Question:
I'm confused. Should I eat before or after the gym?

Answer:

That's a good question, as a lot of people are confused on this issue.

If you want to lose weight it's always best to work-out on an empty stomach, as this is the best way to teach your body to burn fat and ultimately speed up your metabolism.

Ideally aim to eat approx two hours before the gym session, which should be adequate time to let your stomach digest the food. It's also uncomfortable exercising if you have a lot of undigested food in your system.

If you exercise after eating you are just burning off the calories you just consumed, so it's a case of two steps forward and one step back.

If you are hungry before the work-out, aim to have a protein drink (like those produced by Aussie Bodies) or simply drink a glass of milk. These drinks are light on your digestive system and will prevent you from exhaustion during the work-out due to a lack of stored energy.

If you are really starving you could also have a low-fat yoghurt or a small banana, which will help you get through the session.

Tip: It's more important to eat after the session (ideally within 30 minutes of completing a work-out) as this will speed up your recovery for the next day.

Dean Piazza — your online personal trainer
www.getfit.com.au