Who works out on an empty stomach?

vaughny

and if you do, do you feel you have greater weight loss success? I was thinking about doing this in the mornings but sometimes I feel like I need something in my stomach before workingout. Thoughts please...

1113cw

I do, several mornings a week. Up by 5:20, at the gym by 6:15 with only a cup of coffee in between. Personally it's just what I find works for me. With workouts later in the day I find I feel more "weighed down", not as much energy, etc. Maybe experiment and see what works for you best.

AmberLiscous

i workout in the evenings and i don't eat dinner before my workouts because if i do i feel sick to my stomach...but i do eat a snack at least an hour before my workout. (usually some kind of protein)...so far i have lost 23 pounds...but i don't think that this is the reason why

SusieB01

The people in the gym where I used to work out recommended that you have something in my stomach to keep from having a low sugar reaction. Until then I had thought it better to work out on an empty stomach, too.

katrina603

i work out first thing in the morning, no time to eat til after, i just like to get it over with...

katrina603

i work out first thing in the morning, no time to eat til after, i just like to get it over with...

casey1974

I wondered the same thing myself. I am a later eater and usually wait til I get to work at 8 to eat even though I get up at 6. I am not sure of the scientific pros and cons but getting the exercise in is better than not doing it at all so, I would think you have to do what's comfortable. Good luck!

Sherry1979

If it's going to be a tough workout I can't eat anything beforehand or my side will hurt so bad I can't finish my workout. But like today I just did a moderate pace on the stationary bike so I was able to do it after breakfast since it wasn't anything too intense. I think we just all have to find what works best for each of us and this is a great place to get ideas!

ladybug91254

I work out early before work, up at 5:00 at the gym by 5:45 or 6:00 so I don't take the time to eat. I eat at my desk later. I don't think it make me lose any more...just what works for my schedule..I can't imagine eating at 5:30!

rockabillydarlin

I physically can't. If I exercise in the morning without something in my stomach, I feel nauseas and light-headed. I usually eat something small like cereal or a Greek yogurt if I go in the morning; if I go in the afternoon, I usually have a granola bar or a piece of fruit 30 minutes to an hour before. But everyone is different! You should do what works best for you.

TubbsMcGee

I work out first thing in the morning, and find that I need at least a little something in my stomach, even if it's just a banana. The first and only time I ever went to the gym on an empty stomach, I ended up fainting on the stairmaster. I always have a giant protein-laden breakfast when I get home though!

Sigra

I do, but depends what type of work out i'm doing.

I love Cardio, so any time I do Cardio, like Elliptical, Biking, Yoga, Pilates I eat on an empty stomach otherwise I feel weird.
BUT If I'm doing strength workouts I have to eat something extremely small like a banana. If I eat anything more than that I will get sick.

^_^ It just depends on your body, some people get super dizzy and can faint if they don't have food before exercise.

carmendownes01

I do. May drink water or 8 oz of V8 splash, but that's it. Always workout first thing in the am on an empty stomach.

W0zzie

@amberlovesjames - pretty much same here. I am "not" a morning person - can hardly face life in the morning let alone working out LOL I don't have a meal before workout but almost always have some sort of snack - often a serve of nuts. Seems to be working for me so far.

gooberr4

I tried to workout on an empty stomach for a week. felt like ****. I try to eat something small like oatmeal or a piece of bread w/ some peanut butter on it or a nature valley bar. I feel like it gives me a little boost during my cardio.

dclouden

I prefer to work out on an empty stomach. When I eat shortly before, it makes me ill. However, I just recently had a nutritionist tell me that you should eat something within 30 minutes of waking up. So I've been trying to make sure that I at least have some carbs for energy, either a banana, or a mini bagel with peanut butter. I find that it doesn't bother my workout at all.

dclouden

I prefer to work out on an empty stomach. When I eat shortly before, it makes me ill. However, I just recently had a nutritionist tell me that you should eat something within 30 minutes of waking up. So I've been trying to make sure that I at least have some carbs for energy, either a banana, or a mini bagel with peanut butter. I find that it doesn't bother my workout at all.

