Eating before or after exercising?
leahadix3
Posts: 24 Member
Hey everyone,
I plan on doing a lot of walking as my main form of exercising (speed walking) for at least an hour a day 5-6 days a week. I am 5'1 and currently 160 lbs. and trying to get back down to 130 lbs. I plan on walking in the morning so would you recommend eating before or after? I plan on eating plain oatmeal most days and alternating with smoothies on others so i don't get bored (any other suggestions are welcome, quick and simple are best). Thanks in advance everyone, I am really trying to stick with this.
I plan on doing a lot of walking as my main form of exercising (speed walking) for at least an hour a day 5-6 days a week. I am 5'1 and currently 160 lbs. and trying to get back down to 130 lbs. I plan on walking in the morning so would you recommend eating before or after? I plan on eating plain oatmeal most days and alternating with smoothies on others so i don't get bored (any other suggestions are welcome, quick and simple are best). Thanks in advance everyone, I am really trying to stick with this.
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Replies
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The important thing for u to lose weight will to be in a caloric deficit.
For what you asked, it is your choice, as long as u understand what I said above.
Myself, I stop eating around 8pm, and don't eat again until 1pm the next day, after my workout.0 -
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Generally people recommend fasted cardio, but if you're lifting then it's usually beneficial to get a good meal in 45-90 mins in before a workout, which will usually help in terms of strength.0
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Whichever you prefer. It will not effect your weight loss goals as long as you are maintaining your calorie deficit.
If you would like to maintain your lean body mass and have the majority of your weight loss come from body fat then you may want to add in some resistance training and make sure you are getting in a good amount of protein everyday.0 -
Like most people already mentioned above, if its cardio wise i'd say do it fasted. Also for me since I had trouble hitting my calories back when i started that helped a lot since i was hungry after cardio so I could get a lot more calories in after that.
If its for lifting, I personally have to eat before i do but not toooo close to the workout other wise im not comfy.. i get bloated pretty easily ..
as long as you hit your calories you should be fine either way0 -
I find work outs on an empty stomach to be most uncomfortable.
I feel dizzy, light headed. I make myself eat whole grains + proteins (egg, cottage cheese) before i go to the gym for a work out class, whether cardio or strength training.0 -
Whatever works best for you. As mentioned already, some studies suggest fasted workouts are best. Others say there are less benefits and even disadvantages for women. In the end, everyones different, so do what feels right. If you're usually hungry after exercise, then eat after your walk. If exercising on an empty stomach leaves you dizzy and irritable, eat before.
But if you're just walking for weight loss and not for the fun of it, then I would say you're wasting a lot of time. Why walk 1 hour 6 times a week when you could strength train 45mins 3 times a week and get much better results? Don't be afraid to lift heavy, it will give you the best fat loss results, and when you do lose the fat, you'll have built muscle so you won't look all flabby (aka Skinny Fat).
But again, do whatever makes you happy, that's the most important thing!0 -
Do it fasted. Wake up. Go for a walk. Have a shower, get ready for work then leave! Skip breakfast. With oatmeal you're only eating carbohydrates which will make your body store fat, anyway. Let your body do what it evolved to do and burn it's own fat stores, repair cell damage, build muscle and recomposition your body. Start your first meal at lunch with lots of fat and protein after 16 hours since your last meal (dinner). Embrace the hunger - it means your body is working!0
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Yes! You should have something to eat before you go. DOn't listen to people who say do it fasted, or, it does'nt matter!
You need fuel before exercise. It doesnt have to be a huge amount, but you will need something. Generally, I will eat a Banana, or maybe have a Fruit Yoghurt, and a Glass of Water before I go to the Gym, or go for a Run. I usually eat about 15-20 mins before I'm due to leave.
Do that, and then once you get back, have your Porridge for your main Breakfast. (Sorry - Porridge = Oatmeal - I'm British;)0 -
But if you're just walking for weight loss and not for the fun of it, then I would say you're wasting a lot of time. Why walk 1 hour 6 times a week when you could strength train 45mins 3 times a week and get much better results?
Don't listen to this...its Rubbish...
Walking is the BEST way to lose weight, especially in the beginning.
WEight/Strength Training is only effective if you are doing ALOT of Compund Super-sets, and do them for an hour with very little resting.0 -
But if you're just walking for weight loss and not for the fun of it, then I would say you're wasting a lot of time. Why walk 1 hour 6 times a week when you could strength train 45mins 3 times a week and get much better results?
Don't listen to this...its Rubbish...
Walking is the BEST way to lose weight, especially in the beginning.
WEight/Strength Training is only effective if you are doing ALOT of Compund Super-sets, and do them for an hour with very little resting.
What on earth?
OP... Whether you eat or not before exercise is up to you. Some people need it, there don't. Try both and see what works for you.
Also, what are your goals? Eating in a deficit will give you weight loss, adding some resistance training will help with that goal but also give you a better physique at the end. It all depends what your goals are.0 -
You need fuel before exercise.
