Breakfast for bonking
March 6, 2017 7:50 AM   Subscribe

In two weeks, I'm going to have sexytime for the first time in a million years. Ack! What should I eat for breakfast every day before then to maximize muscle fitness, cardio health, etc.?

I like eggs. Protein is good, right? Cereal with milk for calcium? Not interested in a lot of prep time, but I'll do what it takes THIS IS IMPORTANT!!

Other meals are generally covered, as is exercise (doing the elliptical), though suggestions are welcome.

Also: I am completely uninterested in getting leg or foot cramps during this time; I sometimes get them even when I'm asleep alone. What should I drink, and how much, to help prevent this?

(White mid-forties female, a bit chunky and terrible diet, lots of eating out and frozen dinners.)
posted by sockerpup to Food & Drink (12 answers total) 9 users marked this as a favorite
 
I'm not sure of the evidence base for this, but I know that bananas are meant to help you avoid cramps (because of potassium, I think is the theory), and I know that my dad gets cramp constantly if he doesn't eat a banana for breakfast, but is fine when he has one. So probably have a banana as a prophylactic against cramp, as they're a reasonable source of energy in any case.

I haven't asked my dad about their effect on his sex-life. Maybe next Christmas.
posted by howfar at 8:08 AM on March 6, 2017 [15 favorites]


If anything, I think food is going to be less impactful here than cardio. You have two weeks so not a ton of time to get in great shape but I think going for a brisk walk (on an incline if possible) or a jog will help you build up some energy and stamina.

For cramps, take a magnesium supplement every day. I buy one at Whole Foods that is 365 brand, comes in a little tub, and is a powder you mix with water. Start with a small dose because it can upset your stomach until you're used to it.

Foodwise, I'd say cut back on the junk and try to just eat real food - protein, green veggies, some whole grains (or not), healthy fats like avocado and full-fat dairy. Avoid sugar and processed stuff and frozen dinners. If you're not going to be able to avoid going out to eat, then try to stick with the most simple items on the menu. Cobb salads are great for this. I really don't think you need to plan it out more than this.
posted by joan_holloway at 8:10 AM on March 6, 2017 [4 favorites]


1) Eat whatever makes you feel nourished and confident and like you're living your best life. It sounds like this is stressing you out (even if it's good stress!) so take extra good care of yourself. Treat yo'self! Drink the fancy coffee. Get a punnet of your favorite out of season fruit. Put your meal on a plate and eat it sitting at a table. Maybe go all out and put a couple flowers in a vase on that table, if you like them. Put on some music. That kind of thing.

2) Yeah, bananas preventing cramps is a thing.
posted by momus_window at 8:24 AM on March 6, 2017 [9 favorites]


The cramps might be a signal of dehydration. Try drink enough water and have some real fruits. Don't take soft drink when thirsty. And what Joan said. Processed food may contain too much salt for your mineral/water balance.
posted by runcifex at 8:26 AM on March 6, 2017


Orange juice and dates will also help prevent cramps.
posted by corey flood at 8:27 AM on March 6, 2017


Also maybe some pineapple juice...for reasons...
posted by sprezzy at 8:31 AM on March 6, 2017 [10 favorites]


I would not change up your diet at all. Eat what you normally eat. You don't want to suddenly find out that certain foods give you the farts or... worse.

I have first hand experience with this.
posted by bondcliff at 8:34 AM on March 6, 2017 [18 favorites]


Gotta second joan_holloway's comment hard, including the magnesium powder. Also have had first hand experience with this situation.

HAVE FUN!!!!!
posted by cocoagirl at 8:57 AM on March 6, 2017


In the past I've had widespread cramping which my physician and I determined to be caused by a deficiency in magnesium, which I remedied by taking supplements, and also by eating lots of walnuts which are evidently a source of magnesium. So... "eat all the things" might be the best advice for obviating any nutritional-deficiency-caused cramping.

As a guy who is of a similar age, also chunky with a terrible diet, and who has diabetes, I've been amazed to discover after minutely monitoring my glucose levels and other health markers for years that exercising intensely even just once or twice produces an (albeit small) positive effect that can last for days. My point being that when I was younger I thought that you pretty much had to carry out a disciplined program of regular exercise for weeks or months to obtain any real benefit from physical activity; but on the contrary, even if you get in just a handful of irregularly-spaced exercise sessions in the next couple of weeks, it may be worth it, and quality may pay off more than quantity.
posted by XMLicious at 9:06 AM on March 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Thank you all, great suggestions!
posted by sockerpup at 10:41 AM on March 6, 2017


sprezzy's pineapple suggestion is one I've heard given to men; for women, the rec is kiwi and strawberry. (Caveat: don't go so overboard with anything sugar-y that you tip yourself into a yeast infection.)
posted by furtive_jackanapes at 12:53 PM on March 6, 2017


Nth on eating real food, but yeah two weeks isn't such a game changer. If you reduce the intake of junk and ramp up the water intake, that's a good complement to... cardio! If you sweat hard every other day, and walk and stretch on the rest, your skin will look great and your energy level will soar. Have fun!
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 11:03 PM on March 6, 2017


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