To eat before or after a workout...

Captain_Tightpants

This morning I decided to rack up a bit of research on if it is better to eat before or after a workout. The answers I came across were not surprisingly divided almost straight down the middle. Some said eat before a workout, some said afterwards.

However, when I considered the sources, the majority of sites I would consider (possibly) more reliable sources - mayoclinic, webmd, MSNBC fitness, CNN health, Livestrong, Shapefit, etc. - all agreed with one another...

The general consensus among these sites is that it is better to eat a normal sized meal AFTER excercising. The basic idea is that eating after activity does several good things for your body - it replensishes the muscles glycogen stores. It temporarily increases insulin sensitivity and helps to even out blood glucose levels. Eating before activity can lead to hampered digestion (because the activity diverts blood away from the digesting stomach and to the muscles). Also, apparently there are studies that show that working out on an almost empty stomach helps the body to burn fat cells instead of turning to the more easily accesible carbs in the bloodstream for energy).

I'm not a doctor or nutritionist so I can't really comment further on the above concepts. But I will throw in a thought of my own that seems to make a lot of sense...

Humans have been foraging animals since the dawn of our existence. We've ALWAYS eaten AFTER working out. Even when we stopped climbing trees to gather fruit and started making spears to hunt meat, we still had the big old chase before we could settle down with our leg of meat. Technically, nature is set up specifically so that all animals work out first (find or hunt their food) then eat, then settle dow to digest. We evolved this way.

Anyways, that's my thought for the day. As a diabetic I always have to make sure I have a small intake of glucose (an energy bar or piece of fruit for example) an hour or so before activity so I don't get hypoglycemic during the workout... but from now on, I think I'll be following nature's path and eating my meals after my activity.

I'd love to hear your thoughts...
~cgw

ahjenny

As I said in my post to you, I agree. I find that if I eat too much or soon before working out, I feel sluggish and nauseated. Drinking water through my workout keeps my stomach calm, and then I find I need to eat something approximately 30 minutes after I work out.

SAC0O3

You know you really got me thinking about the part how we have always hunted the animals first. When you think about it, the best to eat and gamiest animals are those who have been chased. (I hate gamey tasting animals though... My hubby is a hunter, I can tell if he stressed the animal before he killed it or if it was too easy of a kill)
I personally prefer eating an apple about a half an hour before working out though... No big meal (I agree, eating a large meal is better after) For one a big meal can give cramps. But the apple gives me energy. I can tell I don't do as well on days that I don't have my apple and days when I do.
As far as eating afterwards I read somewhere it is best to eat protein right after (within 30 minutes) and that is what helps with the muscles but if you eat too far after that window it is pointless. Who knows.

Thanks for sharing!

kmozymoz

I find that it's good for my energy levels if I have fairly low calorie items before AND after exercise. I'll eat a banana and a granola bar beforehand, then something small after until I can get a more normal sized meal. Keeps my metabolism up and happy. But that's just me.

CAHRD

It's recommended to get a reasonable source of carbohydrates + protein within 20 minutes of exercise in order to replenish the stores lost during exercise.