To eat before or after working out in the morning?

zammex

what do you do?
i normally exercise in the evenings, after work. but im thinking about trying to do it before work instead.
but i wonder, should i eat before or after?

does it even matter?

jkrau37

Hi
just going by what I have read - apparently morning exercise is for losing weight and evening is for toning body.
In the morning eat a small amount of protein before you exercise and then eat more after (within an hour on each side to raise metabolism)

lisav6

Taken from the Nerd Fitness website:

Work out in a fasted state - Although advanced techniques to get to super low body fat percentages are beyond the scope of this article, here’s another tactic if you want to drop the last few percentage points: strength training in a fasted state first thing in the morning, and don’t consume your first meal of the day until at least 30 minutes to an hour AFTER your workout. This is a technique taught to me by Vic Magary who has used it to drop incredible amounts of body fat in a short amount of time.

Elleinnz

When I work out at 7am in the morning I only eat after - I do have an espresso to start the day though....

pukekolive

I walk several kms in the mornings but never go out without eating first - usually a wholegrain cereal or porridge with a scoop of protein powder up to about 400 cals - if I don't eat and then burn in excess of 400 cals I come back feeling nauseous.

My walking is done with a heartrate monitor at around 75-85% of maximum heart rate so it is hard work.

As I work afternoons I will do my resistance/weight training on the way home at 9.30pm after my last meal at 5pm

girlie100

Taken from the Nerd Fitness website:

Work out in a fasted state - Although advanced techniques to get to super low body fat percentages are beyond the scope of this article, here’s another tactic if you want to drop the last few percentage points: strength training in a fasted state first thing in the morning, and don’t consume your first meal of the day until at least 30 minutes to an hour AFTER your workout. This is a technique taught to me by Vic Magary who has used it to drop incredible amounts of body fat in a short amount of time.

hmmm interesting, I want to switch my workout to the mornings but I eat b/fast at work as i usually start around 7am. This could work, might have to have my coffee first though, lol

Flamenquero

Wake up, drink a glass of water and have a piece of soft fruit. Something like 1/4 of a peach, orange, 1/4 cup of blueberries, etc. Your blood sugar will be down in the morning, so you should have a slight amount of natural sugar so that you don't "pass out on an empty stomach."

kellyr0219

I usually have just a fiber granola bar beforehand.

iuew

generally, right before breakfast and right before dinner. if i exercise after i eat, then i'm hungry again.

jlcl119

I eat in the morning and then workout about 2 hours later. I've tried working out on an empty stomach and I don't have the energy to complete my workout, especially if I'm running that day.
That said, lots of people do it.

sarahjay1

I workout out in the morning as well. I always have oatmeal first and a protein shake after.

Faintgreeneyes

Honestly, do whatever feels comfortable to you. If you can work out fasted and not feel light headed or weak during then do that. If you feel that you need a little something in your system and a small meal prior to helps you, then do that.

There will be a lot of people who will tell you that you "have" to work out fasted to get better results or you "have" to eat in order to kick start your metabolism... lots of noise and opinions.

Do what works for you and what makes you feel good.

butterfli7o

I wake up at 5:30 to work out before work and eat after. I'm not hungry at all that early, just want a half cup of coffee to get me awake!

HauteP1nk

For a really early morning where I just want to get up and go or don't have time to eat something then I ensure I eat carbs for dinner on the previous night. This helps give me some energy in the early morning. Within 30-60mins after a workout I eat some protein to rebuild and repair muscles.

macsgirl526

I walk and then eat. Its so hot right now outside that I am afraid if I eat then walk then I may be nauseous.I do walk about 2 hr after I eat in the evenings when its a tad cooler. I think its a personal choice. Getting that work out is what matters.

Monwilli

I wake up superduper early, so I usually eat breakfast, let my stomach for an hour or so, and then go run or whatever. Afterwards I drink some protein powder.

MinnesotaManimal

Only thing I consume before my morning workouts ( 5-6am) is my fish oil tabs and some form of caffeine. I then drink coffee and loads of water between then and lunch, eat about 1/3 my calories at lunch and then the rest at supper. It works well for me.

BrianSharpe

I run, on average, 30 to 40 km per week in a fasted state (roll out of bed & out the door). You should have an adequate reserve of glycogen for a moderate workout without eating first, when I'm doing my longer runs (90 min to 2 hrs) on Sundays I eat first and run a couple of hours later.

There has been some research that has suggested that from a weight loss point of view there may be a very minor advantage to cardio in a fasted state but when you look at the underlying data the difference is so small it really comes down to a matter of personal preference.

If I was doing weights in the morning I'd have something to eat first.

nml2011

Water and coffee is all you need pre workout in the mornings.

