OldAFFitness Guy – Can I Eat During my Workout?

Yeah you can! I usually get hungry when I lift, so I always have food with me. Now, if you’re running a marathon or doing some other intense steady state cardio routine, I wouldn’t recommend it. But lifting or other routines that involve rest periods – I’ve never had an issue.

Cake is probably a bad idea, but fruit, a good nutrition bar (Quest is my bar of choice – chocolate chip cookie dough is pretty dang good), or something like my favorite intra-workout food, sweet potatoes, are solid choices.

Easy to prepare, too. Throw a few medium size sweet potatoes in the nuker on high for three minutes or so. If they’re not soft when they come out, put ’em in for a few more. Then cut them in slices or wedges, add a dusting of salt and pepper and throw ’em in a ziploc. They travel well, too.

You can also boil them or roast them in the oven. If using the oven, I’d recommend cutting them into thin slices first. Cuts down on cooking time.

The beauty of sweet potatoes is that they are a really healthy source of carbohydrate that can replenish the glycogen you burn during your workout. The salt helps you hold onto water and avoid cramps, among other things, and black pepper has been shown to help with nutrient absorption. Perfect workout snack!

So I know your mom said you have to wait thirty minutes to get in the pool after the tuna sandwich. And I know we all love our mamas, but she wasn’t totally right on this one. I mean, don’t be a pig about it and stuff yourself. This isn’t a meal, but rather a mechanism to get you through your workout at an optimal energy level.

And don’t forget to hydrate!

Cocktail of the day is the Gin & Tonic. Basic and old school, but there may not be a more refreshing cocktail in the Summertime. And I don’t want to hear, oh OldAFFitness guy, I don’t like gin, it’s gross. Gin isn’t the pine tree tasting stuff we used to drink in high school, anymore. It is probably the finest distilled spirit out there. High-quality gins like Hendrick’s, Monkey 47, Tanqueray No. 10, or any of the really great American craft gins available today, are sophisticated and delicious. Drink it. You’ll love it. And use a good tonic – Fever Tree or something.

You know that looks amazing. Fill a Collins glass with ice. Add two ounces of good gin. Fill to the top with a quality tonic. Squeeze a wedge of lime into the cocktail and drop it in. Having one right now.

Exercise tune of the day – BOOM by P.O.D. Old school like the G&T and motivational. Until next time – enjoy!