Trainer: Work In The Right Foods Before Working Out

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Lydie Langevrn is working to become a personal trainer, so she's extra careful about what food she puts into her body before her feet hit the treadmill.

"It matters," she told CBS2's Jessica Moore. "It gives you more energy, gives you fuel to workout."

Her coach and celebrity trainer Harry Hanson says eating the wrong foods right before you get your sweat on can drag you down.

Fried or fatty foods are a big no-no, but high fiber foods such as vegetables can also cause problems.

"You don't want to eat anything that's going to sit in your stomach trying to breakdown while you're training, especially if it's an intense training session," said Hanson.

Spicy foods can cause heartburn or cramping, and carbonated drinks can leave you feeling gassy or full.

Hanson recommends his clients eat a banana 20 minutes before a workout

"Because it's a light carbohydrate, a complex carbohydrate which will sustain insulin into your, or sugar into your system over a long period of time," he said.

Fitness client Dimitri Ouattara says he avoids anything that leaves his body feeling heavy before he trains.

"I like to feel light when I work out because I can do more," he said. "I feel more free, I'm more mobile."

And just like getting set-up, what you eat after the workout is just as important.

Hanson says having a protein bar or lean meats and veggies will help your body recover and repair itself.

Experts say nuts are another food you may want to avoid right before a workout, because nuts have a high fat content and take longer to digest.