Should you REALLY eat in the morning before a workout?

ThatFitChick20

I've read numerous times in numerous places of the importance of eating within an hour of waking up....BUT I've also heard that working out on an empty stomach is the way to go. So what is it really?? I weight train and do cardio in a day. So should I fuel up before the workout or hold off and burn the stored fat?

janejellyroll

There is no magic to eating within an hour of waking up.

There is no magic to fasted training.

You should make the decision based on how you feel when you exercise without eating (do you feel you can work harder on an empty stomach or do you feel like you need some food?).

zoeysasha37

I never wake up and eat. It's about preference. There's not enough science to back either of the theories you've mentioned above.

snickerscharlie

When you eat in relation to exercise makes no difference in weight loss.

EvgeniZyntx

not important. eat when you want.

errollmaclean

janejellyroll wrote: »

There is no magic to eating within an hour of waking up.

There is no magic to fasted training.

You should make the decision based on how you feel when you exercise without eating (do you feel you can work harder on an empty stomach or do you feel like you need some food?).

This!

muscleandbeard

If you're doing cardio, I suggest empty stomach. I've burned more fat this way. If you're lifting weights, eat so that you have the energy to lift and available nutrients to build muscle.

girlinahat

there is some new research coming out that shows women and men burn fat differently, so women do better if they eat a small meal before working out, and men after, but it's probably negligible and up to you how you feel.

Yi5hedr3

Consume a Whey Isolate Protein drink with addition BCAA's. Do NOT consume Carbs or Fats, because you want to burn fat while preserving muscle.

livelovebbg

I'd probably barf if I ate before my morning workout! It just comes down to personal preference.

TrickyDisco

girlinahat wrote: »

there is some new research coming out that shows women and men burn fat differently, so women do better if they eat a small meal before working out, and men after, but it's probably negligible and up to you how you feel.

Watched BBC's Trust Me I'm A Doctor the other week and they tested two groups of people for this and came to the same conclusion - that women should work out after eating and men before.

EvgeniZyntx

TrickyDisco wrote: »

girlinahat wrote: »

there is some new research coming out that shows women and men burn fat differently, so women do better if they eat a small meal before working out, and men after, but it's probably negligible and up to you how you feel.

Watched BBC's Trust Me I'm A Doctor the other week and they tested two groups of people for this and came to the same conclusion - that women should work out after eating and men before.

I have yet to see 24 hr partition data research that suggest that this is true. Or even significant.

TrickyDisco

I always work out after eating something and have done for years, just feel better doing it that way. As girlinahat said, it's up to you how you feel. Was an interesting prog tho, also concluded protein shakes and energy drinks were a complete waste of time/money, not that I'd waste money on either of them anyway.

EvgeniZyntx

TrickyDisco wrote: »

I always work out after eating something and have done for years, just feel better doing it that way. As girlinahat said, it's up to you how you feel. Was an interesting prog tho, also concluded protein shakes and energy drinks were a complete waste of time/money, not that I'd waste money on either of them anyway.

Again - depends. Energy drinks for a cyclist hitting a wall can significantly help during training or an event. Protein shakes might help meet a protein goal without excessive extra calories. Context matters, they aren't a waste to all people at all times.

sijomial

Unless you are doing two hours plus of intense exercise then no need to fuel up. Personal preference.

The fuel source(s) you use during exercise are really determined much more by the exercise intensity than whether you have just eaten.
For weight loss/fat loss the fuel used during the exercise itself is virtually irrelevant.

snickerscharlie

muscleandbeard wrote: »

If you're doing cardio, I suggest empty stomach. I've burned more fat this way.

Curious as to how you would know this.

lacroyx

livelovebbg wrote: »

I'd probably barf if I ate before my morning workout! It just comes down to personal preference.

Same here. I go on a empty stomach otherwise nausea sets in.

TrickyDisco

Thanks for 'educating' me there ... never knew context mattered.

_incogNEATo_

What if I wake up in the afternoon because I work at night?

Point being: there's no magic time to eat. Eat when you're hungry.

