Trying to get fit or push your strength and stamina to the next level? Youmay have hired a personal trainer, invested in top-quality sneakers or stockedup on supplements, but have you looked at your diet? According to sportsdietitian and exercise physiologist Joanne Turner, what we eat has a hugeimpact on how well we train. “Diet can give around a 15 per cent boost inperformance, which means being able to lift weights for that little bit extra,or going for longer on the treadmill before you feel tired,” she says. “Thiscan translate to fantastic results in your long-term goals, whether it’s weightloss, getting stronger or increasing endurance.”
While a balanced diet is essential to fuel any workout plan, the type ofexercise we do alters our nutrient needs slightly.
For Yoga or Pilates, it’s not so much specific nutrients you need… it’s anawareness of meal timing. These types of exercise often involve a lot of corestrength, so leave a gap of two to three hours after eating for physicalcomfort.