Cardio on an empty stomach - so when can I eat ?

Alwayssohungry
Alwayssohungry Posts: 369 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I do my cardio in the morning on an empty stomach, presumably to burn the calories I'm holding on to. I've read that calorie burning continues for a bit after you're done exercising. So I'm not sure when I should eat my breakfast so the workout on an empty stomach does what it is supposed to. An hour after, half hour, thirty seconds ?

Replies

  • erinsueburns
    erinsueburns Posts: 865 Member
    You are thinking of calorie burns as discrete units of time, but the simply fact of the matter is that it doesn't work like that, it isn't even really something that resets on a daily basis. It ebbs and flows. As long as you are averaging out over the long term, that is what you need to pay attention to. Also, I don't buy into the whole exercise on an empty stomach, eat at least something to fuel your workout, you can workout harder that way.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    If you're working out at an intensity that justifies thinking in terms of recovery you should try to eat something within half an hour of finishing (ideally something with a carb to protein ratio of 4:1 - chocolate milk is ideal) otherwise eat when you want.

    The truth is that the difference between running (or, presumably other cardio) in a fasted state vs running after eating is negligible so just stick stick what feels right.
  • JBApplebee
    JBApplebee Posts: 481 Member
    If you're working out at an intensity that justifies thinking in terms of recovery you should try to eat something within half an hour of finishing (ideally something with a carb to protein ratio of 4:1 - chocolate milk is ideal) otherwise eat when you want.

    The truth is that the difference between running (or, presumably other cardio) in a fasted state vs running after eating is negligible so just stick stick what feels right.

    I run in the mornings before eating because from what I've read, you burn fat better that way, but there's information overload about different views, it's tough to say for sure.

    I have to second that you need to do what feels best for you. I run, then eat my greek yogurt with Kashi when I get to work.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    You are way over complicating things. Eat when you want to eat, workout when you want to workout. The only thing to worry about is getting the most out of your workouts (if you do better eating before, then eat before, if you do better on an empty stomach, then don't).

    Get the basics down before you worry about finer details like nutrient timing. Hit your cals, hit your macros, kick *kitten* in the gym, get enough sleep. Once you've got that down, then come back and see us.
  • Alwayssohungry
    Alwayssohungry Posts: 369 Member
    I assumed this was like all the other ridiculous ideas out there. It just happens that I roll out of bed and onto my bike and thought if I could get additional benefit out of that by eating a little later I would. I'll just stick to my usual KISS method.

    Thanks for the thoughts and comments

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