Yes, it's called body fat. Your body burns its fat stores to allow you to hunt, gather and prepare the food you found that day. You eat, replenish your fat stores (or in the case of weight loss, a little less) and the next day you do the same thing again - survive! There was no primitive human that quickly ate a banana before going out to find food.
Forget the porridge or oatmeal. Primitive humans didn't go out and stumble across heat treated, rolled and packaged oats. They found meat, plant matter, roots and nuts.WEight/Strength Training is only effective if you are doing ALOT of Compund Super-sets, and do them for an hour with very little resting
Hilarious!0 -
I saw the words "hunger means it's working!" somewhere on this thread and went oh HELL naw, but it's ultimately up to you.
I feel kind of sick if I eat before a workout, so I usually hit zumba fasted, then come home and bolt down some eggs or chicken or something. That's what works for me. Listen to your body. Be good to your body. And for god's sake, don't force yourself to go hungry, no matter what metabolic nonsense you're trying to achieve. That's not sustainable, you know?0 -
Wouldn't your body burn fat more efficiently when your blood sugar is low aka in fasted state? I try to exercise on an empty stomach but I just get way too hungry and it makes my time at the gym very miserable. I probably could get better fat burning if I had enough self-control to exercise while hungry.0
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At the risk of sounding like a broken record re: the other responsive posts: do what works for you.
I find that if I eat within about 2 hours of intense cardio, I get bad stomach cramps. So, if I work out first thing in the morning, I do it on an empty stomach.
On the other hand, I tried intermittent fasting and not eating until after my lunch-time workouts (on days I don't workout first thing in the morning) - but that didn't work for me either. I found I am not able to do as much/push as hard if I haven't eaten anything all day - so on those days, I try to eat a small high-protein meal around 9:30 (usually about 4 oz of Greek yogurt). I eat fewer calories than I know I will burn (eat about 150 calories, and burn close to 500), but it seems to give me enough to push me through.
Perhaps it's psychological, but whatever - it's what works for me.0 -
i lift then do cardio afterwards
i take a carb shake mixed with a protein shake before i work out about 30-45 minutes prior and for me i feel great while lifting, when i don't i find it more difficult to finish the cardio portion of my workout but i finish none the less0 -
Another one for whatever works for you. When I was doing a relatively easy workout, I ate before. When I switched to a more varied and strenuous workout, I switched to eating after because I was feeling groggy and nauseous. Now that I'm settled in to all changes, though, I'm finding myself a getting a little laggy in the concentration later in the workout. So I'm thinking I'll probably start doing both - having a bit of a light snack before and a regular meal after.0
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Hi OP -
Walking is also my main form of exercise (although I mix in some bw exercises 3x/week). I have a pedometer and typically log somewhere between 15k-20k steps a day, 5-6 days/week.
To lose weight, the only thing that matters is a calorie deficit. Let me repeat that.. to lose weight the ONLY thing that matters is a calorie deficit. Now.. say it with me.. "To lose weight, the only thing that matters is a calorie deficit."
So.. you should do whatever feels best to you.0 -
To lose weight, the only thing that matters is a calorie deficit. Let me repeat that.. to lose weight the ONLY thing that matters is a calorie deficit. Now.. say it with me.. "To lose weight, the only thing that matters is a calorie deficit."
So.. you should do whatever feels best to you.
This.0 -
I only walk for exercise because it is what I enjoy. It is my therapy as I am coping with a lot of other things right now. I tend to eat something small before heading out. ( 1 slice of toast and some fruit) and then I go walk 3-5 miles. I get home eat a hard boiled egg, drink some water and I have some fruit or waffles. (no syrup or butter).
I do my walks twice a day. I eat when I am hungry. I tried the starving method of losing weight and it did nothing for me. I was great the first week and after that nothing! If you do not get enough calories eventually your body will start to hold on to the fat as it believes its starving. This does take time though.
My advice is just keep track of your calories daily and make sure you are in the deficit. I managed to drop almost 40 pounds before I found this page by just walking and watching what I eat.0 -
Yes! You should have something to eat before you go. DOn't listen to people who say do it fasted, or, it does'nt matter!
You need fuel before exercise. It doesnt have to be a huge amount, but you will need something. Generally, I will eat a Banana, or maybe have a Fruit Yoghurt, and a Glass of Water before I go to the Gym, or go for a Run. I usually eat about 15-20 mins before I'm due to leave.
Do that, and then once you get back, have your Porridge for your main Breakfast. (Sorry - Porridge = Oatmeal - I'm British;)
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
All my workouts are usually in the fasted state....0 -
Whatever works for you.
Personally, I can't exercise on an empty stomach, I get really dizzy to the point where I can actually faint.
So, I wake up, have a 100~ cal snack (fruit or some other carb) + coffee, do stuff around the house (a light cleaning, planning the day, etc) for 45 mins, then workout.
