Pre-workout snack?

maddiemadkins

yay or nay?

brant710

I'm curious as to what others say to this as well. I work out at 5am and it's really hard to eat anything before that.

cwolfman13

Probably not really necessary if you're getting adequate nutrition and calories throughout the day...that said, I don't really know the context of your question.

Gallowmere1984

I hit a protein/casein shake and a couple of apples before lifting. However, I get to the gym between 4:00-4:30 am, so yeah, I've not eaten since the night before.

Unknown

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midlomel1971

I say yes, but it depends on the person. On Thursdays I take a 5:30AM Body Pump class. The 1st time I did it, I didn't eat and I almost had to leave the class because I was on the verge of vomiting. The next time I had a slice of wheat toast w/ a bit of peanut butter and I was fine. However, I will say that I'm a morning eater. I'm always ravenous when I wake up and have to eat breakfast immediately. During Body PUmp mornings I'll have a hardboiled egg or a banana or peanut butter toast on the way to the gym.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

I've been swimming at lunchtime lately and I eat an apple before I go. I come back and eat the rest of my lunch.

TimothyFish

It certainly doesn't hurt anything if you do have one. Whether you actually need one depends on the intensity and duration of your workout. Personally, I often come home from work and workout before supper, but I'm so hungry that I'll eat a banana or something before I start. This morning I went for a bicycle ride and stopped for breakfast about 10 miles into it. The only thing I had had up to that point was a couple of cups of coffee and two or three swigs of Gatorade.

suzannephillips76

I'd say it depends on what type of workout you're doing. Fasted cardio (max 45 mins) is a great start to the day of you're looking to torch fat but I wouldn't imagine it's realistic to expect to do a heavy weights session on an empty stomach. A lot depends on whether you need to eat to get your motor started each day.

I chug a bullet coffee before a morning cardio session which gets me pumped then eat a high carb breakfast with some good protein and fats afterwards and REALLY enjoy my meal

sijomial

Most workouts just fit in my day and normal eating schedule.

Two hour cycle rides and upwards I will normally have something carby beforehand but that's frequently just breakfast or lunch.

You have loads of fuel on-board anyway (glycogen & fat) so it's more a preference than a need until you get to very long duration.

TR0berts

On Mon, Wed, and Thu, I usually lift after work. Since it's been a few hours since lunch, I usually eat a protein bar before.

On Sun, I lift before breakfast. Sometimes, I eat a protein bar before. Sometimes, I don't - depends on how I feel.

I probably don't really need it, but it helps keep me from getting hunger pangs and/or cranky while lifting.

margaretrican

Yay, if you need it. I sometimes need it but I do wait about 45 minutes to then workout after I eat because I do Cross-fit and I end up feeling nauseous when I push hard. I also will do protein shake instead of a snack.

wellthenwhat

Nope. I workout straight out of bed. About 3 hours later I have my coffee, then I might have a snack 2 hours after that. My main food doesn't normally happen until shortly after noon, small lunch, after noon snack, then I eat more in the evening.

sardelsa

Big yay for me. I need fuel before I lift. But not a huge meal that makes me feel bloated.

alathIN

Depends on your goal and the type of exercise.
Most aerobic exercise (ie below lactate threshold) can be done fasting. Doing some of your exercise fasting can help with fat loss.
If your pre-workout snack is primarily carbohydrate your body will preferentially use carbohydrate to fuel that activity. This can make it harder to lose fat.
If you are doing over threshold exercise (such as sprinting, VO2 max work, etc) your performance may suffer if you are fasting or carb depleted. But being carb depleted is a great way to make your body metabolize fat.

So if you are at or near your desired body composition and you are primarily concerned with improving performance, fuel up pre (and likely post) workout, especially for any work over threshold, or work > 60-90 min.
If your main goal is to lose fat, try fasting workouts, fasting recovery, and/or non-carb fueling.

ocrXfitter

I can't eat before lifting or running or I will throw up. Been there, done that. I go at 4:45 am.

maddiemadkins

suzannephillips76 wrote: »

I'd say it depends on what type of workout you're doing. Fasted cardio (max 45 mins) is a great start to the day of you're looking to torch fat but I wouldn't imagine it's realistic to expect to do a heavy weights session on an empty stomach. A lot depends on whether you need to eat to get your motor started each day.

I chug a bullet coffee before a morning cardio session which gets me pumped then eat a high carb breakfast with some good protein and fats afterwards and REALLY enjoy my meal

What benefits have you noticed from the bullet coffee? I read about it last yr on social media, but i've never tried...

maddiemadkins

cwolfman13 wrote: »

Probably not really necessary if you're getting adequate nutrition and calories throughout the day...that said, I don't really know the context of your question.

I'm wondering if a pre-workout snack helps with energy during a strenuous workout.

TimothyFish

Why not just try it for yourself? If it helps, keep doing it. If it doesn't, then don't.

pcc0001

A banana or 1 piece of TOAST with peanut butter

Jthanmyfitnesspal

I can add that it depends on your goals and your workout. I have read studies showing that fasting exercise in the morning promotes weight loss. This has limits. Once the glycogen is gone, the workout is over! So, if you're​ planning an all-day bike ride, I suggest eating before (and during)!

SarahMorganP

I eat dinner, go for a 30min walk and then come home and do my lifting. The nights I feel a headache coming on I will just do the lifting right after dinner otherwise the headache will get too bad to lift later and I lose a day.

RaeBeeBaby

Always before a morning workout. Something light like cottage cheese with strawberries or a protein fruit smoothie. I've tried going without but I get weak and lightheaded, so it's a must for me.

kaizaku

Make your own shake. Add a banana or two, one scoop of Whey protein. Drink it while you on the go.

babysheep1992

oatmeal, its has the carbs you need to help supply the body energy to exercise.

cgvet37

I like having some fruit post lunch.

zdyb23456

I workout/run in the mornings. I'm not a breakfast eater because I snack in the evening. I almost never wake up hungry. I'll drink black coffee, but that's it.

I'm training for a half marathon so I'm trying to figure out fueling. My long runs are now 9 miles. 10 miles next week. It's tricky. I'm not sure I need fuel, but I don't want to crash towards the end either. I'm not fast so, a 10 mile run means I'm running for an hour and half.

ocrXfitter

zdyb23456 wrote: »

I workout/run in the mornings. I'm not a breakfast eater because I snack in the evening. I almost never wake up hungry. I'll drink black coffee, but that's it.

I'm training for a half marathon so I'm trying to figure out fueling. My long runs are now 9 miles. 10 miles next week. It's tricky. I'm not sure I need fuel, but I don't want to crash towards the end either. I'm not fast so, a 10 mile run means I'm running for an hour and half.

I've run up to 17 miles without any fuel (or water) and was fine. If you fuel and hydrate enough the rest of the time it's all good.