[LynneA]

I need a little bit of help. I'm getting into a funk with my pre-workout snack. I work out 3 x week after work and usually eat 1/2 whole wheat bagel with some light cream cheese or a banana before I work out. On those days I do 30 - 40 mins cardio on treadmill or elliptical and then 45 mins of circuit training w/weights, so I like to eat something with a few carbs to keep me going.

Thing is, I'm getting really bored with bagels and bananas, I need a change but seem to be having problems thinking up something else. Honestly, it might be the fact that it's 78 here today and my brain has melted due to sudden heat shock but I really am drawing blanks. The snack needs to be able to be taken to work with me, we have no kitchen to speak of so I can't do any cooking or preparation.

Cottage cheese could work, however I eat that with breakfast sometimes or with my mid-morning snack and tbh, eating cottage cheese does not come naturally to me

I need a little inspiration, what do you guys eat before you workout?

[Burgie]

Maybe an apple and a kashi bar??

I personally eat a bit of chicken before my after work workouts. Seems to do the trick.

[tobetheman]

cherries, berries, grapes, or an orange. These are great too. u could add a piece of bread with raisins in it. U could try low sugar french bread too but this one is harder to find. hey, try a shake. how about a sports drink, like red bull no sugar type.

[LynneA]

What's a kashi bar? Is that from the same folks who do the kashi cereal? Shake sounds like a good idea, I could make a protein shake, do those things last all day? They don't go all funky do they?

Thanks for the suggestions, please keep them coming!

[kookiemonster]

I have a quaker oatmeal bar, and an apple if I'm really hungry. Applesauce is good too if you don't have a lot of time before the workout.

[Sheila53]

Try hardboiled eggs or egg whites. I find I do my best exercise eating protein and carbs together like cottage cheese and blueberries, egg whites stuffed with hummus, for example. I don't like eating bananas because I get a blood sugar spike and then it drops right when I need the energy.

[LynneA]

Egg Whites stuffed with hummus sounds nice, I might try the applesauce too. I am concerned with the amount of sugar in the applesauce though I will look to see what brands are available with no sugar added. My local WalMart has an impressive selection of applesauce, I am sure I will find one!

Thanks again all .

[WaterRat]

I like to buy the little snack sized thingies of unsweetened applesauce and keep them at work. (no refrigeration required) Quick when you need something, and if you like it sweeter, add a little Splenda. You can also try Luna bars, 180 cal, 26 g carbs and 13 g protein - plus they taste good. I like the lemon and lime flavors (2 different bars, not L&L).

[Mel]

Unless you can refrigerate it, a protein shake goes real funky after about 3 hours. Why not just add water and shake just before you are going to drink it? I carry a shaker full of protein powder to the gym with me everyday and make it with water from the water fountain.

Other ideas: protein muffins (there are recipes in this forum), apple and peanut butter, protein pudding, apple and hard boiled egg....

Mel

[shananigans]

I don’t really feel the need to get protein in right before I hit the gym after work, I usually have a pretty good dose of it at lunch. But I do like to have a little snack to keep the grumbly tummy at bay and give me a little energy boost. I like to have a rye cracker or two, I usually get the Ryvita dark rye kind, and a piece of fruit like an apple, grapefruit or orange.

[mocha74]

Fruit is good, like an orange or apple.

Sometimes I eat a piece of bread with a little peanut butter on it.

[Jman1]

I usually eat a granola bar or some cereal that has protein in it.