake (vanilla with a frozen banana, a sprinkle of cinnamon and almond milk yummo!!!). This sticks with me even if I eat it at 6:30, but get to the gym at 9. 

When I get up super early Saturdays to lead Moms in Motion run/walk team, I refuse to use a blender and wake my kiddos. So my quick go to's are complete without the banana, oatmeal with almonds, raisins and cinnamon, whole wheat bread with a smear of peanut butter (no added oils, fats, etc), a banana wrapped in a tortilla with peanut butter again and when I haven't been grocery shopping cherrios in a bag with a side of milk works too. 

If you will be moving for more than 60 minutes, you get to eat during your workout! Exciting, I know! Check out the Raisins are great fuel post for the 411 on that.

Can't wait to hear what works for you, post in the comments and Keep movin' mama!