# I have a kickboxing cardio class in 4 hours..what should I eat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 5, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342 "2012-07-05T19:15:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/1 "2012-07-05T19:15:45Z")
I rarely go to the gym. I am not overweight at all (I’m actually way underweight) and I honestly just never cared too much to go do anything about it. But I know I should and if I HAVE to I will and will work hard at it, so I signed up for a cardio kickboxing class this week. I had my first class on Tuesday which effectively wore me out, and I know that there are certain things I should do/eat in order to give me more energy, or workout better, or something…I just don’t know what it is. So gym dopers…between now and when I have to destroy my legs what should I eat to give myself the best workout? ---
**Author:** ![dataguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@dataguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dataguy)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/2 "2012-07-05T20:04:19Z")
Try a spoonful of peanut butter and a shot of honey - just before class. It worked well for me when I was taking kickboxing. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/3 "2012-07-05T20:05:52Z")
Wow really? Huh…Well I was thinking more along the lines of an actual meal ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/4 "2012-07-05T20:50:02Z")
Before hockey pre-game meal was a bowl of spaghetti, no sauce. Gave me a lot of carbs to burn. To make it taste pretty good I added evoo and grated parm. Four hours is about right. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/5 "2012-07-05T22:16:53Z")
Something light and easily digestible with healthy fats, simple carbs, and some lean protein. As long as you don’t feel like you have a rock in your stomach and/or lower GI tract, you’re good. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/6 "2012-07-05T22:28:30Z")
A turkey sandwich with some guacamole on it sounds about like what **pravnik** is suggesting. A bowl of chicken noodle soup and a handful of almonds would be good, too, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/7 "2012-07-06T00:28:05Z")
MOved from General Questions to IMHO, where opinions are welcome as well as factual answers. **samclem** ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/8 "2012-07-06T00:28:45Z")
Yeah Subway has their avocado promo right now, can get the turkey with avocado. Or a big tuna sub. With Baked Lays. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/9 "2012-07-06T13:42:34Z")
I’m a big fan of my homemade peanut butter-banana-dark chocolate high-protein smoothie. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/10 "2012-07-06T14:51:20Z")
Greasy meatball sub chased with a slice of cheesecake. …what? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/11 "2012-07-06T15:33:47Z")
I ended up going with Chicken Alfredo, some bread and olive oil, and drinking water (which is huge cuz I NEVER drink water). I have ham and turkey at home, I’ll probably have that on Tuesday because this thing is Tuesday’s and Thursday’s ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/12 "2012-07-06T15:40:19Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Greasy meatball sub chased with a slice of cheesecake. Isn’t that why you exercise, to be able to enjoy the finer things? I was thinking more along the lines of a [Joey Chestnut](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joey_Chestnut) type of meal. Not for performance, but for the aftermath that you would have to tell us about. More seriously, I’d go with a light meal well before the workout, and a small boost snack just prior, along with getting good hydration. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/13 "2012-07-06T15:49:52Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > drinking water (which is huge cuz I NEVER drink water). well this has got to become a more regular thing, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/14 "2012-07-06T16:03:57Z")
> [@pancakes3](#): > > well this has got to become a more regular thing, for sure. Oh I know, I just HATE drinking water. It’s so boring bland and tasteless, and adding stuff myself never works cuz I can’t get the hang of it. Bleh ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/15 "2012-07-06T16:31:21Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Oh I know, I just HATE drinking water. > > It’s so boring bland and tasteless, and adding stuff myself never works cuz I can’t get the hang of it. Bleh Ditto. I only drink plain water when I am working out. I have, however discovered some lime-flavoured, sodium-free soda water I like now. Something about bubbles makes it way better. [Linky](http://www.presidentschoice.ca/LCLOnline/products.jsp?type=details&catIds=cat40002&catIds=110&productId=19927) I think this is only in Ontario, though so you may be SOL. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/16 "2012-07-06T20:23:12Z")
> [@perfectparanoia](#): > > Ditto. I only drink plain water when I am working out. I have, however discovered some lime-flavoured, sodium-free soda water I like now. Something about bubbles makes it way better. > > [Linky](http://www.presidentschoice.ca/LCLOnline/products.jsp?type=details&catIds=cat40002&catIds=110&productId=19927) > > I think this is only in Ontario, though so you may be SOL. Walmart has a line of flavored sparkling water that contains no sugar, no fat, no sodium, etc: [Robot or human?](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sam-s-Choice-Clear-American-Flavored-Sparkling-Water-Beverage-Golden-Peach-2-l/11303923#Nutrition+Facts) ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/17 "2012-07-06T20:38:03Z")
I drink a glass of milk (12 ounces, 1%) before my morning walk/run, which provides carbs and protein and electrolytes (FWIW, for those who only drink water, your body [needs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyponatremia) [electrolytes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypokalemia), not just plain water, also a good idea for your body to have some fuel and milk is quickly absorbed being a liquid). ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/18 "2012-07-07T00:34:47Z")
> [@Michael63129](#): > > I drink a glass of milk (12 ounces, 1%) before my morning walk/run, which provides carbs and protein and electrolytes (FWIW, for those who only drink water, your body [needs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyponatremia) [electrolytes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypokalemia), not just plain water, also a good idea for your body to have some fuel and milk is quickly absorbed being a liquid). This isn’t a bad thought if the OP likes milk. If he doesn’t (or is lactose-intolerant), some other sources of morning electrolytes are bananas, raisins, oranges, specially vitamin-fortified energy bars, and some breakfast cereals. ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-kickboxing-cardio-class-in-4-hours-what-should-i-eat/627342/19 "2012-07-07T01:23:43Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Oh I know, I just HATE drinking water. > > It’s so boring bland and tasteless, and adding stuff myself never works cuz I can’t get the hang of it. Bleh I hate it also, unless I’m super thirsty. Get some of the powdered drop-ins like Crystal Light or even the Great Value brand. I like the pomegranate something-or-other. There are lots of lemony citrusy flavors also. Good for getting all those glasses down! Hopefully see ya next month!