Eating before or after workout? What do you do?

kooshajan

Ive heard many debates about this in the past and am curious to see what you all have to say. To those of you who workout in the evenings, do you eat before or after your dinner?

aj_rock

After, definitely. The body can't digest food properly if you start exercising vigorously afterward. Small snacks are ok, but a full dinner before working out, personally, makes me want to puke.

chevy88grl

I tend to workout around 11pm, so it's been a long while since I had dinner. I can't eat just before I workout or I'll throw up. I ALWAYS eat afterward.

qofspades

I hear from a personal trainer that you lose the most weight in the morning prior to eating. I would assume that this would be the same if you work out later in the day. I don't feel so good with I attempt to workout right after eating. Maybe a 2-3 hour break between eating then workout seems good.

haylz24

Ive heard many debates about this in the past and am curious to see what you all have to say. To those of you who workout in the evenings, do you eat before or after your dinner?

Have a turkey sandiwch about half hr before or some yogurt if you really can't exercise without. Or have a pre workout shake.

goofygirl1225

I usually do my workouts and running after work so I eat afterwards. I do have a light snack like yogurt or some fruit before hand so I don't have the empty stomache feeling while I'm working out. I have heard a good food to eat after a work out is chicken noodle soup. Why I really don't know it's just what I was told by a health coach.

shesblossoming

I always eat afterward. It's mostly personal preference. I do feel slightly sick if I eat before working out, even if I wait an hour or two. Snacking is totally fine, but I find that meals are best afterward.

JennsLosing

i do both...i eat a small breakfast before my workout, and im starving by the time i get home from the gym so i eat my lunch....i normally go to the gym around 930 or 1030 in the am.

Genem30

I hear from a personal trainer that you lose the most weight in the morning prior to eating. I would assume that this would be the same if you work out later in the day. I don't feel so good with I attempt to workout right after eating. Maybe a 2-3 hour break between eating then workout seems good.

I've heard this too, which is why I usually hit the treadmill at around 6am if I do it, then I eat around 7:30am when I get to work.

ChantalGG

I usually workout before lunch. A couple of hours after eating.

curiousmissclay

me and my mr go to the gym at 6pm for an hour an a half and literally as soon as we get home we eat our evening meal. we always try to eat it before 8pm.

just figure out whats best for you but i dont recommend going to the gym on a completely empty stomach even if you just eat a snack.

krm0789

I have a snack 2 hours beforehand and a full dinner afterward. I can feel the food moving around in my belly if I eat beforehand.

LittleFootHafner

Definitely agreed - I will puke if I eat too close to my workout!
However, at the same time, if I go on an empty stomach, then workout is 100% harder!
Therefore, I usually try to eat 2-3 hours before a workout (and a little lighter dinner than usual), or I will just have a small snack about 1 hour before I work out, and eat dinner afterwards.

Good Luck finding the groove that works best for you!

luv_lea

Def. after! Makes me feel sick while working out if I eat before.

kathleennf

I usually do my workouts and running after work so I eat afterwards. I do have a light snack like yogurt or some fruit before hand so I don't have the empty stomache feeling while I'm working out. I have heard a good food to eat after a work out is chicken noodle soup. Why I really don't know it's just what I was told by a health coach.

I have not heard that but it makes total sense to me: it replaces fluid, sodium (salt), carbs and a little protein.

mskatec22

If I work out in the am I eat first, usually something small. I always eat my dinner after working out at night.

fastbelly

High carbs 2 to 3 hours before workout
High protein 20 -40 minutes after the workout

jansigala

I walk between 2.5 and 3 miles after I eat a light dinner. But I wait at least an hour before my walk. I used to walk in the mornings but it did not help me loose any weight. Since I started walking after dinner I have lost a lot of weight. I don't eat anything after my walk. I just drink water and nothing else until the next day.

tsolomon75

Personally I think after is the best, but I've heard that either before OR after are both really good times to eat...

Before workout you might want to grab some protein...

After, your body is going to need energy (carbs) and protein to rebuild muscle... Aim for around a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio of Carbs:Proteins (Chocolate Milk is perfect for post workout...)

bentobee

I have to eat before, but I wait a bit until my tummy doesn't feel full. I'm at my best going an hour after I eat breakfast (latte, 2 slices whole wheat toast with peanut butter). Then I am full of energy and can really give it my all.

The other day I was off schedule, only ate one piece of toast/pb and then didn't get to the gym until it was almost lunchtime and I really struggled. I got lightheaded, felt weak and just plain awful! It threw me off for the rest of the day. Blech.

RoseBlanc

Well, I usually have a protein shake for dinner, so I'll eat half before I work out and half after.
If I'm hungry after that then I'll eat a piece of lean protein, a veg, and a dairy.
:]

SirBen81

I eat before and after. I have a light snack 30 mins before my workout, such as a water-based protein shake. This gives me energy to workout HARD and burn calories. Afterwards I have a well-balanced meal with some carbs, lots of protein and some healthy fat - everything a body needs to repair.

If you are prone to getting sick when eating before a workout then try eating light foods that digests quickly. Such as fish, juice, or whey protein(non-casein) mixed with water (not milk). Dairy products contain casein protein which digest slowly and sits in your stomach. Casein is great before bed, but not so great right before a workout.

myofibril

If my schedule allow me to eat a meal 2 - 3 hours before working out then I won't bother about something post workout. I will just go home and have my dinner as normal.

If I haven't managed to eat then I will have a protein shake usually after my workout or sometimes even just before. It depends how I feel.

kooshajan

I typically eat after I work out now but in the past Ive eaten before my workout as eating after I worked out didnt make sense to me---felt like I was simply eating back what I burned. Since Ive had my baby 14 months ago I find that if I eat before my workout Im way to hungry about 2-3 hours after my workout. So I think Ill try what alot of people have suggested here, eat something light but good in protien (yougurt?) prior to my workout and eat dinner afterwards.