pre workout snack or shake? Weight gain?

Artemis751

Hi

I'm female and for the past 3 months I've cleaned up my diet big time and started hitting the gym 3-4 times per week. I was overweight (still am slightly) and had high body fat (36%). In those 3 months I've dropped around 9lb in weight and managed to get body fat down to 32%. I know that I still have a long way to go but I'm really getting into the swing of things now and have started getting a bit more serious about lifting heavier weights and I also do some cardio about 3 times a week, either after lifting or on days off. Needed to explain that because it seems everyone has different situations aims and goals.

Anyway, I need to get to the gym first thing because of work and home commitments etc and I cannot stomach eating food before I go. My question is...would it be a good idea to have a protein shake pre workout? Being new to the whole weight training, serious about exercise thing, I have read a lot about shakes but still have no idea if they would suit me or are they just for bodybuilders? Will they make me gain weight? I am ok post workout, I can eat some eggs and I drink some soya when I get home. Any advice is welcomed. Many thanks.
Debbie

Generalle

for me, I don't tend to eat (protein shake or anything) if I'm working out first thing in the morning. I don't know why, but I never feel like I get a 'good' workout in when I've got something in my stomach. Whether or not it's good for me I don't know, it's just a personal choice for me. I always make sure I eat straight afterward though, which is normally a protein shake, then I'll have a proper breakfast a little bit later.
FYI I've dropped 10% bodayfat in the last 7 months

fionarama

don't eat before you work out if you don't want to. have a protein shake within 20 mins after. If you do feel you should eat, maybe just a nice crunchy apple to give you a bit of a carb boost before you go into the gym.

yarwell

Anyway, I need to get to the gym first thing because of work and home commitments etc and I cannot stomach eating food before I go.

This should give you better weight loss, if that's your goal, according to a study I read recently.

Artemis751

Thanks. I have tried not eating before working out but it doesn't seem to suit me, my energy is zapped easily and I start feeling sick, probably because I've not fed myself anything for about 12 hours. I do feel as though I need something, even something small but just not something that I have to munch through first thing in the morning.

Dozrzz

Have you tried something simple like a Special K cereal bar. For me it is not too much but it is just enough to make sure my stomach isn't feeling like it is so empty it is going to start eating itself!

nml2011

Coffee, green tea and water (not necessarily at the same time) is all you need pre-workout if you are training first thing in the morning!

Unless you are doing endurance or HIIT training but it doesn't sound like you are doing this.

mmapags

Working out fasted is fine of the rest of your diet is good and you have healthy macros. Nutrition timing is just not critical within a 24 hour period either before or after workout. The anabolic window for protein intake to repair and restor muscles is 24 hours. If you find you are struggling with energy during morning workouts, try a banana or something 30 minutes before. If not, you are fine not eating before.

edit to add: Protein shakes won't make you gain weight as long as you are within you daily calorie goal. They are just a way to supplement your protein to get you to .8-1 gram of protein per lb of lean body mass for maintaining and rebuilding muscle tissue while working out while in a eating deficit.