Dinner before or after working out?

ycolon726
ycolon726 Posts: 5 Member
edited February 2019 in Health and Weight Loss
I normally get home from work between 6-7pm and would like to start going to the gym. However, i know eating late is not good. Should i be eating before or after the gym? Im normally starving by 7pm so dont know if i could even work out feeling hungry. Any suggestions?

Replies

  • SCoil123
    SCoil123 Posts: 2,111 Member
    Why do you think eating late isn’t good? Meal timing is a matter of preference. I lost most of my weight eating 2-10pm. I’m not hungry until later.

    I personally can’t workout when I’m full and like a big dinner so I’d have a snack, workout, then come home and eat a big meal.
  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
    Eating late is fine. Eating dinner before or after workout out is about preference and scheduling (ie do I have the time to eat before I workout/would I prefer to go right to bed after coming home after working out).
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,224 Member
    As long as eating late doesn't interfere with your sleep, it's fine to eat late. I did it often during weight loss, and have continued during maintenance. No problems, personally.
  • lin_be
    lin_be Posts: 393 Member
    kimondo666 wrote: »
    just dont eat 2-3 hours before sleep.

    Okay, I’ll bite. What happens if you eat 2-3 hours before sleeping?
  • Danp
    Danp Posts: 1,561 Member
    kimondo666 wrote: »
    just dont eat 2-3 hours before sleep.

    Or 1 hour, or 30 mins, or eat as you're getting into bed to sleep if you want.
  • lin_be
    lin_be Posts: 393 Member
    ycolon726 wrote: »
    I normally get home from work between 6-7pm and would like to start going to the gym. However, i know eating late is not good. Should i be eating before or after the gym? Im normally starving by 7pm so dont know if i could even work out feeling hungry. Any suggestions?

    It’s really up to you. Maybe eat a bit more at work to hold you over until after the gym? I can’t workout with a full stomach so I usually eat after I’ve worked out.
  • Danp
    Danp Posts: 1,561 Member
    kimondo666 wrote: »
    lin_be wrote: »
    kimondo666 wrote: »
    just dont eat 2-3 hours before sleep.

    Okay, I’ll bite. What happens if you eat 2-3 hours before sleeping?
    you just get worse sleep, the food are not that good digested. Thats all. Nothing much.

    Or you'll sleep just fine and since digestion isn't a conscious body function you don't need to be awake for it to happen.

    I agree though that eating just before bed means nothing much will happen.
  • SCoil123
    SCoil123 Posts: 2,111 Member
    kimondo666 wrote: »
    lin_be wrote: »
    kimondo666 wrote: »
    just dont eat 2-3 hours before sleep.

    Okay, I’ll bite. What happens if you eat 2-3 hours before sleeping?
    you just get worse sleep, the food are not that good digested. Thats all. Nothing much. provided you are healthy and dont have stomach ulcers.

    I fall asleep more deeply on a full stomach personally. It’s a matter of preference.
  • endermako
    endermako Posts: 785 Member
    Eating times are a personal preference. Eating times do not inhibit weight loss. I work out before I eat, because personally i will get nauseous and puke.
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    I need a snack of some kind before working out, but can't have a full meal. You just need to find what works for you.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    it doesn't matter when you eat.
    however, working out, i eat light before. otherwise, stuff jiggles around in my stomach and makes me feel a bit barfy.

  • AmyC2288
    AmyC2288 Posts: 386 Member
    Sometimes I'll grab a very small snack like a hard boiled egg or string cheese before working out in the evenings, but I always eat late (around 9-9:30) after my workout and have had no issues. It's only "bad" to eat late if it bothers you (sleep issues, tummy issues etc...), if not go for it!
  • xxzenabxx
    xxzenabxx Posts: 935 Member
    Why don’t you take some food to work, eat a few hours before your workout then do your workout. That way you won’t be digesting the food and you’ll have enough energy. I’d recommend some complex carbs and some protein. Basically a nice juicy sandwich with protein of your choice should do the trick.
  • MikePTY
    MikePTY Posts: 3,814 Member
    I do both. My class is 7-830. So I usually eat a first dinner around 4pm and a second dinner around 930 PM.
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,741 Member
    kimondo666 wrote: »
    just dont eat 2-3 hours before sleep.

    I eat most of my food the 2 hours right before I go to bed and have had no problems losing weight or sleeping or my food being digested.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    ycolon726 wrote: »
    I normally get home from work between 6-7pm and would like to start going to the gym. However, i know eating late is not good. Should i be eating before or after the gym? Im normally starving by 7pm so dont know if i could even work out feeling hungry. Any suggestions?

    Eating late is fine...I eat dinner most nights around 8:00/8:30. Whether you workout before or after would just be personal preference.
    kimondo666 wrote: »
    lin_be wrote: »
    kimondo666 wrote: »
    just dont eat 2-3 hours before sleep.

    Okay, I’ll bite. What happens if you eat 2-3 hours before sleeping?
    you just get worse sleep, the food are not that good digested. Thats all. Nothing much. provided you are healthy and dont have stomach ulcers.

    I think this very much depends on the individual. I eat dinner around 8/8:30 most nights and I'm in bed by 9/9:30 most nights and I sleep just fine.
  • 1BlueAurora
    1BlueAurora Posts: 439 Member
    Maybe a small protein shake before the workout, and light dinner after.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    SCoil123 wrote: »
    kimondo666 wrote: »
    lin_be wrote: »
    kimondo666 wrote: »
    just dont eat 2-3 hours before sleep.

    Okay, I’ll bite. What happens if you eat 2-3 hours before sleeping?
    you just get worse sleep, the food are not that good digested. Thats all. Nothing much. provided you are healthy and dont have stomach ulcers.

    I fall asleep more deeply on a full stomach personally. It’s a matter of preference.

    Yep, I'm like a baby - like to go to sleep with a pretty full stomach.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    ycolon726 wrote: »
    I normally get home from work between 6-7pm and would like to start going to the gym. However, i know eating late is not good. Should i be eating before or after the gym? Im normally starving by 7pm so dont know if i could even work out feeling hungry. Any suggestions?

    I can't workout fasted. In your case, I'd probably eat lightly before and after.

    I workout from home these days, but previously when I was hungry when I went to the gym I'd bring a protein smoothie in a spill-proof shaker cup.
  • New_Heavens_Earth
    New_Heavens_Earth Posts: 610 Member
    I have a small cup of coffee before the gym, a bottled protein shake after leaving, and dinner when I get home. The protein cuts down the rungries.

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