Add Power to Your Hour

Bob Barker used to refer to it at the beginning of his infamous game show, “The Price Is Right”.

It’s your power hour.

We’re assuming you have about sixty minutes to do your thing in the gym. We’re also assuming that you want to conserve your power energy for you blast sessions, and not for when you’re sorting socks or rotating your tires.

Hence, throughout the week, you want indulge yourself in foods that are heavy in the calories, the carbohydrates, and the proteins. Yes, some of them may contain small to moderate amounts of fat, but then again, your body needs some fat, too.

Here are ten food suggestions that will add power to your workout hour.

PIZZA: Stray from the fatty toppings (sausage, pepperoni, etc.) and opt for a low-fat cheese. What you have is a nice carbohydrate and protein pie. Toss on a few healthier toppings like peppers and onions for additional vitamins and minerals.

OATMEAL: Pour it into a bowl. Add some hot water. What you have is one of the best sources for carbohydrates, a quick burst of energy that will propel you through your training session. Oatmeal is great with vitamin-rich blueberries and strawberries.

PASTA: Packed with 50 grams of carbohydrates per cup, pasta, mixed in with a little tomato sauce, is not only a tasty choice, but it is rich in muscle-building proteins as well.

PEANUTS: Anything associated with butter – as peanuts surely are – usually leads to one dreaded three-letter word: fat. Although peanuts are plenty fattening indeed, they’re also planters of a number of rich nutrients like potassium, zinc, and vitamin E.

YOGURT: It’s sweet. It’s smooth. It’s sensational. Yogurt is not only a soothing refreshment for fitness fanatics, it also blends a healthy balance of proteins and carbohydrates. Highly recommended is the low-fat version.

POTATOES: Dan Quayle may not be able to spell them but I’m sure he knows about their nutritional significance. Potatoes are perhaps the best source of carbs you’ll find, packing some 30 grams inside of your average 4-ounce potato.

EGGS: How do you like them? It doesn’t really matter because any way you flip them, boil them, fry them, or scramble them, the truth is that they’re loaded with protein. However, try to spare yourself of the egg’s yolk, for it is packed with fat and cholesterol.

PROTEIN DRINKS: This is a no-brainer. Why else would they have a juice bar at nearly every health club throughout America? The ideal protein drink, if you can blend it with a carbohydrate-rich powder, will consist of 25% protein and 60% carbs.

CHICKEN BREASTS: Chicken, in all forms, is loaded with protein, approximately 35 grams for a 4-ounce breast, However, we obviously recommend them grilled or baked as opposed to the fried version. And remember to peel off that fattening skin.

WATER: Drink it by the gallon. Actually, about a gallon a day – or perhaps eight glasses – is ideal, since your body cannot function without it. However, too much water may be detrimental to your fitness quest for it could be flushing out minerals and vitamins that you need.