Are you guilty hitting the snooze button and rolling out of bed at the very last minute to show up for practice on an empty stomach? If you snooze you will lose out on the first opportunity to add energy to your tank, which will help you excel on the field and court. After a night of sleep you wake up in a state of dehydration and your glycogen (stored carbohydrates) stores are depleted. You MUST put fuel in your tank to survive any length or type of exercise.

Your pre-workout snack should include at least 25 grams of carbohydrates. Research indicates this amount will prevent the body from using protein as energy to get you through practice. You want to preserve your lean muscle tissue and burn carbohydrates for energy.

Now stop hitting the snooze and wake up a few minutes early to put food into your belly and watch your performance climb to the top!
 
What does 25 grams of carbohydrates look like?   
Fig bar, animal crackers (12), large banana, large orange, 8-ounces 100% orange juice, two sheets of graham crackers, 16-ounces of Gatorade, two mini-boxes of raisins and one cup of applesauce.

Fuel On Tigers!
Christine Turpin, Sports Dietitian