Food before training

What do all of you eat before training? How much do you eat before training? And how long before training do you usually eat?

I ask this because I'm trying to find the best thing for me to eat before going to train. I work nights, so most of the day I'm asleep, and I wakie up a few hours before I have to be at class. I have no idea what would be the best thing for me to eat that won't weigh me down, make me ill, or make me feel like I'm a jug of water while doing rolls.

Dairy products can inspire thicker saliva in most people, and that thickness can be irksome in that it not so much as hinders breathing, it justs gums up the works. More than that might require info on your current breakfast regime.

For morning practices or seminars, I try to make sure that whatever amount of food I have will digest peacefully, but nourish until some meal soon after.
The rest of it, diet wise, is up to your long term eating habits. I find that what helps in every situation is the chance to digest up to an hour before class. Then on my way to class it is sometimes banana, almonds/cashews/etc, or some form of clif or kashi energy bar. Something dry, so it will sit still, and some water to wash it down.

Good luck..

Drew Mailman wrote: What do all of you eat before training? How much do you eat before training? And how long before training do you usually eat? I ask this because I'm trying to find the best thing for me to eat before going to train. I work nights, so most of the day I'm asleep, and I wakie up a few hours before I have to be at class. I have no idea what would be the best thing for me to eat that won't weigh me down, make me ill, or make me feel like I'm a jug of water while doing rolls.

I have the same problem. I wake up an hour or so before training with enough time for a shower. I noticed that if I don't eat anything before training, I get dizzy.

Now I eat a granola bar or the like and drink some cranberry juice or water before training. It doesn't weigh me down at all and gives me what I need. I think I am going to start eating a few small carrots or some other veggie too.

smoothy.

For evening classes, I try to eat at least an hour before class, and generally consists of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (all natural PB, strawberry jelly, and whole wheat bread - yuuuummeeeee!) and a yogurt. Plenty of protein and complex carbs, fairly easy to digest. For morning classes, again try to eat something at least an hour beforehand, usually cereal/milk with multiple coffee chasers. Just be careful how tight you tie the hakama around your bladder after all that coffee!

I usually don't eat anything before class. Afraid I might puke! I will have a banana an hour before class, that seems to work and provide enough energy for class. Also, bananas taste the same coming up as they do going down.

A bar of chocolate

Lloyd McWhirt wrote: Also, bananas taste the same coming up as they do going down.

True dat...

I've found that an Odwalla Superfood (original green death flavor) will keep me going through class feeling good. Usually drink one an hour before I plan to be working out. Hmm, pond scum...

A Clif bar works great. Partner that with a Vitamin Water and I'm in business for a morning class. I also agree with the banana idea; I usually have one of those if I am out of Clif bars.

My sensei recommends a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole grain bread an hour before class. I am not a big fan of that sandwich so I haven't tried it out. I have had a peanut butter and veggie "bacon" sandwich on whole wheat bread, and that seems to work just fine.

Eating anything RIGHT before class is not recommended. I speak from experience.

I do not eat anything at least an hour and half before training. Before intense training I will usually eat plain pasta. I only add a tiny bit of olive oil for some flavor. I avoid sauce because it will give you stinky garlic breath. I also try to eat about 50-60 percent of what I would normally eat. This seems to give me enough energy to last through training and won't make you feel bloated.

On a side note, before eating a peanut butter sandwich, please be certain there is no one in your dojo with a nut allergy!

I second that smoothy thing. Some fruit, a little protein powder, some ice cubes, and a blender. Plenty of energy, without having a full stomache.

On a related note, I remember taking going to a Friday night aikido class a long time ago where the instructor had stopped at a local burger joint (Tommy's for those who know southern california burger legends) for a double chili cheeseburger with onions. Talk about "breath power".

I don't know how she did that without tossing it...

Ah, to be 25 again. With the metabolism of a 25 year old...

Snickers and Gatorade. Just enough to give me energy, not enough to make me puke.

Food of champions - I used to eat two or three scallops lightly fried with olive oil (hold the garlic) about an hour before training.

I also used to have the garlic ramen between classes but they put a stop to that.

Drew Mailman wrote: What do all of you eat before training? How much do you eat before training? And how long before training do you usually eat? I ask this because I'm trying to find the best thing for me to eat before going to train. I work nights, so most of the day I'm asleep, and I wakie up a few hours before I have to be at class. I have no idea what would be the best thing for me to eat that won't weigh me down, make me ill, or make me feel like I'm a jug of water while doing rolls.

I also work the night shift. So if I sleep before class, I will usually eat soemthing real light before I train. So, at least an hour ot 1 1/2 hours before class, I may eat a power bar, some fruit, or a bowl of cereal. I never eat alot or too soon before class. I also drink plenty of water or some other sports drink.

I try to avoid eating if at all possible before class. But If I need to eat:
1. Morning class would be nothing more than some toast
2. Afternoon/ Nite class Something like some chicken veg soup or chicken rice soup.
3. Seminars would be the same toast in the morning, a light soup in the afternoon break.

I can't eat noodle before class. They are just to expansive.

Peter Rehse wrote: I also used to have the garlic ramen between classes but they put a stop to that.

When I was uchi deshi, I used hop up as fast as I could after one class, then pound some ramen before the next! However I strictly avoided the garlic, ha.

I am reminded of the time I ate 2 macaroni pies before keiko.
You probably won't have had a macaroni pie unless you have been to Scotland. It's a very good reason to come pay us a visit!

Never again. Managed about 5 minutes of the warm up; thankfully i kept the dojo pasta free.

I try to avoid eating anything before practice, i like to give myself at least 2 hours digestion time. Nothing fatty, acidic or heavy.

i.e. no battered, deep-fried lemons