Eat before or after exercise?

Cammyfaye

Hello, I would like to know if it is best to eat after you exercise or before? and if you do happen to
eat before exercise, how long should you wait before you workout?

ccbulldog83

I have always ate before I exercise. I usually have half my morning oatmeal before my run/walk and eat the other half within 30 minutes of returning home...Or just eat a banana before I go. I can eat right before I run and have no problem. But I run the pace of a slow turtle:laugh:

Shelleben82

Definitely eat something before your workout to fuel your body! i made the horrific mistake of working out extra hard on an empty stomach yesterday. Needless to say, glucose levels were really low, i had a vomit headache and was tko for a few hrs afterwards. I had to get home and eat some peanut butter. Ill never make that mistake again, but anything with complex carbs is great, a small snack with something that has healthy fats and maybe something lite w proteins after your workout would help just as much to avoid that after workout starvation feeling!

Cammyfaye

thank you I tend to like to exercise after I have something to eat but wasn't sure if that was the best way to go.

Cammyfaye

thank you Shelle...I certainly don't need more headaches as I just had some surgery to get rid of the ones I was having already..I just really want to do things this time around the right way and not do things that might discourage me.

tacticonned

I made the mistake of only eating a banana before a high cardio class (I was running late). So I skipped eating something decent - I exercise in the morning so I normally have cereal with fruit. Fast forward half an hour into the class, I could not focus and had no energy. Eventually I had to bolt for a toilet bowl. I lost my banana. I felt so embarrassed despite the fact no one knew. I felt better after and when I came back I managed to get back on track and finished the class. So yeah, definitely eat before you exercise...

stephanieross1

I train at 6:30 in the morning, I always put something quick like a banana or slice of toast, and then have a bigger meal after. But I think it all depends on the time of day, I come home from work at 6, and I don't eat before working out and feel perfectly fine. Everyone reacts differently

bellaa_x0

i typically work out after work so i eat something an hour or so before i get to the gym so i have something in my system to fuel my workout and then i have a protein shake right after.

ghosthackexe

I eat before I lift but I typically dont eat before cardio since I do the latter very early

InForBacon

If you feel fine working out on an empty stomach, do it. If not, eat something. It really is that simple.

CyberEd312

This will strictly come down to personal preference, I am up at 5 a.m. and eat a big breakfast by 6 and am heading to the gym by 7 and that works great for me but do a 180 and say I go to the gym around 5 in the afternoon and the most I want is a protein bar or carb bar before I hit the gym and then have a big meal once a return home.. It just basically comes to what you can adhere too..... Best of Luck.......

ninerbuff

Definitely eat something before your workout to fuel your body! i made the horrific mistake of working out extra hard on an empty stomach yesterday. Needless to say, glucose levels were really low, i had a vomit headache and was tko for a few hrs afterwards. I had to get home and eat some peanut butter. Ill never make that mistake again, but anything with complex carbs is great, a small snack with something that has healthy fats and maybe something lite w proteins after your workout would help just as much to avoid that after workout starvation feeling!

Body doesn't have to be fueled before workout. Some people prefer to eat something, some don't. I train fasted. I eat up till 11:30pm at night, train anywhere from 9am-11am in the morning then eat after 12:00pm on a daily basis with no issues or lack of energy.
It will be preference from person to person.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Early_Riser

I never eat before. Always do my morning workouts on a fast. Afternoons when/if I run, I don't eat/drink for a couple hours before.

kefryar

Your body needs fuel to work, eat something small beforehand-too much might cause you to cramp up

jrline

Really depends on the workout I am doing. Don't want too much food in there sloshing around if I am going on a Run.

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Cammyfaye

Thanks everyone for the feedback..I will try it a few different ways and see what seems to work best for my body. I really appreciate all the advice

ksy1969

Definitely eat something before your workout to fuel your body! i made the horrific mistake of working out extra hard on an empty stomach yesterday. Needless to say, glucose levels were really low, i had a vomit headache and was tko for a few hrs afterwards. I had to get home and eat some peanut butter. Ill never make that mistake again, but anything with complex carbs is great, a small snack with something that has healthy fats and maybe something lite w proteins after your workout would help just as much to avoid that after workout starvation feeling!

Body doesn't have to be fueled before workout. Some people prefer to eat something, some don't. I train fasted. I eat up till 11:30pm at night, train anywhere from 9am-11am in the morning then eat after 12:00pm on a daily basis with no issues or lack of energy.
It will be preference from person to person.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

^^^^This +10 ^^^^^^^

I get up at 4:30 AM and I am at the gym by 5AM. I have always worked out on an empty stomach. Doesn't matter if I was going to run 5 miles, do 30 minutes on an elliptical or do a heavy lifting session.

If my body needs energy, it knows where to get it. That wondrous fat wrapped around my awesome six pack abs. :laugh:

Disclaimer: When I did long runs, say over six miles, I always tried to eat something before I left the house. I am not doing those anymore though.

WhatMeRunning

As a logician, my response is "true".

Would have been the same answer if it had been an AND comparator as well.

lizarddev

i typically work out after work so i eat something an hour or so before i get to the gym so i have something in my system to fuel my workout and then i have a protein shake right after.

This ^^^^^^ I do the same.

Laughter_Girl

I generally eat after I workout. If I should eat before any cardio exercise, I have to wait nearly two hours before I can get to my exercise. If not, I get sick - literally. Listen to your body.

Briargrey

Totally personal preference. I exercise at 5:30 am and can't stand to eat that early. So I work out and eat around 8 or 9 am. No issues. It's totally what works for you.

tycho_mx

For "real" workouts, before and after. This is not weight management related, but performance. If you don't care about the latter or you just exercise to lose weight then it's not as crucial - just don't pass out and you'll be fine.

As for what to eat, no fiber, no high fats, low protein, mostly carbs if the workout will be hard. No fun tasting your food twice (happened to me quite a few times). I read somewhere a guideline that cited 100 calories tops for each hour before a really hard workout, topping at 4 hours where the stomach was considered to be fully emptied. So, only have 30 minuts? a gel. 2 hours? a couple of pieces of toast and jam. I think this was for aerobic exercises, though - not for going to the gym.

Let's say a 2+ hour bike race, or a 4+ hour ride. Sure, you can do them fasted, but you're unlikely to do them well. So I have good meal 4 hours before, then a small snack about 40 minutes before, maybe during warmup. Sipping from an energy drink and maybe a gel, banana, or something easily digestible. As for "you don't need to be fueled" - I don't eat or drink much or at all for 1 hour events, but I find I have better finishes if I drink and fuel my workouts. I think this mostly applies to endurance athletes and especially cyclists since it's relatively easy to eat on the bike.

Then about 400 calories with about 25 g of protein quickly afterwards to facilitate recovery. Again, if you're just doing this to lose weight it is not that important - have a meal whenever it suits you. In my case I'm likely to have another strenuous session in the next 12 to 24 hours, and this helps me.

spicypepper

I never eat before. Always do my morning workouts on a fast. Afternoons when/if I run, I don't eat/drink for a couple hours before.

I exercise in the early morning and I never eat before. I do 45 minutes of cardio on the arc trainer and then 15-25 minutes weight training and I eat when I'm finished. I don't think it matters, so long as you eat something. Do what your body tells you it needs

ttcbelieve

This is the recommendation from the gym I participate in
Workout type: if it involves elevated heart rate, sweating, HIIT type….Do not eat within 2-3 hours prior to work out.
Workout time. Avoid food for early morning workout
Weights/Lifting / Training. You can eat as close to work out as possible