What should you eat/drink/do before going to an Aikido/BJJ/Muay Thai class?

Question

Should you go with your tummy full to an Aikido class, or hungry? or partially full, like 50% stomach capacity is full of food? Is it good to drink vitamins and minerals and herbal supplements and a cheap energy drink before going?

Should you go with your tummy full to a Brazilian Jiujitsu class, or hungry? or partially full, like 50% stomach capacity is full of food? Is it good to drink vitamins and minerals and herbal supplements and a cheap energy drink before going?

Should you go with your tummy full to a Muay Thai class, or hungry? or partially full, like 50% stomach capacity is full of food? Is it good to drink vitamins and minerals and herbal supplements and a cheap energy drink before going?

Answer 1

Ok, no nuts and NO junk, girl. Lol. How about a granola bar or yogurt. Or maybe just a fruit, hun, you have to eat healty.. And drink a protein (metabolism) shake. Oh and you know what... make sure that your breakfast has a lot of protein. And Oatmeal is great for energy. Trust me! Also, try a meal replacement like a slim fast bar or shake... or even Gatorade.

Answer 2

On my intense training days to avoid vomiting I will drink a protein shake approximately 3-4 hours before training and 30-45 minutes before, I drink a Nitric Oxide supplement. I use (MHP Extreme Trac NO) this will increase your blood flow, strength, focus, and endurance during your workout and the protein keeps me from being hungry and feeling heavy at the same time.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Before martial arts I would not go on a completely empty stomach but if you eat too much you may get nauseated from the intense workout.  Stay away from the cheap energy drinks because you can get dehydrated.  Drink water before, during and after workout.  Just have a healthy snack a couple of hours before and remember to drink water.

Answer 4

Over 15 years of training, I've found out the following:  Nobody told me this, my body and experience did.

I have no idea if a doctor or nutritionist would agree, but this is what actually works for me.

1.) Never an empty stomach.  Empty and you will end up with sore abs.

2.) Never a full stomach.  You will get nauseous and will be slow.  Particularly when using your abs - which all arts do to various extents - the three you mention most certainly do.

3.) What and how much to consume.  Stay hydrated.  Drink plenty of water all day.  If you load up before class your body will need it before its absorbed.  If you aren't hydrated, you overheat and that in itself can make you puke.  Also, muscle cramps and soreness have a lot to do with being dehydrated... remember you need to replenish what you sweat out and when you aren't active you won't notice you need water - drink it even if you aren't thirsty.

Drink cool water all day, but the last hour or so before class, drink room temp water - its less a shock to the system and your body won't start to heat itself up to heat the water.

For food, eat light stuff and not very much of it.  Fruits and Vegetables...  Apples, Banana, Yogurt, Water Mellon, Carrots, Plain white rice...  Just a light snack - the kind of stuff that a baby can digest so your body isn't working too hard on the food.  The idea isn't to 'eat', just not have an empty stomach.  I'd say maybe 25 percent volume or so sounds right of the top of my head in my experience... just enough to not be hungry.

4.) What to avoid before class:  Heavy stuff... Dairy, a burrito, spicy stuff, a steak, nuts, cookies, cakes, sweets, all regardless how much of it.  That stuff is for after class when your body needs to re-fuel.

Its better to be fueled up already rather than try and catch up right before class.  That means that when you prepare for class tomorrow, you think about what you eat after class tonight, breakfast and lunch tomorrow.

Dinner - enjoy this meal

Breakfast - high carbs and protein

Lunch - light carbs and maybe protein, vegs and fruits... dairy too if you like... just as long as it has enough time to digest before class.  No caffeine after lunch.

Answer 5

have a snack abut 2 hours before class and dont over or under drink

Answer 6

First off I'll tell you something from personal experience, you do not want to grapple (Brazilian jui-jitsu) on a full stomach with food or water. It will not do you any favors and YOU WILL VOMIT. Same goes for any striking sport, especially Muay Thai since most works out a very rigorus.

Second, you do not want to drink Gatorade before a intense work out, since Gatorade has lots of sugars. Your energy will crash. Sport drinks were meant to be drinked towards the end of a heavy sports session and at the end.

Third, you do not need to spend money on supplements to be able to go through intense work outs. What you need to do is regulate your diet. You have to cut out all the junk food, and start eating more healthy. So when you cook your food avoid food that requires cooking oil. Try to stick to carbohydrates, beans,  lean meat, and fish.For snacks go with any fruits and vegetables. Also ice cream is your friend ;) you can have plenty of it.

this type of diet will make you feel lighter and have more energy, better than any supplement or energy drink can make you feel.

As for drinks, stick with drinking water normaly but not much 30 minutes before your work out