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It is no secret that exercise and striving to be physically fit is a good thing. The studies have been done, we've seen the statistics, and we know that we should be on the move, daily. We've been told to limit our fat, limit our carbs and limit our protein. We're told to eat less and to eat healthy, and while we're at it, keep moving! Sometimes the fitness lifestyle can become so regimented we feel like a rat on a wheel, doing the same thing over and over and eating all the same boring foods. We keep exercising and dieting, yet we feel hungry and dissatisfied. While it is important to have a variety of exercise routines as well as meal options, one of the simplest things we can do to help with the hunger during and after a workout is to eat the proper pre-workout snack. Our bodies burn fuel when we are in motion, so it is important that we "fill up" our bodies with the proper fuel for optimum energy and efficiency.

One thing to remember before a work out is never to eat too much. A full stomach can cause cramping and a sluggish feeling that will only have us cutting our work out short. Eating a small, high energy snack thirty minutes before exercising will give us the kick we need, the long-lasting energy to finish, and we won't feel full.

Some of the best pre-fitness snacks are as follows:

* Granola. Granola is high in energy and has a sufficient amount of protein to offset the carbohydrates. Most granola has fat in the form of nuts, which is good fat.

* Cottage cheese and fruit. A 1/4 cup of cottage cheese and half of an apple or banana is almost like a small meal, but it is light and provides the needed energy for a work out.

* Peanut butter and jelly sandwich. A PB&J might make you think of sack lunches and public school cafeterias, but it can be a great pre-exercise snack. Peanut butter provides the protein and the bread and jelly give you the carbs. Half of a sandwich is usually enough, unless you're going for an unusually long run or have an extra long work out.

* Cheese and crackers. A low salt, low fat cheese like mozzarella or Swiss sliced up and eaten with a few crackers is a tasty treat right before a work out.

* Energy bars. Energy bars can be good, but surprisingly, they can also be filling. Usually half of an energy bar is enough, and you might want to have a bit of cottage cheese or string cheese with it, as energy bars are generally made mostly of carbs.

Aside from the pre-exercise snacks, it is very important that you stay hydrated. Gatorade is still a favorite among athletes, and it is fine to drink, but nothing beats plain old water. The key is to stay hydrated constantly. Don't drink a large amount of water right before your work out; rather, drink water all during the day to keep your body in a regular state of hydration. That way, if you only drink a bit of water before your work out, you'll be fine.