Avoid red meat, high sugar foods before working out. End it with a healthy salad, porridge or sandwich, says Sheetal J Shah.
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One of the many secrets of staying in shape is to eat right before and after a good workout.
The right balance of food provides you with nutrition that is apt to prepare your body for the exercise and at the same time helps you recover and keeps you from starving after the session.
Pilates trainer Sheetal J Shah suggests the right way to eat and diet.
What should one eat before and after Pilates?
Since Pilates involves moves that are all concentrated in your centre or core and also sends your legs overhead, big meals are not recommended beforehand but don't work out on empty stomach either.
If you workout on an empty stomach, it leads to muscle loss.
Loss of muscle mass causes your metabolism to drop, making it much harder to lose weight.
Pre Pilates snacks or meals must have lean proteins, complex carbs and a small portion of healthy fats.
Certainly doing a full set of The Hundred and other abdominal exercises after a heavy meal is not going to feel terribly comfortable and Pilates is all about 'hollowing' and 'scooping' your abdominals, you may feel downright ill.
So make sure whatever you eat, it's a small portion and fairly light.
What you must avoid
Before
After
Don't forget to drink plain, clean water before, during and after Pilates. Avoid sugary drinks.
The right time to eat
A mini snack should be 30 to 45 minutes before class and heavy meal one hour before Pilates session.
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