A blog to help you optimize your full-body and life performance

At InsideTracker we believe that eating is training. Eating is not only critical for workout fueling, but also for post endurance training recovery. Beyond what our biomarkers tell us, we recognize that it is important to eat to support training sessions and the recovery process in between.

This brings us to one of the most frequently asked questions sports dietitians hear, especially from those in the endurance sports world: "What should I be eating before and after my workouts?"

Have you ever scarfed down a bowl of high fiber cereal 30 minutes prior to a long run?  Skipped breakfast before a four-hour bike ride?  Eaten something you’ve never had for breakfast on the morning of a big race?  Unfortunately, I have to admit that I have done all of these things.  While these no-no’s may seem obvious to some, I’ll bet that there are a lot of beginner, intermediate, and even advanced athletes who have made these very same mistakes.  

If you’re an athlete, you know that in order to improve your physical performance, you have to work hard. But is the “no pain, no gain” mantra doing your body more harm than good? Here’s the tip that many world-class athletes use to increase their chances of success: getting an adequate amount of rest in between workouts can actually make you stronger!

Most athletes know that nutrition can make or break a race, but the eating habits of triathletes are especially important to achieving optimal results. Because triathlons are an intense multi-sport activity, successful participants need endurance, and strength—characteristics that are highly dependent on what you eat and drink! If you are triathlete, InsideTracker can provide you with great advice on your unique nutrition needs, but here are a few insider tips for successful fueling to get you started.

Poor eating habits can undermine even the best efforts to stay fit.  Savvy athletes know that eating the right foods before a workout can give you the necessary fuel to make it through the last ten minutes on the treadmill or through that last set of squats.

So, what should you eat before you hit the gym? While every body is different, you can follow the guidelines below to stay strong even during your toughest workout. InsideTracker can provide suggestions of foods that are good for fuel AND help you optimize your biomarkers.

If you’re an endurance athlete, you’ve probably heard an endless amount of advice regarding what to eat in the days leading up to a big event. But what’s really the best way to fuel your body before an endurance event? Some athletes favor carb-loading, temporarily boosting their intake of carbohydrates before a major race to increase their energy stores.  Before you start eating all the grains you can get your hands on, though, you should know that there’s much more to carb-loading besides another round at the bread bowl.