Eating in the morning

Skmellyg
Skmellyg Posts: 158 Member
edited November 17 in Food and Nutrition
So my schedule got changed so now I can start by working out in the morning. Here is my problem . I usually eat two boiled eggs for breakfast and that is it. The other morning I did that and worked out for only like 10 minute because I got queasy because well I didn't eat enough. What is your routine to do a morning work out and what do you guys do for breakfast? Also how long do you wait till after breakfast to actually work out. Thanks in advance for the help!

Replies

  • JustSomeEm
    JustSomeEm Posts: 20,269 MFP Moderator
    I don't usually eat at all in the morning before exercise UNLESS I'm doing a really tough routine that day (any run longer than 8 miles, and I'll eat). Prior to exercise, if I'm going to eat something it's yogurt or cottage cheese plus coffee (because coffee is life). And I usually wait around 30 minutes to exercise, but that's only because I'm a runner, and I don't want to jiggle the food back up. You'll need to find what works for you, though. I know many folks who MUST eat before exercise, but I also know folks who don't.

    My normal routine is 1. Get up 2. Drink coffee 3. Go exercise (if it's a short session, I usually skip step 2, but I NEEEEEEEEEED coffee if I'm going to be exercising an hour or longer)

    Wish I could be more help, but good luck finding what works for you!
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    Usually just coffee before I workout. Sometimes a toaster waffle with peanut butter but then I wait at least 1/2 an hour. If I have eggs I usually have those after.
  • gamerbabe14
    gamerbabe14 Posts: 876 Member
    I don't eat in the morning and workout. I have coffee and some water and then eat after my workout.
  • anaxmann
    anaxmann Posts: 103 Member
    Nothing to eat for me before working out, but I go pretty early, just after waking. Also, I only work out for 60 or 75 minutes.
  • kayeroze
    kayeroze Posts: 146 Member
    I do morning workouts, and I just bring water with me. I eat after I workout.
  • lucys1225
    lucys1225 Posts: 597 Member
    I eat a big breakfast (roasted vegetable and egg casserole topped with shredded chicken, salsa and Kimchi) at about 4:30 am and get to the gym about 5:45 am. When I get to work at 8:00 I have a small snack.
  • pineapple_jojo
    pineapple_jojo Posts: 440 Member
    edited April 2017
    I eat after working out in the morning. Sometimes I have a shot of espresso first if I'm really sleepy and if it's going to be a tough one I might have a very small protein ball. I usually have eggs and or a shake afterwards.

    Edited for stupid typos.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I ride in the AM during summer to beat the heat...I typically ride fasted and then go to work and eat my breakfast.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    I exercise right after waking up. I never eat beforehand unless I'm about to do a very long run. If I do eat something, I'll usually just wait 15-30 minutes afterwards (which gives me enough time to walk my dogs, put on sunscreen, etc).
  • ccsernica
    ccsernica Posts: 1,040 Member
    I usually get this tasty egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich they make at my local coffeehouse, that comes in at about 325 calories. But I exercise in the afternoon. It's not too comfortable to do that if I have a meal in my stomach.
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    I can't eat before I work out, especially in the mornings. Ugh. Makes me very sick to my stomach.
  • cheriej2042
    cheriej2042 Posts: 241 Member
    I don't like eating before I workout but I recently switched my routine so that I eat breakfast within 30 minutes of finishing my morning workout. It's made a huge difference in terms of energy and ability to control my appetite.
  • bebeisfit
    bebeisfit Posts: 951 Member
    I have to eat before working out. I usually have 3 cups of coffee and a bowl of oatmeal with raisins and 1/2cup of milk. I wait maybe 10 or 20 minutes then I walk 2 blocks to my gym and start working out.

    Everyone is different and you'll need to figure out what's best for you.
  • Kim_Soper
    Kim_Soper Posts: 1 Member
    Everyone is different as bebeisfit said, and it really depends on your tastes and schedule. A lot of people need to eat a more substantial breakfast if they work out in the a.m. For me, I like something quick and easy and packed with protein on mornings I work out, since I'm often crunched for time. I normally eat it about 30 mins before I am at the gym.

    My go to breakfast is a protein shake (whey protein, 1/2 banana and unsweetened almond milk in my nutribullet) and a piece of whole wheat toast with a tbsp of natural peanut butter. I also drink 16 oz of water at breakfast as well.

    I also will make a batch of steel cut oatmeal over the weekend and have them portioned and ready to reheat. There are a ton of varieties you can make.


  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,261 Member
    edited April 2017
    For me, morning eating took experimentation.

    Overall, for satiation, I need a big meal early in the day, with plenty of protein. But a big meal doesn't sit well if I'm working out intensely soon after. OTOH, I crash & burn if I work out more than about 20 minutes fasted.

    I found that when I'm heading to spin class, it works to drink some kefir (3/4C) at home, then take with me to eat in the car a Coco Lite Pop Cake (it's a 20-calorie, tortilla-sized, crispy cracker-like thing) with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, and 3/4C of skim milk with vanilla.

    On mornings when I row, that's not enough. I end up low energy and crave-y. But if I put an Ezekiel pita under the peanut butter (only 80 more calories) and add some flax seed (another 55 calories), I'm good with that (plus the kefir & milk).

    But if I try to do the rowing breakfast before spin, I get reflux.

    Do you care about these details? No. The point is, what you need can be very individual, and the timing and nutrient composition may matter a lot. I don't know how you get there without experimentation.

    Does working out fasted work for you? Do you have enough energy to fuel the workout? Do you have enough energy for the rest of your day (even if you eat post-workout)? If so, that may be fine.

    If you (like me) crash & burn if you work out fasted, add carbs beforehand. For some, drinking them can be more effective than eating them, others, the reverse.

    If you get desperately hungry or crave-y during the workout, or later in the day (despite eating post workout), add the macros that satiate you to your pre-workout eating (for me it's protein, but for some it's fats or volume foods like veggies or fruit). If you feel sick to your stomach, try varying the specific foods.

    Eventually, you'll find the right formula.
  • You'll have to experiment and see how things work for you specifically on this subject. People's advice may help but it will vary person to person. Try doing some protein shake with some oats blended together should digest quick.

    When I tried intermittent fasting at first I had those same feels when I worked out, eventually your body will adjust. Just a matter of what you would prefer to do.
  • zdyb23456
    zdyb23456 Posts: 1,706 Member
    I almost always have an evening snack(s) so I'm usually good in the morning. I sip black coffee before going for my run.

    For my long runs I'm experimenting a little bit. I've been testing out eating half of a plain bagel before hand . I'm wary because I don't want any intestinal issues during my run! So far half a bagel seems ok. I did 10 miles this morning and only had a quarter of my bagel. I think next week for my 9 miler I won't bother. I think hydrating during my run is more important.
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    I get out of bed at 6 and gulp a glass of water, then run or lift. Get ready for work with coffee then eat breakfast.
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