Chocolate as a pre-workout meal... thoughts?

Question

Before working out yesterday I had a LOT of chocolate. A few Kit-Kat bars to be exact.

After about an hour I was itching to go run. As it turns out, I felt like I had more energy and drive going through my workout than in days past when I either went on an empty stomach or had a healthy meal.

Is this a placebo effect or is there something to chocolate and sugar in general being a good pre-workout meal?

animalwithin · Accepted Answer

Contracting muscles use sugar as their primary fuel source, you were not experiencing a placebo. Contracting muscles can pull sugar out of the blood stream as well as stored sugars very rapidly in order to burn. While this is good, it is unwise to load up on really sweet foods prior to a workoout because it's only good for short periods of time and not long term and anytime there is a spike in your blood sugar levels isn't very good. Remember, carbs (bread, pasta, etc) are sugars chained together, you're better off consuming those for energy rather than eating copius amounts of Kit-Kat.

palek · Accepted Answer

If you keep it up you'll find yourself passed out in a puddle of your own watery excretion. And there are unpleasant affects as well.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

well, obviously, this is like nutrition 101.. it's called a sugar high..., sugar is quick release energy, it works like a drug,

but it also has a lot of calories and is bad for you so you're kind of shooting yourself in the foot if your aim in exercising is to be healthy.

Morningglory3 · Accepted Answer

I do it sometimes. I don't eat a lot of chocolate, just half a hersheys bar with almonds. Sorry I can't give you any explanations. It just pumps me up enough. There are better choices, but sometimes I don't have healthy alternatives, or I just want some chocolate.

bubbiexo · Accepted Answer

I got nothin'... Could be the sugar, but simple sugars in candy bars typically aren't good before a workout. Could be a placebo effect.

So, I don't know. Sorry!

I do love my chocolate, though. :P And chocolate milk post-workout=heaven.

Anonymous · Answer

Sugar can give you a quick boost, but it doesn't last very long.  You might try something healthier for that boost, like a banana and some peanut butter.  Throw in a few squares of dark chocolate if it really floats your boat. Most candy bars have a lot of weird chemicals in them.

CorneliaisPretty · Answer

i think its because the sugar in the chocolate gives you a high amount of temporary energy. you should try making yourself a fruit salad or smoothie... with fruits like berries and oranges but no bananas

Cute11 · Answer

It's good to have a high carb meal before a workout but chocolate isn't the best thing to have try something else that's a bit easier to work off

OpenArmsAlice · Answer

I don't think that is a particularly good idea. But to each his own.  Smoothies would be my choice.

Anonymous · Answer

oh god I think I would get such bad heart burn if I ate a bunch of chocolate then went on a run

Anonymous · Answer

You will definitely gain weight if you keep doing that. Simple sugars cause a high and then a crash

Anonymous · Answer

I'm going with placebo effect.

Chocolate as a pre-workout meal... thoughts?

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