To Eat or Not to Eat Before a Workout??

Allsmiles1029

Hey All!! I'm curious to know if anyone fasts before their morning workout? I was recently told by my trainer to eat something before I workout. Normally I don't because I feel it messes with my stomach during a workout. If I do eat, its usually a banana, granola bar, etc... I found this article (below). Their is some good information in it but I wanted to hear about your own personal experiences. Thanks!


https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/eating-before-or-after-workout

Dani

azzeazsaleh5429

I work out in a fasted state. I normally do 16h water fast and just before I have my first meal I do my workouts. Its been working out well for me.

deputy_randolph

I always eat before, sometimes during, and always after lifting. I'm pretty much always hungry.

etherealanwar

Most of the time I will eat before going to the gym and it has not effected me negatively yet.

TavistockToad

If i am doing a short workout or run first thing in the morning at the weekend, i will do it fasted. if i am doing a long run i eat breakfast first.

during the week i exercise after work, so usually have a pre workout snack first.

sardelsa

I would do whatever makes you feel and perform your best. If that is on an empty stomach there is nothing wrong with that.

I workout around lunch so I will eat breakfast in the morning, then a light snack
and coffee about an hour before, then candy before and during my lifting sessions. That works best for me.

kenyonhaff

It's your choice. For years we've been told "eat even if your stomach is bothered by it" but now the wisdom is "you really don't have to eat if you aren't up for it."

I really need a cup of coffee unless I "bounce out of bed". But since I'm usually doing a yoga morning exercise I don't really want food in my stomach.

BattyKnitter

It really depends on what works for you! I have to eat before a workout or I end up feeling faint during.

Dilvish

I don't eat before a workout either. I usually wake at around 4:00 AM and don't eat until around 9:00 AM and that's after my morning exercise routine.

Eating before a workout just helps you get through it. Some people need it and others don't.

Of course the simple theory is that you can workout longer or harder if you have some food energy in your system.

missysippy930

Fasted. Water as needed during workout. I feel sluggish if I eat before. I workout very early in the morning.

MonkeyMel21

I work out in the mornings before work and only have about 40 minutes start to finish and do just fine with nothing but coffee and water. On the weekends I will do longer sessions, sometimes in the morning before eating or sometimes in the afternoon at least 1 or 2 hours after lunch. I don't particularly notice a difference in energy either way.

JustAMurmur

Personal preference. I always train fasted. That is what works for my body.

pierinifitness

@Allsmiles1029, to answer your question, need to know what your your current fitness, health and wellness goals?

mbaker566

short run, no food
longer run or workout, i eat a cereal or candy bar or a stroopwaffle

sijomial

For me it's either fed or fasted depending on my particular eating and exercise schedule that day.

Today I skipped breakfast, did a hard circuit training session and had lunch afterwards.
Other days I'll have breakfast - doesn't make any discernable difference to my training performance, as long as it's not a heavy or high fat meal just before exercise I feel fine.

Only time I must feed before exercise would be a very extended duration cycle ride when I will eat before, during and after to fuel my ride and recovery properly.

PS - If your trainer tells everyone they MUST eat before working out I would question his/her competence. If they insist you must despite being told it messes with your stomach then I would look for a new trainer.

slbbw

I always exercise fasted first thing in the morning. Only exception is exercise longer than 1 hr.

CharlieCharlie007

I get up T 230AM to train FROM 3 TO 5. I drink BCAAs,

LivingtheLeanDream

I have done both, if I do eat beforehand I have more energy so its best for me personally to eat.

MissDeeDee78

I'm usually in the pool in the mornings, so I fast until I get to work and have breakfast there at my desk.

confidenceinrain

On weekdays I work out after work, and I generally don't have a snack, so it's usually been about 5 or 6 hours between lunch and exercise. On the weekend I go early ish and usually have a little breakfast first. (If we are planning a big breakfast, like eggs, I just have a coffee or banana before and eat after though.) I don't like to be too full but going to the gym on a truly empty stomach can make me too hangry later on.

endermako

it's a personal preference. I do seem to workout better if i eat before but i also notice a heavy feeling in my stomach that makes me feel a little sick. So i usually eat after for that reason.

AnnPT77

If I don't eat before a serious first-thing-in-the-morning workout (above mild intensity, or above about 20 minutes), I struggle during the workout to finish it or to keep the intensity high; afterwards, I'm more likely to feel ravenous (in ways that are risky for a hedonist like me ). I do better if I eat a light breakfast, and I've even fine-tuned my breakfasts to work for different activities (more carbs for on-water rowing vs. spin class, basically). I'm eating close to the workout - often within the half hour before.

On the flip side, I have the stomach of a peasant. Within reason, I have no trouble working out after eating: No upset stomach, no unsettled feeling.

Later in the day, I use how I feel before the workout, along with knowing when/what I last ate, to decide whether I'd do better with a snack before the workout.

So: I don't do real workouts fasted, if there's a reasonable alternative.

But I think this is a 100% individual thing, something each person needs to figure out for their own bodies (and it may even differ by workout type).

claireychn074

deputy_randolph wrote: »

I always eat before, sometimes during, and always after lifting. I'm pretty much always hungry.

I’m the same - it’s a standing joke at the gym that I have a picnic when I train 😋

sarahEA88

For me it depends on your "morning workout" definition.

If it's a 9am Saturday HIIT class, then yes, something filling like a breakfast sandwich, but but done eating at least 45 minutes beforehand and drinking lots of water to digest.

If it's a weekday, ungodly early, pre-work short run, then not really. I need something to get some sugar in my system, but most things don't sit well. I've actually found that 100% juice boxes work well. They are easy to always have on hand, and seem to fit the small margin of getting some sugar and still sitting well.

dragon_girl26

If I don't eat something before I workout, my energy lags and my performance suffers. So, I always eat at least a yogurt or something.

whatalazyidiot

I eat breakfast before, but only because of timing. I haven't noticed a huge difference with how I feel, but my workout is always between breakfast and lunch, so it just works out that way.

MikePTY

I traditionally eat 2-3 hours before my workout. I have stomach issues so I don't like to eat too close to a workout, but I find that if I go too long without eating before my workout, I don't have quite the same performance.

helene4

Morning work out (6am-ish)- I down a glass or two of water before and that’s it. I prefer not eating before and I have plenty of energy

Afternoon work outs I might have a handful of almonds before the workout if I’m getting hungry

kami3006

I eat before and during. :bigsmile:


But, as other have said, it's all personal preference.

lx1x

I eat few hours before any major workout.. if I dont.. I'd crash midway ..

RunnerGrl1982

Personal preference, but it also depends on the intensity of the workout. I typically run fasted in the morning unless I'm scheduled for a long run. If that is the case, I'll eat and drink something in the morning roughly 45 minutes before getting out the door and starting my workout.