What to eat and avoid
1. Stay hydrated
The hardest part of preparing for a physical therapy test is the most intuitive. Staying well hydrated seems like such a simple task that it is often overlooked. Staying hydrated involves much more than drinking water. The first suggestion is not to drink too much water. Drinking large amounts of water in a short period of time will remove necessary electrolytes from the body. Once the electrolytes have been removed, there is nothing in your body to keep you hydrated. The salts help retain water. This doesn’t mean that you should eat a ton of salt either. Too much salt will have the opposite effect. Eat something with a little salt while you drink your water. I recommend one banana for every three glasses you drink. If you are going to drink Gatorade the night before your physical therapy test, do so in moderation. Large amounts of sugar and salts will only dehydrate you. Gatorade should only be drunk after a workout to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. If you really want the best possible drink to hydrate you, go out and buy Pedialyte. I know it’s kid-friendly and not as sweet as Gatorade, but it’s designed to hydrate quickly. It is expensive, but a large bottle will work.
2. No “Carbocargas”
There is a common misconception that eating a large amount of carbohydrates the night before a workout will give you more energy the next day. This could not be further from the truth. When your body breaks down large amounts of carbohydrates, it processes them into energy or stored fat. This process also consumes a great deal of energy. The energy boost will come from the meals eaten within two to five hours, depending on what you eat. Carbohydrates break down faster than other forms of food. If eaten about 4 hours before exercising, they can be very helpful. Unfortunately, physical therapy tests are scheduled for 6 am. Getting up at 1:30 to eat is not a good solution. Sleep is much more important than a little boost of energy. The other problem with eating too much of one in particular is that your body cannot process it all. This causes more waste to be generated. Let you guess how a large amount of waste would affect you on the day of a physical therapy test. Since you are not getting up at one and you should not load carbohydrates, what should you do? Eat a moderate and balanced meal with protein, vegetables, and some carbohydrates.