When you’re following a medical weight loss plan, choosing your snacks takes on new importance. You want to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy, while also getting enough energy to fuel your daily activities. And if you’re also exercising regularly, you want to provide your body with enough energy for that, too.
But because exercise diverts more blood flow to your muscles and away from your digestive tract, you don’t want to strain your stomach and intestines with the wrong kind of pre-workout snack. The following foods require a bit more effort to digest, and can carry some other unpleasant side effects as well. These are the ones to avoid right before exercise.
Very fatty foods. Yes, working out after eating high-calorie fatty foods would at least burn off some of that extra energy. But because high-fat foods sit longer in the stomach, you could find yourself uncomfortable during exercise.
Spicy food. A few lucky people can handle spicy food without suffering heartburn or other discomfort. But everyone else should probably skip the Mexican or Thai food right before gym time.
Fruit juice. Fruit juice might be okay for an after-workout snack. But before your workout, drinking that much fructose can cause stomach cramps as you exercise.
High-fiber foods. Some fiber is good, of course, but too much can leave you bloated and gassy. So save the beans for another time.
Cruciferous vegetables. Cruciferous veggies such as broccoli and cauliflower contain a carbohydrate called raffinose, along with plenty of sulfur. Bloating and gas are the typical results.
Dairy, if you’re lactose intolerant. The gym is not the best place to give yourself a raging case of gas! However, hard cheeses, yogurt, and kefir often do not affect lactose-intolerant people. Those might still be an option.
And of course, remember we’re here to support you as you pursue a medical weight loss plan or exercise regimen. Call us to discuss your concerns, and we’ll help you decide on a meal plan, plus snacks, that will provide the energy and nutrients you need to achieve your goals.