Sreith

I run on an empty stomach, not necessarily by choice or because I burn more. If I eat first, I get cramps. I found I can drink something (smoothie or chocolate milk) but no food. I don't think it is healthy, but it is what I have to do. I do sprint triathlons and runs without eating first. Thank goodness they are early morning events.

cat3nv

If I am doing situps or crunches I can not have any thing in my stomach, but if I am doing anything else I need to eat or my blood sugar will get wacky. But I can not work out right after eating.

getfitdiva

For my morning workouts I don't eat before. I do drink some water. I do feel like I get a better burn and results with my morning workouts. Although I think any movement during the day is fantastic and contributes to your success.

vaughny

Thanks everyone for your responses!

kimeister

I just cannot eat prior to a workout. I feel weighed down and usually get nauseous halfway through the workout no matter if I eat 30 mins, 60 mins or whatever prior to my workout. After telling this to my personal trainer, he recommended I sip -tiny sips!- a half cup of chocolate soy milk before my workout no matter what time of day it is. It's full of protein and carbs, and because it's already a liquid, my body doesn't have as much processing to do to turn it into energy. It works like a charm for me, and hey, a great excuse to have chocolate milk!

bachooka

I find that I can do so much better for my workout if I have something in my tum before. If I work out in the morning, I eat a bowl of cereal before and some eggs afterwards. I haven't had troubles working out, and I don't have so many calories left to work in over the day.

1113cw

I just cannot eat prior to a workout. I feel weighed down and usually get nauseous halfway through the workout no matter if I eat 30 mins, 60 mins or whatever prior to my workout. After telling this to my personal trainer, he recommended I sip -tiny sips!- a half cup of chocolate soy milk before my workout no matter what time of day it is. It's full of protein and carbs, and because it's already a liquid, my body doesn't have as much processing to do to turn it into energy. It works like a charm for me, and hey, a great excuse to have chocolate milk!

Will definitely have to try this.. sounds like the perfect compromise for me! And chocolate milk to boot, lol!

TriumphNow

I work out early in the morning, mainly because if it I don't I probably won't do it later due to my schedule. Since it's getting warmer, I'll starting adding a walk at lunch time too. I usually drink water and eat a piece of fruit on the way to work then eat breakfast when I get there. I find this works for me and the hard work I put in early in the day keeps me motivated to eat healthy during the day.

mullichicken25

this is something that gets discussed a lot and its something i've done some reading on in the past

this is my basic understanding:

1.) heavier lifting on an empty stomach is bad news bears
2.) cardio on an empty stomach in the AM is usually regarded as a pretty good thing as you burn off all the "leftover" calories in your system
3.) you run the risk losing muscle mass. Theres a whole bunch of science-speak behind this, and i recoment a lot mroe reading on the subjet, but my understanding is that after a certain point your body may begin to burn its own muscle, which will take weight off for sure, but not the kind you want to lose
4.) whatever is most comfortable to you is best. In the grand scheme of things we're talking about minor differences that wont make or break you.

Thats just my understanding, and i am very, very far from an expert so if someone wants to jump in here and elaborate or correct me, by all means, please do

good luck

CaraRadz

I generally workout on an empty stomach. I usually go to the gym either first thing in the morning or right after work (before dinner). This approach works for me because I tend to get really nauseous if I workout after eating, so for me it has nothing to do with trying to increase weight loss... just don't want to puke!

lovetowrite73

I do Insanity at 4 in the morning, so there's no way I'm waking up at 3:30 just to get something in my stomach. I haven't experienced any dizziness/low blood sugar side effects so I suppose I'm okay. I do drink a cup of chocolate milk with a scoop of protein powder mixed in right after (no more than 10-15 minutes after) I'm done and then I'll eat breakfast usually when I get to work, a few hours later.

lbetancourt

If I am working out in the morning, especially, on my long (7-9) mile runs.... I'm running on an empty stomach. But, I do make sure I hydrate myself the night before & stay that way during.

Temporalia

If I eat before I run, it might come back up, so I don't eat for early workouts (get up at 6am, out the door by 6h10, then eat breakfast at work around 7h30-8am). For the rest of my workouts(not early morning), I make sure to leave 2 hours between eating and doing my workout, feels better.

beckajw

Monday through Friday I workout on an empty stomach simply because of timing. I take levoxyl and you have to take it on an empty stomach and wait 1 hour after taking it to eat. So, I get up, take it, workout, eat breakfast and go to work. On the weekends, I take it, go back to sleep, eat breakfast, wait 45 minutes to an hour and then workout. I feel like I have more energy for my workouts on the weekends.