After my workout I take a shower, then have my main breakfast.0 -
I always eat after I work out because I tend to get cramps if I eat before0
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But if you're just walking for weight loss and not for the fun of it, then I would say you're wasting a lot of time. Why walk 1 hour 6 times a week when you could strength train 45mins 3 times a week and get much better results?
Don't listen to this...its Rubbish...
Walking is the BEST way to lose weight, especially in the beginning.
WEight/Strength Training is only effective if you are doing ALOT of Compund Super-sets, and do them for an hour with very little resting.
Are you serious? I really don't mean to be rude, but refrain from commenting if you don't know what you're talking about. Walking is not the best way to lose weight. It's far from the best way. If she were morbidly obese and struggled with day to day life then of course I would suggest walking, but she isn't!
Let me break it down for you… Strength training builds muscle. Muscle burns more calories than fat. Therefore the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. Strength training (and HIIT for that matter) also creates the "after burn effect" where the body accumulates an oxygen debt and has to work "overtime" to get it back to normal, so even when you're done your workout, you're still burning more calories to get your body back to it's normal resting state (search EPOC strength training). Strength training also increases your metabolism, meaning (you guessed it!) you burn more calories!
I don't have anything against light cardio if that's what people enjoy most, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone for pure weight loss reasons. Please, do your research, I'll even direct you to a few sites:
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2010/02/01/what-burns-more-calories-cardio-intervals-or-weight-training/
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/case-against-cardio/#axzz32oiS0ZMz
Of course, I'd like to tell the OP that the most important part of fat loss is a healthy diet. You can run as many miles as you like or squat until you collapse, it won't change a thing if you have a bad diet!
Good luck on your fitness journey (:0 -
I eat some carbs before and protein after. How much really depends on you - I used to eat fruit before but it didn't sustain me throughout the workout, so now I usually have a small sandwich (still you don't want to feel heavy during the workout so you don't want to eat too much). But trial and error's the best way to know for sure. It depends on the workout you do and how your body takes it. For walking I don't think you'd even need to eat anything before the workout.0
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I'd just like to add that some people are talking about IF (intermittent fasting), and you should do your research before hand on the risks. I don't at all want to trash IF because I know many healthy women out there swear by it. But many say their bodies can't handle it. There has been little research into it for women, but what has been found it that it could POSSIBLY create fertility problems. Again, I don't want to trash it because I totally believe it can work fine for some and not for others. In my own experience, I found it great for the first month.. Until I didn't get my period. And then a few weeks later, I started eating normally again and I got my period almost straight away. I'm 18 years old, very healthy and have never had this problem before! Coincidence? Maybe, but I feel no reason to take the risk, I'm doing fine without IF!
I suggest you try it and see if it works for you, but if it doesn't, don't think you have to suffer through it to lose weight. It's not necessary and doesn't fit everyone!0 -
I'd just like to add that some people are talking about IF (intermittent fasting), and you should do your research before hand on the risks. I don't at all want to trash IF because I know many healthy women out there swear by it. But many say their bodies can't handle it. There has been little research into it for women, but what has been found it that it could POSSIBLY create fertility problems. Again, I don't want to trash it because I totally believe it can work fine for some and not for others. In my own experience, I found it great for the first month.. Until I didn't get my period. And then a few weeks later, I started eating normally again and I got my period almost straight away. I'm 18 years old, very healthy and have never had this problem before! Coincidence? Maybe, but I feel no reason to take the risk, I'm doing fine without IF!
I suggest you try it and see if it works for you, but if it doesn't, don't think you have to suffer through it to lose weight. It's not necessary and doesn't fit everyone!
Well I would think that doing research goes without saying.....
Anyone looking to lose weight, or get in shape should do their research.
I am not telling the OP to do IF.....
I am giving my personal opinion in regards to her question....
And to illustrate the point that if you don't eat before your workout, you will not collapse and die.
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I'd just like to add that some people are talking about IF (intermittent fasting), and you should do your research before hand on the risks. I don't at all want to trash IF because I know many healthy women out there swear by it. But many say their bodies can't handle it. There has been little research into it for women, but what has been found it that it could POSSIBLY create fertility problems. Again, I don't want to trash it because I totally believe it can work fine for some and not for others. In my own experience, I found it great for the first month.. Until I didn't get my period. And then a few weeks later, I started eating normally again and I got my period almost straight away. I'm 18 years old, very healthy and have never had this problem before! Coincidence? Maybe, but I feel no reason to take the risk, I'm doing fine without IF!
I suggest you try it and see if it works for you, but if it doesn't, don't think you have to suffer through it to lose weight. It's not necessary and doesn't fit everyone!
Well I would think that doing research goes without saying.....
Anyone looking to lose weight, or get in shape should do their research.
I am not telling the OP to do IF.....
I am giving my personal opinion in regards to her question....
And to illustrate the point that if you don't eat before your workout, you will not collapse and die.
I understand what you are saying, but you can't really illustrate anything because everyone is different. If I tried to do that I would certainly collapse (not die, but I would faint mid-workout for sure).0
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