Swimming does require a good amount of energy and I wouldn't go into a two hour swim without having eaten for 8 hours. But what food should you eat before the swim? Pre-Swim: Before a swim workout, make sure to constantly eat … Contrary to the commonly held belief that you should not eat before swimming, eating the proper foods at the right time can actually benefit your workout. If you were going to exercise for just a short amount of time (30 minutes or less), you could get by without having somethi To ensure that your body has enough glycogen before you start your early morning workout, eat complex carbohydrates before exercising. Ideally, meals should be eaten at regular intervals throughout the day. Bananas are to dense and heavy in your stomach. Your body will store muscle and liver glycogen for up to 2000 to 2500 calories so there is no need for carb loading period. So, go for a morning swim once in a while. Ideally, you should leave 1-2 hours after eating before you get in the pool – but for early morning swimmers, this can be easier said than done! I have been swimming early morning for around a month now, and have found the following: Pros: I’ve lost approximately 14 pounds in weight, with very little adjustment to my diet. We'll go through what you should be eating and taking in to make sure that you're at your peak performance when it comes to race time. Wake Up and Eat. I'm sure there's at least a public swimming pool you can access nearby. It's just such a great feeling in the morning and then you can carry this energy with you throughout your day. These are some foods that will enhance your swim session and make it all the more enjoyable, before, during, and after. It is perfectly okay to swim with an empty stomach and eat a post workout meal as your breakfast. What to eat before swimming . Here's what to eat before you hit the gym. 2. I regularly don't eat at all before morning swimming and have no problems. You might not put it at the top of your mind, but the food you eat before and leading up to the meet can make or break your performance. Not eating enough before a workout may lead to lethargy, fatigue, weakness, nausea and dizziness. Toss the ingredients in the night before! Keep the portion small to prevent cramping and eat 30-60 minutes prior to starting a swim. Studies have shown that your testosterone level is at its highest in the morning. To comment on some of the other answers, do not, I repeat do not eat a banana before you go swimming. This can be really helpful, especially for doing high-intensity workouts. If eating an early morning pre-exercise snack isn’t working, try to eat well the day before and plan a nutritious pre-bedtime snack … Eating something is usually better than not eating anything. 6 to 8 hours of fasting won't require you to have to eat something. How to Prepare to Go Swimming. In summer, it is much easier to train in the morning due to the earlier sunrise time. If you’re about to engage in a large amount of high-intensity training, you’ll want to eat something. By Emma Merrill, Swimming World College Intern. The 5 Biggest Benefits of an Early Morning Swim For so many of us, swimming is an afternoon activity best saved for hot, sunny days—and for good reason! Eating before a morning workout can help you feel great and perform better: But what do you eat? This makes food all the more important to fuel our bodies before a swim and recover well after one. Foods containing complex carbohydrates include whole grain cereals, breads, and pancakes, as well as fruits, … If you were going to exercise for just a short amount of time (30 minutes … Eat your favorite (healthy) foods for the first meal of the day.