To eat before or after working out in the morning?

Hellbent_Heidi

Morning workout here...and most days (probably 8 out of 10) I don't eat anything before (just a few shots of coffee on the way to the gym). Some days I'm just HUNGRY though, and I'll have half a protein bar or something beforehand, just to take that edge off.

I do eat ASAP afterward though. I shower and dress for work at the gym, and generally either get a protein shake or I have something ready to eat in the car on the way to work

philco41

I'm diabetic, and I have to be careful not to let my blood sugar drop too low. I eat before exercise (usually a morning walk,) and often have a snack afterward to restore blood sugar levels.

MzMiller1215

I do my strength training first thing in the morning as well and my body is VERY toned.

RobynMWilson

When I had the luxury of working out first thing in the morning, I did it on an empty stomach (besides coffee) b/c it was just too early to eat and I sometimes would get a bit of regurg if I was doing abs or cardio. Now I have a small carb snack before I work out and then eat protein about an hour post-workout.

deenie169

That's a good question! I just read the Runner's World article on Running on Empty: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7120,s6-238-267--14388-0,00.html
It's a good idea for training, if you're racing or whatever, but for most people it won't matter much. It really matters for people who are pros/ elite competitors.

You could try doing a couple of post-work workouts and see how you feel. The thing about fitness is that you have to find something that you can do consistently...if you hate it, you're less likely to continue. If you work it out so that you feel more willing to work out at day's end, you're more likely to stick with it.

Good luck! Let us know what happens.

wcmyers74

The bottom line is, we each have to find a system that works for us. You may be fine doing cardio without a meal in the morning, but strength training may require more fuel to really challenge your muscles. The best answer to this is to do what works for you. Don't go hungry just because you think you're burning more fat...after all, if you cut it short or lower the intensity because of low energy, how much fat are you burning anyway?

If you do eat before a workout, make sure you give your body time to digest. The larger the meal, the more time you'll need. But, if you choose a light snack (100-200 calories) and stick with higher carb fare, you can probably exercise after about 30-60 minutes.

Pre-workout snack ideas:

•Banana (or other type of fruit)
•Yogurt
•Oatmeal
•Energy bar or gel
•Fruit smoothie
•Sports drink

surlydave

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.

This. In fact, I would say this about the many theories on MFP that sometimes seem to oppose one another. Personally I don't eat before I workout in the morning but it's not because I feel I have to. I am used to not eating until I get to the office. I do subscribe to the idea of eating protein within 60 minutes post workout.

ItsCasey

I only do morning workouts on weekends and days off work. In those cases, I work out before I eat.

My weekday workouts are almost always right after work, around 4 PM. I typically eat lunch between 12 and 1, and then I have dinner right after my workout, around 5:30.

But I agree with the poster who said there isn't a right way and a wrong way to do it. There is no point in trying to commit to something you will not continue doing in the long-term. Figure out what works for you, and don't worry about what everyone else says you should be doing.

wild_wild_life

I agree you just have to try different things to see what works best for you. After some trial and error, I realized its better for me not to eat before a run but to eat a small amount of protein and carbs 30-60 min before lifting or I don't feel like I can put maximum effort in.

You hear different theories about fasting exercise and whether you burn more or less fat or whatever, but I really wonder if it's significant enough to matter for the average person. What matters is what makes you feel at your best.

FrugalMomsRock75

I've been getting up and running first thing in the morning (well... running/walking in intervals. I'm not a runner yet, but I'm trying to be lol). Right now (because of the tropical storm that dumped all the rain in our area), I'm doing a 2.5 mile route. As soon as my normal route clears up, I'll be back to the 4.2 miles I was doing.

I *always* go on an empty stomach (except water). I wake up and drink water while I change, grab my gear (runner pouch, iPod, pedometer) and go. I come back home, drink some more water, and then finally get around to some food. I'm not very hungry in the morning. If I eat before I go, I inevitably can't run as well because I feel like I'm going to throw up. :-x

Same for my gym time: if I eat first, I can't do the higher intensity stuff (elliptical, arc, treadmill uphill @ 4.0-5.0 mph). I always need at least an hour and a half after eating to do more intense exercise.

Momjogger

Great idea working out in the AM. It is recommended that you eat a carb - only 100 to 150 calories 1 hour prior to working out (but I have eaten a small piece of fruit like someone else recommended 1/2 hour before and been fine)- but if you are waking up and running out the door, I would skip the eating, maybe just coffee or water. The problem you may run into is if you are like me and don't eat after 5 PM - you'll be gassed in the morning during your workout with no fuel. When you do a strength workout you should eat a mix of protein and carbs 20 - 60 minutes after - it deposts the fuel back into your muscles which is good! There is a lot of opinions out there - listen to your own body and do what you think is best.

kblue2007

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.

