Should you eat before a morning workout?

MaggieMay131

Okay fellow fitness people! Help me out.

Personally I believe that you need to eat breakfast to fuel your workout. Not eating is like trying to run a car with no gas. Food=energy.

There is so much talk out there about how not eating before a workout will help you burn your fat vs. your carb stores. (I just got into it with a coworker about this.)

Can someone who REALLY knows what they're talking about point me to some research or an article about this? Maybe I'm wrong, but I really feel that if you have the energy for a better workout (coming from EATING), you will in turn burn MORE calories because you have more energy--- in turn burning more fat.

I don't normally workout in the morning anyway, but if I do I grab a banana or a PowerBar beforehand. I will get dizzy and lightheaded if I don't eat - I don't know how anyone else can do it!

KrisPage

interesting in the answer to this.

lauble

bump

koolgurl84

This was one of the topics on the Dr. Oz show and he said that you shouldnt eat before a morning workout. Because you will burn fat quicker, when you eat, you have to burn through what you ate first before you begin to burn fat.

shreddingit

dont eat before you workout.....ARNOLD said it and hes right!!!

Nomomush

It has been proven scientifically that your body will burn fat stores when there is no food/carbohydrates to burn (food in your stomach)

Here's an article that will give you more info on the science behind it:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37492881/ns/health-fitness/

mjf0461

I have always grab something small, bananna or apple before working out just to have something on my stomach. And I drink plenty of water..

sharesb

I don't know the answer but I am interested in knowing too..I literally roll out of bed, walk to my living room, put on my running shoes and do a 30-40 minute workout every morning. Sometimes my eyes are still shut when I am doing the warm up -lol- :blushing: but once I start I wake up and have never had problems being tired or finishing my workout.

I did used to have a personal trainer who would get mad at me when I showed up at the gym without eating. I don't really want to have to wake up at 5:30am just to eat before I work out though....

mikeyrp

I need at least 45 minutes between eating a (small) meal and working out.

I suck at working out hungry - but I don't get hungry until after 10:30 am

Um.

Do what you like with that info.

edorice

I'm sorry, but I'm not going to look through the journal of medicine to get the answer for you. What works for MY morning workouts is half of a banana. The type of workouts that I do would cause me to barf all over my family room floor if I took in more than that. I immediately follow that up with food or a protein shake for recovery.

mikeyrp

I have always grab something small, bananna or apple before working out just to have something on my stomach. And I drink plenty of water..

Agree with that though - Hydration is essential!

PlanetVelma

Here's just one of the million articles on if you should eat before a morning workout. I do think it's a good idea to at least eat something small and having a nice glass of water. You may burn more fat by not eating, but you will not be able to perform at your highest intensity level, at least I know I wouldn't be able to! LOL

http://she-fit.com/should-you-eat-breakfast-morning-workout/

melaniecheeks

There is a theory that "fasted cardio" ie working out before eating can help burn fat. But it doesn't suit everyone.

Years ago i used to jog before breakfast about 3 times a week, and I found that a pretty good way of shifting weight. Just recently I've started doing a 7 am class at the gym - and I've done that with only my mug of lemon water. And it's only once a week. If I find that it really hinders my effort, then I'll think about taking something light before I work out. But I think there's a need to listen to your body, experiment for sure, but find what works for your individual make-up.

smithalcutie

I never eat before my workout. I drink lots of water though. i think it depends on you

MaggieMay131

I understand not everyone is going to go searching for me-- I looked a little myself-- just wondering if anyone in the industry knew anything relevant offhand. I used to be a trainer as well, I just enjoy reading up on this stuff! : )

tophatchief

Hi,
Eat something in the moring! Please do so. I know that I was always finding excuses why I could not have breakfast before I left for work. I found out & knew it was wrong to do so. I have changes my morning routine of fixing something for breakfast. Gives me fuel for the day and I feel fantastic.

Have you been tracking your food count throughout the day? That will help so much and you'll see what you eat throughout the day-gives you energy.

Good Luck-Aloha

Woodman725

I'm excited to see what someone comes up with. I only work out in the morning, as that is where I have made time. I rarely get up early enough to even scarf down a power bar before my 5:30 workout. I just feel like if I eat something before I work out it might upset my stomach. Maybe just a powerbar or a banana will help. I'll give it a try this week. I started two weeks ago eating a much more substantial breakfast and it made a huge difference. Several reasons, a couple are: gave me more energy to start the day, gave me less calories to consume later in the day.

koolgurl84

I have always grab something small, bananna or apple before working out just to have something on my stomach. And I drink plenty of water..

I agree. If you cant workout at all without having something in your stomach, grab a fruit. That way it shouldnt take that long to burn through that, and you begin to burn those fat calories quicker as well.

pinkgigi

I ride my bike for an hour 3 times a week starting at 6.00 a.m., I don't want to get up earlier to have breakfast so I go on an empty stomach. I used to eat before I went, but then I got really hungry by 9.30 a.m., so I ended up eating more. When I ride for longer I have to eat before I go or I feel faint.

The bottom line is experiment with what works for you.

GG

Jellyspider

The science behind burning more FAT calories due to less sugars in your bloodstream I believe to be true from what I've read. However; if you can workout harder and feel better having eaten breakfast, then do it. I think the important part is total cals in, total cals out.

Harshberger24

This was one of the topics on the Dr. Oz show and he said that you shouldnt eat before a morning workout. Because you will burn fat quicker, when you eat, you have to burn through what you ate first before you begin to burn fat.

I read the same thing in Health magazine.. do not eat (so it said)

corpus_validum

I think the answer is like everything else in life...it DEPENDS.

There's so much variability: type of morning exercise, intensity, duration, etc.

Obviously, if you're going to have an intense morning workout (e.g. HIIT, P90X, resistance+cardio circuits, etc.) you should take in some nutrition around an hour before.

But a very good authority (Lyle McDonald) on fasted cardio and fat loss had the following response to this very commonly asked question:
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/fasted-cardio-and-fat-loss-qa.html

runningneo122

This book is what I swear by and this author has trained thousands of people. Fasted cardio is the way to go if your body can handle it. Eating B4 weight/resistance training is a must. Here's a review:

http://www.reviewsexclusive.com/burn_the_fat_loss_programs_reviews/burn_the_fat_feed_the_muscle_review-1.htm

anna441

I really do not know the answer too....

If I am hungry then I do drink a glass of Orange juice and then I do my work out...