People often like to workout in the morning before breakfast — I get it, the discipline is real. But that means the body has had no fuel since dinner the night before. So you get up, push into your workout, and the blood sugar plummets. You feel nauseous and weak. That’s not gains — that’s your body turning against you. It’s better to have a light breakfast before you train. Preferably some lean protein and complex carbohydrates with a little healthy fat. These foods will keep you fueled and focused. Another scenario — the guy who goes straight from work to the gym before dinner. No time to eat, no fuel for those working muscles. A light snack or a quality sports bar will do the trick. A word to the wise though: eating or drinking too much before training is just as bad. Find your balance.
Working out and exercising while hungry will cause more than just muscle weakness.
Failing To Fuel
Working out hungry does more than make you weak — it actively works against everything you’re training for. When the body has no fuel, it starts looking for energy sources to burn. Its first choice? Amino acids. Through a process called gluconeogenesis, amino acids get converted into glycogen in the absence of carbohydrates. Whether those amino acids come from food or your own muscle tissue, your muscle growth takes the hit. You’re not just underperforming — you’re sabotaging your own goals. I’ve seen it a thousand times in my career. Plan your pre-workout meal like you plan your sets. It’s that important.
Stay Hydrated
While we’re talking fuel — hydration is non-negotiable. Moderate exercise like Pilates rarely demands the glucose and sodium you find in sports drinks, but water? Always. Dizziness and nausea aren’t just discomfort — they’re your body signaling dehydration. Drink before, during, and after. No excuses.
Fuel right, train hard, and the body you want will follow. I’ve been doing this long enough to know there are no shortcuts — but there are smarter ways to work. Eating before you train is one of them. Want to take it further? Build that chest with my 6 Exercises for a Bigger Chest, sculpt the lower body with 5 Leg Exercises for a Better Butt, or see everything I bring to the floor over at my page — two decades in New York City, one mission. 🇧🇷🗽
