Workout on an EMPTY stomach or after EATING?

rankinsect

For me, it's after a meal based on when I have time to work out. Apart from not exercising hard immediately after eating (which makes me nauseous), I don't think it matters. It's a lot more important to be active when you can than to be active at any particular time relative to meals.

mobogogo

For me I can never eat ..... Even though I wait an hour plus after I eat I feel like I'm going to vomit

Cylphin60

Usually in the morning before eating. No reason really other than it's convenient for me, although it's been afternoons lately because busy lol. I don't really feel/notice a difference either way. I just make sure I get it done.

RoxieDawn

Sometimes fasted, sometimes before, sometimes during.. I tried it all ways.. makes no never mind in the grand scheme of meeting my goals.

321BooM

I work out on an empty stomach... well, I have lunch at 1pm and work out at 6pm.
If I eat first I feel sick and then give up

TAKCEGM

I prefer to work out on an empty stomach. Generally first thing in the morning, right after I get outta bet. Only reason being is that is when its fits in my schedule. But, it works for me!

KrazyKrissyy

I love working out fasted. I do IF (2 hour eating window at night, preferably before bed). My energy goes downhill for the day once I've eaten anything (hence, why I made the switch to IF).

youngmomtaz

No food for me if cardio is involved! I have hypothyroidism and therefore digest VERY slowly. If I have eaten within 4 hrs of my workout I will puke! Even a fast walk has me queasy. Before heavy lifting I can eat all I want though. So usually I do cardio early in the morn or after work about 4pm because I usually don't have time to eat during my work hours. Lifting gets done after my afternoon snack or after my large supper and before bed.

My cals in and cals out are the same no matter if I workout fasted or fed so I see no need to stress over it.

snowflakesav

It does not matter for most workouts. Most of us store plenty of glycogen in our liver and muscles to get us through hours of exercise. with restricted carbs this balance could be different.

daj150

For me it depends on the workout I'll be doing. If I am doing something like HIIT or endurance, then if I do an empty stomach I'll be sick afterwards and usually not have as quality of a workout. Where did you actually read this though? The concept itself is pretty thin without other factors.

DavidRocketts

My workouts often involve cross-country alone. I tried this on an empty stomach and passed out twice after about 4 miles. I would have something. I recently read protein before exercise and carbs after... anyone hear this?

OhMsDiva

Awolturtle wrote: »

I tend to work out on an empty stomach. If I push myself a little too hard with something in my stomach I end up getting nauseous.

That's me. Plus I get up at 4 am to workout and I'm not hungry

fbchick51

Found the article the above poster was referring to

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3388628/Men-exercise-eating-women-burn-fat-scientists-reveal.html

Very interesting read and something I've never actually seen before

runawaycowgirl

If its just a walk in the morning I can do it empty, but a gym session I need fuel.

If you train to big on an empty stomach without fuel, your body starts attacking itself to find the energy.

RhysT28

My morning before work cardio session is always fasting, seems to work for me, the initial few minutes can feel a bit tough, but that may also be because its 6am!

Before my weigh training session in the evening, I usually eat something to fuel up, I cant lift as heavy if I dont.

LivingtheLeanDream

Do what you prefer as it really doesn't matter. I prefer to eat before hand as it gives me the energy to have a good workout (I workout first thing )

microwoman999

My typical is on an empty stomach if I workout in the morning. I may have water sometimes even a cup of coffee. However if I worked all day and I know I need a workout I will eat a small snack before I go for a workout. But it has to be small nothing to big.

berrios96sean

Realistically you should have some type of carb load before you do any kind of workout. Since a lot of people have problems holding down good before hand then don't force yourself just build up a tolerance overtime. I would advise anyone sincerely interested tolook at the three pathways inwhich the body uses fuel. Everyone of these involve carbohydrates of some sort so if you are eating low carbs your body is already depleted. You won't be matabolizing fat as fuel in an intese workout your body just isn't designed to do that but it will at a low intensity. My advice if you want to train fasted do low intensity cardio in the morning it is something I have been doing for years in preparation for competitons.

