Pre workout meal can be a gold mine if used properly.As grate boost as, pre workout supplements gives, pre workout foods can increase your strength, energy, focus and even pumping and not to mention muscle gains. If this meal is balanced with all the nutrients your body desires, you will get out the most of your pre workout product.
So what you need to eat with 2-3 hours prior trainingComplex carbohydrates
This will give you a steady flow of energy. Also important for other nutrients to by metabolized(from vits and minerals to creatine). This will also keep you away from catabolic state and promote protein synthesis.
Protein
Probably you heard your gym fellows talking about protein, protein and protein. A bit misled this subject, because many still promote a high protein intake(over 3-4g of protein/kg). Yes animal and vegetable protein is good, but to much make the body work harder to push out all that he can’t use. This is a toxic process and all recovery, muscle grow, immunity will suffer. So stay in 1-2gr of protein per kg of body mass.
Fats
So you want strength, bigger muscle, sustained energy, libido and you don’t eat fats? Say good by to all this things if you don’t eat fats. Providing 15-30% of calories per day from fats will help you stay healthier. Being healthy will provide you the right body state for performance, gains, strength and a lot more things to enjoy. Also, fats are important in hormones metabolism(ex: testosterone).
Now, get your pre workout meal with a ratio of calorie intake like this:
-carbs 30-40%, healthy fats 30-40% and protein 30-40%.
This is same as a balanced diet.
Always remember to test and see what works best for you. Maybe you are a fun of low carb diets or high carb diets.
Eat well, sleep good and train like a god.