Early morning workout before breakfast - good or bad?

narmin92

I have a desk job which occupies pretty much my whole day. I've heard a lot that exercising without having had anything to eat is not good, but I really want to do my workout (outside run) the first thing in the morning and breakfast afterwards since I don't have a lot of time before work and I am very tired in the evening and I may just skip it. Is it a good idea?

Nikki10129

As long as it works for you. I don't mind exercising before breakfast, but if you feel faint or dizzy you might want to eat a little something, even if it's just a banana

narmin92

@Nikki10129 I used to go for morning runs and felt great until about a year ago. For relocation and job reasons I stopped doing that about a year or so ago. Now I want to get back on track again but with everything that I have been reading or hearing, I just thought maybe it may do more harm than good..?

TR0berts

It makes virtually no difference outside of whatever works for you.

Personal n=1 anecdote: I used to train first thing in the AM then ate breakfast afterward. Everything went well. I now train - because of switching gyms to one on my way to/from work with no showers - in the afternoon after work (which means I ate breakfast, lunch, and probably a snack) or at lunch. Everything is going well.

Nikki10129

What harm do you think it will do? A lot of people do fasted exercise like this, first thing in the morning before breakfast. I once tried after breakfast and ended up throwing my breakfast up.

narmin92

@Nikki10129 I have heard some say that if you eat after you work out your body doesn't burn that incoming food as it would an hour or two after a workout, and instead you break into your muscle mass. Then it's another legend I guess. I also think that AM workout is the best way to start a day, kept me fresh and positive throughout the day always.

bbell1985

This makes no sense to me. Unless your are wildly malnourished and running a marathon, what do you think a little exercise without breakfast will do to you?

TR0berts

narmin92 wrote: »

@Nikki10129 I have heard some say that if you eat after you work out your body doesn't burn that incoming food as it would an hour or two after a workout, and instead you break into your muscle mass.

You're always utilizing fat and - to a lesser extent - muscle for energy. Even if you eat beforehand. The food you eat helps fuel you and/or replenishes the tissue you're using. IOW: it doesn't matter.

melaniedscott

Good...because your brain is still asleep and can't talk you out of it. Maybe that's just me.

aamberrr

I almost always work out before breakfast and have had no issues. I actually prefer it. Your body has plenty of fuel stored, so not eating before your workout isn't going to do any harm.

gophermatt

Sounds like bro-science designed to sell breakfast bars or magazines. Burn more than you eat and get movement when you can.

mrramsey1969

I have noticed that when I exercise before I eat breakfast my heart rate is lower that if I exercise after breakfast. i.e a little fuel makes things go... Will it have any positive or negative impact in the long run, probably not.

Nikki10129

Yeah no. It doesn't matter when you exercise your body is always going to be pulling from your various energy stores. Losing weight you'll always lose a little muscle, but you aren't going to lose more before breakfast than if you worked out at some other time of day.

Sounds like you're one of those morning people I wish I was, so workout whenever you feel you're most likely to!

GottaBurnEmAll

I have to run on an empty stomach or else whatever I've eaten would come right back up. I always run on just a glass or two of water, first thing in the morning. You have plenty of glycogen stored to work out early in the morning without eating.

It's all down to personal preference. OP, give it a try and see what works best for you.

nowine4me

Same here. I chug some water and out the door at 6. In fact, I don't eat until I get to my desk at 8:30.

callsitlikeiseeit

i wake up at 4. drink copious amounts of coffee. gym at 6 30. work between 8 30-9.

then, i might have a cup of yogurt or something.

listen to your body and do what it needs.

DanLoginov

narmin92 wrote: »

I have a desk job which occupies pretty much my whole day. I've heard a lot that exercising without having had anything to eat is not good, but I really want to do my workout (outside run) the first thing in the morning and breakfast afterwards since I don't have a lot of time before work and I am very tired in the evening and I may just skip it. Is it a good idea?

Not a bad idea but I personally cannot do that as I will feel "full" for the rest of the day making me skip meals or just not getting enough calories daily. It does vary from person to person, whatever works for you really.

It does have benefits, exercising in the morning but so does in the afternoon. Don't just do cardio, you can only achieve so much with it.

rosebarnalice

I used to swim before work and pack a breakfast to eat at work afterwards. There were ba few days that, by the time I got to eat I was ravenously hungry, but I don't think the schedule did any true harm.

JKinHalfMoonBay

Because my main form of exercise is vinyasa flow yoga, I have to practice on an empty stomach or I'll throw up in a hand stand, lol. I do my practice (60-90 mins) and then have a green smoothie. There's usually about an hour lag from when I get out of bed to when I get on my mat and I have no issue with feeling weak or dizzy through my practice. Like with most things, give it a try and see how you do. If you find you feel weak half way through your workout, try having a piece of cheese or some milk for fat & protein before exercising. Good luck!!

jennifer_417

Some people can, some can't. I'd give it a try and see how you do.

SCoil123

If I eat before working out I feel sick

David988

when I eat first, then work out.. I'm lazy, I can feel the food is hopping around when I'm running :l

sympha01

Personally I think all meal timing is something that -- if it makes sense at all -- it makes more sense for elite athletes who are likely to notice a very small % change in efficiency or recovery. That's not most of us. Working out fasted will not do you harm in any case.

Do what feels good to you. For myself, I prefer to do non-cardio and light workouts fasted; for a harder workout and for cardio I need a little something but not much: 2 or 3 dates or half a banana is plenty. Working out with a recent meal inside me feels GROSS. That's me. You do you.

cruisin99

Definitely before breakfast, i don't know anyone who can run after a meal.

anl90

Personally, in the past when I did morning walks, I made that the very first thing I would do. I definitely felt much more energized than if I would have ate first, which seems to slow me down. But every person is different - do what makes you feel the best!

mommamia30189

I just started doing that last year- I get up at 4:30 and go to the gym by 5- home at 6:15 then get my son up for school and we are out the door by 7:30. I have found that as long as I make this my plan the night BEFORE and lay out my gym clothes and gym bag so everything is ready then it goes much easier. Because when you wake up sleepy its easy to talk yourself out of going. Make up your mind the night before and then just go like a robot. I usually wake up when i am on the exercise bike. I feel so much better during the day when i manage to do this. And when i get off work at 5 sometimes i will go back to gym and do some weights or i just stay home and chill because i worked out already. Its a great feeling when you feel productive!

nutmegoreo

GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »

I have to run on an empty stomach or else whatever I've eaten would come right back up. I always run on just a glass or two of water, first thing in the morning. You have plenty of glycogen stored to work out early in the morning without eating.

It's all down to personal preference. OP, give it a try and see what works best for you.

I'm like this with any intense exercise. If I eat before, I need at least 2 hours after before I can workout. So if I'm doing an early workout, I'm better off just having some water/tea, then eat after.

OP, do what works for you. Unless you are doing endurance sports or you are an elite athlete, it really won't matter.

lifeandleaves

I've always done my early morning workouts (running, circuits) without eating beforehand. If I eat before, I feel sick. Others in the classes I've done have learned the hard way not to eat before a heavy workout (by vomiting halfway through the class...).

If you eat just after and load your carbs and protein, you should be fine. If you find it's making you feel faint or unwell not to eat beforehand, have something small, like a few nuts or a banana.

szkodzt

I am an early morning workout person. If I don't get it in first thing in the morning, I most likely won't be able to squeeze it in any other part of the day. I do not eat before and have no problems with energy or being hungry. Most days I am working out from 5-6AM and don't end up eating my breakfast until I get to work around 8. Hasn't caused me any issues.