What do you eat before working out???

Hi, I work till 12:30 am and get to bed around 2am. Well I have two little girls that still get up before 7am. So when they get up I have 12 oz of skim milk for breakfast. Then I dawdle around the house and get them ready for the day. At 10:15am I leave for the gym. So I work out with a trainer 3 times a week and I get to the gym at 10:45. She has me warm up for 15 minutes and then I do weights with her for a hour and then I do cardio for a hour. Now I LOVE this routine. I mean I am down 89lbs since having surgery and I am really toning up. But, my major problem is that when I am done working out, I am sooo light headed and weak feeling. I know its because all I had was water and milk so far. What can I eat in there that can help me? I know it sounds like it should be a simple answer, but remember I am up till after midnight so I can't eat too much and also I have to wait atleast a 1/2 hour to drink. Well once I am at the gym all I do is drink more and more water. So is there something small that could really give me the energy that I need? Thank you so much for your help on this. I am really stumped. Michelle 311/222/165ish

Michelle, I have a protein bar (those from smarthealthstore.com) are great and I am able to eat one of those about an 45 minutes before I start working out. Then I don't have a problem with drinking during the workout. The other suggestion is to take a protien drink like isopure and drink that for at least half of the liquid you replenish with during your workout. This was suggested by my personal trainer when I started working out at 1 month from surgery. I also do this when I am going to be swimming (which i do at least 2 days a week) because I don't like eating before swimming but the protein drink doesn't weigh me down and I get liquids with protein and not jus****er. Lise 409/303/190 - i hope lap rny 11/29/04

Michelle, Kudos to you, you are doing great! I drink a protein drink about 45 minutes before working out. It seems to help keep my energy up. I don't eat bananas because I'm on the South Beach diet. If you are limiting carbs, some fruits are very high in sugar. Not to knock bananas, but it depends on what your body can handle. Pam

There are two things that you can consider doing. The other suggestions were great but like one person said, some fruit has more sugar than others. Bananas are one of those fruits. I am trianing for my first marathon and as a result have been seeing a nutrionist every week since the beginning since I am doing lots of running and walking and the docs want to make sure I don't do too much too soon. What I have been told is to 1.) eat something before exercising and the best things are either an apple (is a good complex carb and has fiber) or a a couple of slices of an apple and half a protein bar (I personally like the Q-Smart bars that you can get from Quaker). The other thing is to eat something small after working out. So if you do cardio for an hour then stop drinking like 15 minutes before you finish, wait another 15 and then eat something or drink something with protein. After working out is the best time to get protein in according to my surgeon and nutrionist. Hope this helps.

Thank you everyone for your help!!! You all gave me some really good ideas. I will for sure look for those protein bars because I have never even seen them. I know that I can't have more than 2 grams of added sugar, so I hope they don't have a lot of sugar or anything. I never even thought of my an iso-pure which is really funny since I have a big purple one sitting in the fridge. Also Kari you crack me up!!! About not getting time to even pee. HAHA!!! I laughed out loud. I about died!!! My children are 2 and 4. BUT there is a HUGE play area at the gym and they love going there. They also both like to stretch with me later that day and then the next day again and again...since I am always sooo sore! I really really thank all of you for the help. I am going to try all of the suggestions because I have to do something. Thanks again, Michelle

I get that feeling after working out too..I will sometimes eat a cheese stick after I work out. If I remember to time it right that is... Do you like the Carb Countdown milk? I love the chocolate milk. I drink that in the a.m. too and it has more protein than regular skim. Good luck, you are doing great!!! Melissa 339 day of consult/318 surgery day/ 238 now