Mack344

I personally say workout with some sort of food or supplement first. I feel weak as a kitten on a empty stomach. Cardio is slightly different though, I usually run or cycle on a empty stomach first thing in the morning

missh1967

JstTheWayIam wrote: »

I never lift empty
But prefer to do cardio empty

x2, although I can handle a little bit of food before cardio, depending on how intense I'll work out.

But lifting? The more food, the stronger I am.

Gimsteinn

I can't workout if I've had something to eat.. I have to do fasted cardios and I can't eat for at least 3 hours before I go lift.
I've tried eating small portions, eating light, eating heavy and so on.. But if theres anything but water in my tummy I will throw up

aelunyu

In the winters I work out at 6pm, after a whole day of eating and work and usually in April or May, I transition to 6am workouts on an empty stomach for about 4 months.

I used to think that I was much weaker in the morning months, but I'm certain now that it's not the case. The only difference: I wouldn't get a big pump in the mornings (which is sort of demotivating), though my strength and endurance did not suffer in the least bit, and it took much longer to warm up after a night of sleep.

11Templars

Cardio on an empty stomach, lifting never. That's just what works for me.

That being said; Most folks I've met aren't lifting to gain muscle. Although, some may think they are, they're actions say otherwise. Most are just going through the motions seeming confused as to why they don't see the results they want.

Master_Butcher

Let your body guide you. If you feel to eat pre workout, eat. If not, don't. For me I despise training with food in my stomach. I enjoy working out completely fasted. I feel stronger, I feel more focused and best of all there's no sign of insulin secretion during my workout. In general my body thinks it's in the Serengeti running from a buffalo stampede during my workout. That's how primed for action it is on a fasted workout.

ritzvin

I need food before a run. If it's right before the run though, I won't try to eat anything more complex than Clif bloks or a gel (usually sugar/rice syrup based)(something more than that immediately before a run will not agree with me).

boppety

I want to exercise in the morning but i don't want to get up crazy early to eat and have 30ish minutes for that food to really fuel the workout. So I'm considering fasted yoga is a better alternative for the AM and keep my "real wrkout" after lunch.

suzesvelte

singingflutelady wrote: »

KittyVida wrote: »

I was having this debate with a male friend. After much research I learned that it is best for MEN to workout on empty while WOMEN should eat a little something. Our bodies process differently. But in the end, you should do what you best perform by.

So the question is: Which have you been doing and why do you prefer it?

What's the source of this information?

This small experiment was getting a lot of publicity in the UK last year. IT is the same one reported in the Daily Mail mentioned above but a bit clearer about what they actually tested and their conclusions.

bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4glyLcrhgqQtPGQYM11l1YJ/the-big-experiment-how-can-i-get-my-body-to-burn-more-fat-without-doing-more-exercise

ilfaith

If I am working out in the morning, usually I just have coffee beforehand...sometimes half a protein bar, some oatmeal, or a banana if I wake up feeling hungry.

Last night I made the mistake of eating dinner right before a Zumba class. I had missed lunch and was starving at 6 pm. The class was at 6:45, and I couldn't wait until 8 pm to eat.

CranstonJ2016

Depends...if I'm running, I need something, nothing too big but I like a banana or something just to fill my tummy. If not, and I stop at a red light, I always feel like I'm going to barf...oddely enough because there would be nothing to barf.

Lifting though, I can do either or...i prefer an empty stomach because either way I am friggin starved after lifting. So I have my veggies and stuff for my hr long car ride home after lifting, keeps me from stopping and getting something "bad" on the road.

Timshel_

Have read a lot of research on this and I haven't seen any majority conclusion either way. Anecdotally, I like to have something like a banana or yogurt an hour or two before working out, then do some protein food /meal an hour or two after.

I think the real question is if people feel personally comfortable with a fuller belly or not.