This. In fact, I would say this about the many theories on MFP that sometimes seem to oppose one another. Personally I don't eat before I workout in the morning but it's not because I feel I have to. I am used to not eating until I get to the office. I do subscribe to the idea of eating protein within 60 minutes post workout.

This is me too! I wake up have some water, split a coffee with my husband on the way to the gym, take care of what I need to get to work then eat. I tend to work out better on an empty stomach, if I go after work I often feel weighed down, BUT that's me, every one is different, try it and see how you feel.
Good luck!

kitinboots

I do both. Coffee and eggs with 1 slice of toast first, then protein shake and banana afterwards with lunch not long after that.

JustJennie1

I do both.

I have a small home made protein/granola bar pre-workout for fuel. Post workout I make a protein smoothie with fruit.

It's up to you and how you feel either way.

Gapwedge01

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

I go on 20 mile rides (aveaging 16-19mph) in the early AM during the summer months and I have gone on these rides eating something small and not eating at all. The rides where I have not eaten I have sometimes nearly passed out on my bike which is a horrible feeling. So, I make a point to eat a half of a peanut butter sandwich and some OJ/coffee/or water. If I had eaten some carbos the previous night it is not so bad passing up eating in the mornings. But as a rule I eat and drink something before riding. Everyone is different. Listen to you body. It will tell you what you need.

kris4chloe

depends on if i am hungry or not.

most times i have some coffee then workout

if i am going to meet up with my trainer i make myself eat something and bring a protein shake because the few times i have gone without eating i end up with a ridiculous headache and get nauseous.

if i am just doing cardio, even longer more intense session then i am ok not eating

but any sort of weight lifting i need to get some carbs in

SassyCalyGirl

I workout in the am and I only have a protein shake before working out.

stupidloser

before. you need to energy to complete your workout. When you are done eat some more. then eat some more.

Bobby_Clerici

I eat after doing my morning HIIT.
I prefer performing HIIT in a fasted state as it might burn more calories from fat. Who really knows?
It seems to work. Whatever.
So, I get 30 minutes of HIIT in, wait an hour or so, then eat.
I wait another hour, then get to some strength training, then eat right after that is complete.
Hope this helped.

bpwparents

I eat something small like a piece of fruit or 1/2 a cream cheese pita filled with fruit before my morning workout. I personally cannot work out on an empty stomach. I have zero energy and get real light headed. I finish off after my workout with a glass of skim milk once I get to work. I guess each person is different though.

BOO2819

Eat a carb full breakfast before to fuel your body for a good workout...when you have energy, you will work harder during your workouts thus, buring more calories. Also, after your workout drink a protein filled shake to help your muscles recover... Its worked like a charm for me so far! Good luck!

CookieCrumble

I don't eat before a workout anytime between 8am-Noon and routinely burn 600-800 calories. I don't eat immediately I get home either; I usually eat my first meal at 3pm(ish).

Do what works best for you, your body will know what that is.

aproc

I eat both before and after.

yoovie

I usually do my lifting sessions in the morning, so I absolutely of course workout in a fasted state and eat afterwards.

apedeb09

I usually exercise around 10 when my boys are taking a nap... I eat when I wake up but I make sure that I give myself at least an hour after I eat before starting my workout.

hesn92

I think you should just try both and see what works for you. I've heard from different people that different things work for them. Personally I would eat before.

Temporalia

I only eat after my workout or else, it gets ugly (nausea). Right now i'm bicycling to work, so I eat once at work and my last food is at the latest 1:30pm if I want to make it back home at 3h30.

Jenism1

I get to the gym at 6am every weekday. I have a coffee on the drive there and then I have a protein shake after with a banana in it. The I will have a snack around 10:30. Seems to work.

LoveActually

Personal preference really but I eat before and after the gym. I usually eat a small meal for breakfast, for example a 3'' flatbread breakfast sub from Subway, and then I eat a little something or have a shake after my workout. I am usually lifting and need the grub for energy but I don't want to vomit all over the gym floor so I keep it light.

sarah692

Well I haven't tried not eating before a workout in a long time, but when I have before I'd get really light headed and just totally suck throughout the workout. Now I eat half a pb&j sandwich before I work out, or sometimes some fruit. Usually the more I eat the better I work out, and I'm more concerned with seeing progress in my performance than burning the optimal amount of calories so that works for me.