Easier for you to exercise first or eat right first?

SelestePenrice

AnnPT77

Huh? Some people get digestive distress if they eat too close to an upcoming workout, some people find their energy isn't ideal if they don't eat before a workout.

Theoretically, it makes no difference which a person does first. They should do the one that works best for them.

I'm one who needs to eat, otherwise I'm only good for 20 minutes of anything of non-trivial intensity, and even that feels miserable. I usually eat right before I go there, so 20-30 minutes before the workout, but I'm fine if I eat and work out right away. (I wouldn't eat something super heavy.)

But I often work out with other people, all doing the same stuff. Some of them can't eat before they work out, because if they do they'll get nauseated.

Eating right in a general sense is always a good idea, regardless of timing, but it's not necessary to treat it like a religious ritual in which only diet foods or superfoods are eaten, foods are strictly categorized as good or bad, and that sort of thing. That's orthorexia territory, and orthorexia at an extreme is an eating disorder.

nossmf

My interpretation of the question was whether a person should concentrate on getting their exercise routine established before they try tackling their overall diet, or if a person should have an eating regimen set up before they ever set foot in the gym.

To which my answer is: you do you. Both ideas (diet, exercise) are important elements of an overall fitness plan. Which you prioritize is up to you. Some people cannot exercise at all due to physical limitations; some people have no control over the foods available to them. Both sets of people can lose weight and strive towards better health.

SavannahStyles160198

Get to eating healthy

I believe trying to focus on eating better first, because truly that's more difficult than exercising, so then once you've gotten into a rhythm with eating well, exercising should come easier if you have the time for it.

herblovinmom

Get exercise in

Oops, i interpreted the question as which is easier for you to start the day with.? Start with food or exercise? I start my day with exercise and worry about food later. But I started my journey towards health with getting my diet right. And then added in exercise.

Corina1143

I interpreted like nossmf.
I was active when I was young, didn't know what exercise was, just worked hard, played hard.
When I was older, worked a desk job, adulted, went to bed.
I really needed to move first--to wake up my mind and body--to feel good again--to be me again--to find happiness again. Then I could think about improving me.
But I totally agree that people are different. You do what works for you.

AnnPT77

nossmf wrote: »

My interpretation of the question was whether a person should concentrate on getting their exercise routine established before they try tackling their overall diet, or if a person should have an eating regimen set up before they ever set foot in the gym.

To which my answer is: you do you. Both ideas (diet, exercise) are important elements of an overall fitness plan. Which you prioritize is up to you. Some people cannot exercise at all due to physical limitations; some people have no control over the foods available to them. Both sets of people can lose weight and strive towards better health.

Good point about the interpretation. You're probably right. I still think it's individual, though I'll admit to a slight personal bias toward the eating side of the equation.

Personally, I was already very active, working out pretty intensely 6 days most weeks, even competing athletically (not always unsuccessfully either, in age group comps) . . . while staying overweight/class 1 obese for around a dozen years.

I didn't materially increase exercise to lose weight, just made it more of a point to consistently include strength exercise alongside my more cardio-esque routine in order to preserve existing muscle.

In less than 5 minutes, without much effort, I can eat more calories than I burn in a solid hour of fairly intense exercise. I think many people who don't calorie count - and a few who do - over-estimate how many calories exercise burns, and don't recognize how many calories are in some common foods. A

Both exercise and reasonable calories/nutrition are important for health. Working on one or both, in either order, can be best for any one person.