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[braboett]

Is there something better I should be eating. I have a pretty vigorous workout routine. I just need something in my system so I don't pass out:-)

[Boss Man]

Fruit isn't that bad for that purpose, as it does have Carbs, although the levels of Carbs vary.

Example.

Banana 28g Carbs approx (112 calories)

Apple 19g Carbs approx (76 calories)

Tangerine 9g Carbs approx (36 calories)

Strawberries and Cherries 1 gram approx (calories vary depending on intake).

I can't name all the fruit Carb amounts, but those examples tell you what's what, so you see how the Carbs vary quite a lot between certain fruits.

However for the purposes of a workout, you have two main choices I think.

1. Use a fast acting Carb or simple sugar source, about 20-30 minutes pre-workout, which means things like Gatorade, Powerade, Low Fat Yoghurt. Yoghurt being less solid than most solid foods, so breakdown should in theory be accelerated, beyond that of most other Carb sources, like Fruits, Beans etc etc.

2. Eat the Carbs about 1hr before, so you get efficient breakdown to occur first, if you eat something more solid like Fruit for example.

There is one other train of thought you might apply, bear in mind this is not something I can say for definite, but I believe it's a possibility.

You drink Water with your Fruit.

Reason being Water has no calories, so it wouldn't increase overall processing time of Calories in the Illeum, but would decrease the overall molecular density of the Stomach contents, as Water is less molecularly dense than a piece of Fruit.

This means if the structure of Molecules in the Stomach, was more spread out, and less solidly constructed or packed together, possible accellerated breakdown of the contents might occur.

That last point is only a theory, and if true, may yield said result, but you might not really notice it.

I would in that instance if you did that, drink the water afterwards, as drinking it first promotes a feeling of fullness, and if you felt full enough that you couldn't finish your Fruit, you'd be wasting Carbs.

Also the broken down Fruit slush / pulp in the Gut, might absorb the Water better, giving you that Molecular expansion.

Though to reiterate, this is a theory, not something I know for definite.

[braboett]

Wow!! Thanks. So would a protein shake be more beneficial? Right now I'm trying to cut the weight, then in the near future I will try and build lean muscle.

[Boss Man]

Protein shakes can be useful for reducing Fat, as well as building you up, but I'd leave them for now, and give diet more attention.