"What Should I Eat For CrossFit?"

I answered the question "what should I eat to lose weight" in a previous "Coach Says", so for this question, I'll answer this question for the person that wants the most out of their workout.

Think of food as fuel "because it literally is". In general, athletes should try to eat 1-2 hours before exercise. Some people can eat and workout and eat at the same time. Others need 3+ hours clear of a meal in order to workout. The closer you can eat to exercise without it impacting your workout, the better.

As for "what" you should eat, it's best to think about the body as a "what goes in, comes out" type of machine. What I mean by that is the type of fuel that you put in your body (carbs, proteins, or fats) is the type that your body will call on when you workout.

[Before we go too much further, know that this is a HUGE simplification of metabolism, but it works]

If you load your body up with simple carbs (ie: Donut, cereal, bagel, etc) before your workout, your body will call on carbs during your workout. If you're doing short sprints, or not a lot of cardio, this could be ok. But, if you've ever eaten like this, and then felt all tingly and dizzy in a workout, it's probably because your body called on and used up all of your carb storage (hypoglycemic).

The same goes for fat. If you load up on fats, and then try to workout, you may feel good for longer endurance workouts, but may lack the higher gear to smash workouts.

So, what's a boy/girl to do?

As always, it depends. But, if you're looking for a well balanced fitness, it pays to eat a well balanced meal. Proteins, fats, and fibers (carbs) are a great way to build a pre workout meal. Here are some meal examples of what that might look like;

SMALL MEAL

  • Nuts

  • Berries

  • Protein Shake

MEDIUM MEAL

  • Apple

  • Peanut Butter

LARGE MEAL

  • Chicken

  • Rice

  • Broccoli

Dietary restrictions may apply, but this is just a guide. If you're looking to feel good for your whole workout, have a higher gear, and repair muscle that you breakdown during your workout, the goal is to look for balance.

Charlie Riedel