10 Things You Should Never Eat Before Hitting the Gym

You can ruin a workout before it even starts just by eating the wrong thing. That smoothie loaded with dairy? You’ll feel heavy and bloated halfway through your run. The candy bar you grabbed for quick energy? It’ll leave you wiped out by the time you’re done stretching. Spicy foods, fried meals, or anything that lingers in your stomach will only slow you down and make the gym feel harder than it needs to. If you actually want to feel energized and not like you’re dragging yourself across the finish line, some foods are better left for later. Knowing what to skip before you hit the gym is just as important as the exercises you’re doing.

Dairy

Dairy might seem harmless, but before a workout it can make your stomach feel heavy and unsettled. The lactose in milk, cheese, and yogurt is tough to digest when your body is also trying to handle exercise, which often leads to bloating and cramping. That discomfort can turn what should be an energizing run or workout into a session where you’re just waiting for it to end. Save your dairy for later in the day when you can actually enjoy it.

Spicy Foods

Hot sauces and fiery meals are great for flavor, but not before you start sweating at the gym. Spicy foods often bring on heartburn or indigestion, and those don’t mix well with burpees or a treadmill sprint. Instead of focusing on your form, you’ll be distracted by the burn in your chest or the queasiness in your stomach. Spicy dishes are best saved for after the workout when your body isn’t under extra stress.

Carbonated Drinks

That bubbly soda or sparkling water might feel refreshing, but all that carbonation expands in your stomach. The result is bloating, gas, and an uncomfortable fullness that makes movement harder than it should be. Try doing squats while fighting the urge to burp, and you’ll see how quickly carbonation gets in the way. Plain water or a light electrolyte drink will keep you hydrated without the stomach drama.

Sugary Snacks

Candy bars, pastries, or other sugar-packed snacks give you a quick burst of energy that disappears almost as fast. The crash that follows leaves you sluggish, unfocused, and wishing the workout was over. Instead of powering you through your set, sugar tricks your body into a short-lived high before it drops you flat. Complex carbs or protein-rich snacks are better choices to keep your energy steady.

Legumes

Beans and lentils are packed with nutrients, but they’re also loaded with fiber that takes time to digest. Eating them right before exercise often means bloating, gas, and a lot of discomfort while you move. Instead of concentrating on your workout, you’ll be distracted by your stomach and wishing you’d chosen something lighter. They’re a great part of a balanced diet, but better suited for a different time of day.

Fried Foods

Greasy foods like fries, onion rings, or fried chicken sit in your stomach long after you eat them. Heavy fats take time to break down, which means sluggishness, queasiness, and low energy when you’re supposed to be pushing yourself. The greasy aftertaste doesn’t help either when you’re breathing hard. If you want a workout that feels strong, fried foods should wait until after you’ve cooled down.

Protein Shakes (with Dairy)

Protein shakes can be great, but not the ones made with milk or yogurt. The dairy makes them harder to digest and can leave you feeling bloated and heavy before you even start lifting weights. That discomfort quickly takes away any benefit you thought you were getting from the shake. If you want a pre-workout protein boost, stick with non-dairy bases that won’t slow you down.

Cruciferous Veggies

Broccoli, cauliflower, and similar vegetables are packed with nutrients, but they also create a lot of gas. Eating them before a workout often leads to bloating and discomfort that make movement a challenge. It’s tough to focus on core exercises when your stomach feels full and unsettled. These veggies are best eaten after your workout, when your body isn’t trying to handle both digestion and exercise.

Avocados

Avocados are loaded with healthy fats, but that’s exactly why they’re not the best choice before a workout. Fats digest slowly, which leaves you feeling heavy and weighed down when you want to feel light and energetic. Even a simple slice of avocado toast can make you sluggish if you eat it too close to exercise. Avocados work better as a recovery food when you’ve got time to relax afterward.

Energy Drinks

They look like the perfect workout fuel, but energy drinks are usually packed with sugar and caffeine that give you a quick rush before dropping you into a crash. The result is jitteriness, dehydration, and low energy right when you need stamina. They don’t help your performance as much as they trick you into thinking they do. Water or a steady source of carbs will actually get you further without the crash.

Eat These 13 Foods Before or After Your Workout To Feel Your Best

Figuring out what to eat before or after your workout isn’t as easy as it sounds. You want something that will fuel the energy you’re about to spend or replenish what you just lost. But at the same time, you want to keep things light and not make your stomach work extra hard on digestion. Selecting the right foods is key to a getting the most out of your exercise. Here’s a great list to choose from.

Read it Here: Eat These 13 Foods Before or After Your Workout To Feel Your Best

15 Fitness Myths That Are Keeping You Unhealthy

We all have that friend who swears by certain fitness rules, but guess what? Some of those “rules” are total myths! From outdated advice to plain old misconceptions, it’s time to set the record straight. We’re breaking down some of the most common fitness myths that might be keeping you from reaching your goals.

Read it Here: 15 Fitness Myths That Are Keeping You Unhealthy

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