KJLaMore

For me it was a bit of trial and error to figure this out. If I am doing a light work out, like just walking or walking and doing some easy weights, I was fine to eat after. But the days I am running or doing intense cardio and strength training, I have to eat something and have it in me at least a half hour before my work out. For me, this means getting up and eating at 4am on those intense days. Early, I know, but if I don't eat; I won't make it through the whole work out with out shaking and nausea setting in. Try out a couple work outs and see what works for you. IF you are shaky during work out, just try something light before the next work out. A half a cup of yogurt, or a handful of nuts,or a banana...whatever is going to work for you.

EvgeniZyntx

TrickyDisco wrote: »

Thanks for 'educating' me there ... never knew context mattered.

Passive aggressive notes? If you believe otherwise go ahead and state it.

Your post that says energy drinks or protein supplementation are a waste of time/money is a pretty poor general statement. Protein supplementation can be part of a variety of dietary strategies - for weight lifters, for PSMF for people that feed on Soylent. And cost-wise it is sometimes more cost efficient (and easier to use) that straight meals. Is it needed for weight loss? Nope. But people don't use them solely for that.

GsKiki

Try both and see what works for you.
I personally prefer having breakfast within half an hour of waking up. But on the other side I don't like to have full stomach while working out.
Some people tho don't eat breakfast but always eat before working out. It's just your preference really.

TrickyDisco

Passive aggressive? Ooh, labels now. You were stating the obvious, of course context matters. But my post was merely giving my own opinion. Thankfully mfp allows everyone to have an opinion.

cristalina95

2 breakfast options that are good for pre-workout: slice of wheat toast w/ peanut butter, cinnamon & banana OR fruit/Greek yogurt/protein smoothie

Francl27

Up to you. I can workout on an empty stomach if I do it right away. If I wait even one hour, it's a disaster. Likewise, if I workout too soon after eating and it's an impact workout... bad idea. I absolutely can't eat oatmeal less than 3 hours before a workout either.

But meal timing doesn't matter... Eat when you're hungry.

snickerscharlie

TrickyDisco wrote: »

Passive aggressive? Ooh, labels now. You were stating the obvious, of course context matters. But my post was merely giving my own opinion. Thankfully mfp allows everyone to have an opinion.

Of course everyone is allowed an opinion. But don't be surprised when the knowledgeable peeps around here express theirs, too. Especially if yours is open to misinterpretation.

Bear in mind that most people who visit here are lurkers. It's just as important to get the information right for them as it may be for the OP.

TrickyDisco

snickerscharlie wrote: »

TrickyDisco wrote: »

Passive aggressive? Ooh, labels now. You were stating the obvious, of course context matters. But my post was merely giving my own opinion. Thankfully mfp allows everyone to have an opinion.

Of course everyone is allowed an opinion. But don't be surprised when the knowledgeable peeps around here express theirs, too. Especially if yours is open to misinterpretation.

Bear in mind that most people who visit here are lurkers. It's just as important to get the information right for them as it may be for the OP.

Oh, I wasn't surprised at all. The old 'open to misinterpretation' - lurked here for years and seen that a lot.

kshama2001

The only thing I like to do hungry is prepare a meal.

That said, I'm not hungry first thing in the AM and during the gardening season will often do a little gardening before work. If my sleep schedule allowed me to workout before work, I'd bring a smoothie with me so if I did get hungry, I'd have it. I'm currently doing cardio at lunchtime after eating lightly and strength training at night after dinner.

starryphoenix

Some of my most successful weight loss happened when I was eating a 1000 calorie breakfast and then hitting it hard at the gym.

Plus if you don't eat your body will use your muscle for energy. It also burns fat, but still it's not good. I read you can burn off glycogen really fast this way though as well, so if you really insist you should only do it extremely sparingly.

20likenow

I think it's personal preference. I'm new to this but can't and never was able to eat as soon as I wake. I wake up at 5 and have a glass of hot water and lemon then get to it. After I'll have a cup of coffee and then breakfast. Works for me for now

Mellie289

I take medication right when I wake up in the morning and I'm not supposed to eat for an hour. If I try to workout right after a meal, I feel sick or have terrible reflux during things like ab exercises on the floor. My preference is definitely on an empty stomach - and that might be first thing in the morning if I can muster up the motivation out of bed.