Puking while exercising

Austadophilus5

I know it's disgusting, but its a reoccurring issue I've been having. Since I work early in the morning, I eat breakfast, usually something small like a granola bar or a whole wheat bagel, then I walk to the gym, get on the elliptical for ten minutes and feel a horrible churning in my stomach. Minutes later, I'm running to the bathroom, puking up in my mouth.

I mean, I've heard it's because of my breakfast, but I try to eat as little as possible before I work out. My gym trainer said if I don't bite into something, I'll feel faint and pass out. So, any tips?

FrnkLft

Yeah, try not eating something before you go to the gym.

Or maybe reevaluate how hard your intensity for now.

jos05

I never eat before I hit the gym in the morning. I've never had a problem feeling faint. I have had a lot of people tell me to eat something before I work out... I tried having half a banana before working out. But honestly I just like sticking to my normal 4 glasses of water plus my pre-workout. (noexplode, at the moment)... I usually work out for about an hour and a half.

But as soon as I walk in the door from the gym...I have either a whole banana, a scoop of peanut butter, or I make myself some egg whites... gotta have that protein.

Have you tried to workout with out eating first?

PaigeO88

Maybe try switching to a liquid breakfast for a while, like a glass of almond milk, special K chocolate breakfast drink, or just something that is more easy to digest.

I go for long runs early in the morning and have a glass of chocolate almond milk right when I wake up, then I work out, then I have some oatmeal and fruit. The almond milk gives me nutrition and energy to get through my workout without putting too much stress on my digestive system.

auddii

Some days I have a glass of almond milk, others I have nothing at all before going to the gym. I'd skip listening to your trainer on this and give it a try and actually see how you feel. You may feel fine or at least better than puking.

rsmorlen

Try something lighter than a granola bar like an apple This will give you some energy for your workout and because it's simple sugar, you're body will digest it fast. You could try working out on an empty stomach as well. See what works for you.

Austadophilus5

Admittedly, I had not tried working out without eating before. With what my trainer said, I just started eating less like just having half a bagel or an apple and it still wasn't working. So, I'll try that and just drink a ton of water before and during and maybe that will solve the problem.

ren_ascent

When I was in basic training we worked out THEN we went for breakfast. Probably to avoid cramping and the issue you're having. Try hitting the gym first and really early.

SashleyA

I prefer to eat before I work out (I get a bit faint if I don't) but, have found that if I don't have something that's protein rather than carb based I get a bit of heart burn or sometimes bile in my mouth. Not sure why, but I have found that if my breakfast is yogurt or something like an apple with peanut butter I don't get the same reaction as I do if it's cereal or toast.

mteague277

I think everyone is different as far as eating and working out. I know people who eat a huge meal and can go sprinting on the treadmill! I personally can't eat or drink too much before an intense work out. If I were you I would stick with an empty stomach or maybe something a little easier to digest like a piece of fruit. I know for me I can handle an apple or banana but that is about it!

40mpw

Another thing to experiment with -- maybe give yourself a little more time to digest before you start working out. For most workouts (cardio, strength training), I like to work out two hours after a small meal. For other workouts (yoga), I like to work out four hours after a small meal. I figured it out through trial and a whole lot of error.

MrsSWW

I never eat breakfast until after I've worked out, and I've never felt faint.

hbrittingham

I would suggest trying to workout on an empty stomach to see if that's better for you. Or if you have to eat something, eat it at least an hour to an hour and a half before going to the gym.

When I had to workout before work, I wouldn't eat anything. I was running a couple of miles on the treadmill or doing 30 minutes hard on the arc trainer, I never had an issue. Of course, I wasn't totally awake either, so that probably helped.

Skeebee

Admittedly, I had not tried working out without eating before. With what my trainer said, I just started eating less like just having half a bagel or an apple and it still wasn't working. So, I'll try that and just drink a ton of water before and during and maybe that will solve the problem.

When I worked with a trainer last year, he told me the same thing...but still didn't work. For me? It was too high intensity in too short of a period of time after eating. I HAVE to eat before a workout...but, now if I do, I have to eat 2 hours before a workout; no less than and hour and half. Maybe try doing that and eating earlier..sucks if it is early in the morning, but may be the only way around it.

MoreBean13

Uhhhh this happens regularly or it happened once?

You don't HAVE to eat before you workout, I would skip the food and see how you feel. Bring a gatorate with you in case you get lightheaded. Eat afterwards when your stomach feels stable.

tmorgan2010

you should probably wait longer. I eat an egg or something with tons of protein with water and then wait twenty minutes before going to the gym. Eat and then get ready.

DMZ_1

This is not good. Try not eating before morning exercise first, and it is persists, it may need medical attention.

Sometimes your best answers will not come from strangers in a forum but medical professionals.

Tacticalmedic13

Your body will naturally shunt blood away from the stomach in times of high-stress. You are having a reaction because your body has shopped the blood flow to the stomach but still stomach contents remain. In a real emergency vomiting could enable you to survive a life-threatening event. This is a natural reaction to stress but definitely not what you want at the gym. The good news is that this is usually a sign that you are definitely pushing yourself hard in the gym. To correct the situation you might want to try having some juice or other liquid before your workouts that do not stay in your stomach as long. The more your fitness improves, the less likely you are to encounter this problem.