If you want even better body composition results look into carb-backloading the night before to fuel the early morning workouts but only if you are strength training.

It's a myth that training fasted is going to shift more body fat if you train in the AM.

alyssamiller77

Here's the easiest way to look at this. If you don't eat before you workout (especially just after waking in the morning) you'll have less energy which will affect the quality of your workout. You've basically been on a 6-8 hour fast (depending on how long you sleep at night) and your body is looking for a recharge. That said, if you're going to eat before a workout it should be roughly 2 hours before your workout. This gives your body time to digest the food and provide the much needed energy for your workout. Eating right before a workout can also negatively impact your workout. If your body is actively digesting food you just ate, it can not only make you feel not so great it can also rob you of energy needed for your workout. (Now before all my physiological majors start in, I'm over-simplifying here on purpose so let's not get pedantic).

My suggestion is eat 2 hours before you workout and eat something with a little higher carb content. If you cannot eat that far before your workout then my suggestion would be go on an empty stomach. You may have a bit less energy but ultimately you'll feel better than if your stomach is full. Finally as a general rule, carbs before workout, proteins after.

knk1553

When I used to workout in the mornings (I just can't bring myself to be at the gym at 5am to get a workout in, which means I would have to wake up around 4:30am) it varied, if I was strugging particuaraly hard that morning I would have some yogurt, or a granola bar, it was enough to wake me up and get me going. I have heard and read that you should work out before eatiing if possible, because like some people have said it is used for maximum fat burn and then eat 30 mins min after your workout. Once I start back school in the fall, my goal is to try morning workouts since I don't have to be to class until 9, and I may try it without eating to start with. I say do whatever works for you though, if you feel you need to eat before your workout, then do, if you think you don't then don't, I know if I workout right after I eat I get sick.

pedraz

Whatever you do, make sure to drink enough. I workout in the AM before eating but I drink a big glass of water that I keep by my bed before I even put one foot on the floor. I also sip water throughout the workout. This keeps me from feeling nauseous with no food in tummy. That said, I'd feel nauseous WITH food in my tummy during a workout. Everyone is different. Experiment and find your way. Good luck!

pedraz

Here's the easiest way to look at this. If you don't eat before you workout (especially just after waking in the morning) you'll have less energy which will affect the quality of your workout. You've basically been on a 6-8 hour fast (depending on how long you sleep at night) and your body is looking for a recharge. That said, if you're going to eat before a workout it should be roughly 2 hours before your workout. This gives your body time to digest the food and provide the much needed energy for your workout. Eating right before a workout can also negatively impact your workout. If your body is actively digesting food you just ate, it can not only make you feel not so great it can also rob you of energy needed for your workout. (Now before all my physiological majors start in, I'm over-simplifying here on purpose so let's not get pedantic).

My suggestion is eat 2 hours before you workout and eat something with a little higher carb content. If you cannot eat that far before your workout then my suggestion would be go on an empty stomach. You may have a bit less energy but ultimately you'll feel better than if your stomach is full. Finally as a general rule, carbs before workout, proteins after.

Like this!

NovemberJune

If I work out in the morning, I don't eat before. If I eat before I work out, my kids will wake up... and then I won't be able to work out!

KilikiMom

i like to eat in the am before i exercise otherwise i feel like passing out...and thats not a fun feeling

now_or_never12

For me it depends on the type of exercise I am doing. If I am just going for a simple walk I don't. I'll do my walk, come home, shower than eat.

If I am aiming to do something more intense I will eat something small. Usually a mini protein shake about 45 minutes before as I get sick if I don't eat and exercise intensly on an empty stomach.

NovemberJune

.... apparently morning exercise is for losing weight and evening is for toning body.
.....

I've never heard that myth but it's not true

myfitnessnmhoy

I do both. I bicycle in to work (50 minutes, 14 miles, hilly), and I have a slice of multigrain bread just before I head out (110 calories, complex carb bias), and a good batch of refrigerator oatmeal with peanut butter when I arrive at work after I've showered (balance of fats, carbs, proteins).

EDIT: As others have said, though, I exercise on an empty stomach if it's going to be a 200-calorie exercise. I burn around 700-800 on my ride in, and doing that with no calorie input at all means I really start to suffer on the big hills.

MzMiller1215

I usually get up at 3:30 a.m and head straight to the gym. I never eat until after my workouts in the mornings.

2011_4mygirls

I have to eat before my morning walk. If I don't, then my blood sugar gets all out of whack and I feel terrible the rest of the day.

I normally try to have a protein shake before working out - sometimes, I do a string cheese or something instead, it just depends on the amount of time I have.

mikeyboy

It depends on what type of workout and how intense. Also like some others have stated, find what works for you. I workout first thing in the morning and I drink half of my protien shake before and half after.