17ChargerGirl17

I go to the gym at 5 in the morning. There is no way I can eat anything tht early in the morning. I personally don't eat anything for breakfast until around 9 or 930.
So I think it is just your preference. But if you feel that icky eating and then going, don't eat first. Wait until you're done.

alpine1994

Morning workouts are tough for me because my stomach bothers me whether I eat or not. I've found that working out after work is better for me, because it's about 3 hours after my afternoon snack so I'm not really hungry yet and I'm not still full. I really have to be careful about this because of my fussy stomach. It sounds like yours has been hanging out with mine

QueenBishOTUniverse

Work out on empty stomach - blood sugar crash and shakes

Work out with anything in stomach - upchuck city

I've just decided I prefer working out in the evenings. If you can work out in the morning on an empty stomach and not crash then definitely go for it because I know for most people morning workouts are easier to work in to the schedule. I've just never found a way I can do it without being miserable.

Sorry, not much help....

morethanthis0

If you feel fine not eating before your work out don't eat. I used to work out in the mornings and only ate breakfast after.

GingerLolita

Everyone's different, so your trainer's advice might not apply to you. Try not eating before working out, but maybe bring something with you for afterwards, like some trail mix or a granola bar and fruit. I've never had this problem and I can't work out well without something in my stomach. If you need something, a smoothie with some protein powder, a frozen banana, unsweetened almond milk or low-fat milk, and a tablespoon of peanut butter is my pre-workout go-to.

Maggie_Pie1

Do you also eat dinner late? I do crossfit at 5:00 am, and I've found that if, for whatever reason, I ate late the night before, then I get close to puke-point during my workout. It's unavoidable, sometimes, because I run after work, and don't get home/ready to eat dinner until 8 pm.

parmoute

In addition to playing around with which foods work best (or not) on workout mornings, I second the advice to pay attention to the intensity. If you don't have a heart rate monitor, that's a place to start, because often the heart rate readings on machines is ridiculously off.

Using the HRM will give you a sense of what your training zones should be (mine, for example, look nothing like what the textbooks say) and where you're at in them while working out. For example, this morning I was working out with my trainer and I could tell from the HRM numbers (and how I was starting to feel!) that we were pushing a little too hard. Even though we took lots of breaks to let my heart rate recover, I felt lightheaded after the workout, despite having had my totally normal breakfast and plenty of water.

I also know that feeling you mean in your stomach -- and I know how high my heart rate has to be and approx for how long before it triggers it. Using an HRM helps prevent me from getting into that position in the first place.

Good luck!

NiikouruDesu

Drink fruit juice or coffee before gym but nothing hard to digest

Mellyajc

How much have you changed your pattern recently? Is the exercise thing new? What time are you eating compared to what your body has been used to knowing is 'breakfast time'?

I've noticed my stomach takes a while to wake up, and putting food into it before it's ready gets uncomfortable.

I used to stick to meal shakes before long runs so as not to worry about digestive issues, but now I don't bother with anything. My mom gives me a bad time about this and says I'll have heart problems or something later...my partner read up on it and said so long as you're not feeling hungry or faint, it's fine.

Try something simpler like some juice - you'll keep the blood sugar up and have *some* calories to burn, but it might settle better than the granola bar/bagel. (If you're concerned about puking though I'd start with something less acidic than orange juice, that sounds painful to vomit).

Also consider if you push too hard too fast at the gym, but if that seems unlikely, I'd recommend trying something liquid/lighter, and then have a 'real' breakfast post-workout.

Jenni129

I have to wait a couple hours after eating before exercising or I feel like ralphing. I can't drink a ton of water before or during either, only sips. After the workout, I get a big drink.

saffron981

I have successfully worked out on an empty stomach, BUT I find that I work out a lot harder and longer when I've had a little someting to eat. You should try working out on an empty stomach to see which type you are.

Before my workouts, I do a green smoothie--spinach (or other greens), berries (sometimes), and stevia leaf mixed with water. My smoothies typically have 50-80 calories, mostly from veggie sugar. It really energizes me, but is extremely light and easy on the stomach.

jim9097

I don't know who this clown is that told you not eating would make you faint. Truth is, energy is stored in your muscles as Adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This is done several hours before you workout. You muscles hold approximately 90 minutes worth of usable energy. Once you run out of ATP then your body will turn to other sources which is when you will start to get that sick to your stomach feeling (Low Blood Sugar). You should be fine to workout first thing in the morning. I would just make sure your last meal is about 3 hours prior to going to sleep.

By the way the creation of ATP can be more quickly completed by eating fruits and simple carbs directly following a workout. If your muscles are full; then the carbs are converted to fat and stored for future use.

By the way this is a very watered down explanation, if you really want the science google it. Cellular respiration is actually a pretty interesting subject. To me anyways!

QueenBishOTUniverse

I don't know who this clown is that told you not eating would make you faint. Truth is, energy is stored in your muscles as Adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This is done several hours before you workout. You muscles hold approximately 90 minutes worth of usable energy. Once you run out of ATP then your body will turn to other sources which is when you will start to get that sick to your stomach feeling (Low Blood Sugar). You should be fine to workout first thing in the morning. I would just make sure your last meal is about 3 hours prior to going to sleep.

By the way the creation of ATP can be more quickly completed by eating fruits and simple carbs directly following a workout. If your muscles are full; then the carbs are converted to fat and stored for future use.

By the way this is a very watered down explanation, if you really want the science google it. Cellular respiration is actually a pretty interesting subject. To me anyways!

As someone who has damn near fainted from trying to workout in the morning with no food in, this does happen, so I wouldn't say it's bad advice, just not applicable to everyone.