Gym first thing in the morning without food?

laracolette
laracolette Posts: 43 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Is it ok to go to the gym first thing in the morning without eating before hand? I don't want to wake up any earlier to be able to eat and allow time for it to digest so I don't get a stitch, but will it mean i'm burning more muscle than fat or anything like that?
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Replies

  • ncthomas09
    ncthomas09 Posts: 322 Member
    You can always grab a protein bar or shake before hand if you want something quick. I have to do something like that just to keep my blood sugar up since I am hypoglycemic.
  • lilpoindexter
    lilpoindexter Posts: 1,122 Member
    It depends what you do...either cardio or weights...
    I do both...I have been concentrating on fat loss, and it seems to be working.
    I'm gaining muscle, but at a ridiculously slow rate.

    If you want to do cardio, It think it will work well...all the food is gone from your stomach, so the body will get energy for cardio from your fat, and burn it off....I think.
  • ellew70
    ellew70 Posts: 222 Member
    My trainer would yell at me when I did this.. I would almost pass out. Grab a banana or a protein bar, or a gel pack or something. It's not healthy and can be unsafe if you are prone to dizziness (like I am)
  • gauchogirl
    gauchogirl Posts: 467 Member
    I always do my first workout fasted, at 11:30 am, so I don't start to eat until 12:30-1:00 pm. I have not noticed any lack of energy or difference from before when I used to eat breakfast a couple hours before. I just always feel better working out without anything in my stomach. And since I can't get to the gym before 11:30 because of work, it's my only option.
  • tequila09
    tequila09 Posts: 764 Member
    depends on how you feel i think. if you feel fine and don't get too weak then i don't think you haave to eat. but if you want to be safe you could take a snack with you in case you get weak.
  • little_lisid
    little_lisid Posts: 47 Member
    Just try it and see if it works for you. I do this and it works for me, but most of the time I do not at all feel like eating before lunchtime anyway. I think each to their own. There are so many theories about what you would burn, there is one specifically aimed at lifting weights while fasted called "eat stop eat" or generally a concept call intermitent fasting. There is also that one study that looked at whether eating breakfast helps maintain a healthy BMI.

    Do what feels good for you. I am generally lifting fasted now that I have started lifting again and always do 1.5hrs yoga on sat and sun fasted prior to breakfasting or having coffee. This is what works for me.
  • gradrun
    gradrun Posts: 69 Member
    I've heard that working first thing in the morning, especially if you do cardio, burns more fat than working out after having eaten. I have also heard that it doesn't allow you to work out at the same intensity you probably could had you eaten something beforehand.

    Personally, I always eat something, even if it is half banana, or a piece of bread with jam (simple carbs and sugars - easier to digest and they get absorbed faster) just because if I try to do anything on an empty stomach, I get dizzy and faint-y and generally cannot work out at all. But a lot of my runner friends run first thing in the morning without having had breakfast before, if it is for a short run (30-40 min) duration.

    Apparently, there is no clear answer. I would say do whatever makes you feel better and allows you to work out. :-)
  • EccentricDad
    EccentricDad Posts: 875 Member
    Is it ok to go to the gym first thing in the morning without eating before hand? I don't want to wake up any earlier to be able to eat and allow time for it to digest so I don't get a stitch, but will it mean i'm burning more muscle than fat or anything like that?

    You could try it. But after a fasting (you burned everything in your body overnight), then you'd be better off doing a morning stretch, having a light breakfast, then going out for a jog.
  • Mrbusterb
    Mrbusterb Posts: 114
    When i go in the morning i usually don't eat anything
  • Minu135
    Minu135 Posts: 48
    I've been doing this, I never feel like eating first thing in the morning and I don't like exercising with a full stomach. I usually just drink a glass of water and do either cardio or weights. I think it depends on the person.
  • Birdie
    Birdie Posts: 256 Member
    You should always have something first. I used to work at a gym and people would pass out all the time because they don't eat and then think they can work out. Your body needs fuel.
  • JMPerlin
    JMPerlin Posts: 287 Member
    For me heck yea! I cannot workout on a full stomach and I love the first thing in the morning workout. When I am done its a protein shake and some fruit and I am good to go!
  • Will_Lift_4_Shoes
    Will_Lift_4_Shoes Posts: 238 Member
    Is it ok to go to the gym first thing in the morning without eating before hand? I don't want to wake up any earlier to be able to eat and allow time for it to digest so I don't get a stitch, but will it mean i'm burning more muscle than fat or anything like that?

    Cardio = empty tummy

    Lifting = must eat.

    Lift first then cardio
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,336 Member
    I work out fasted regularly with no problem both cardio and lifting type workouts. Meal timing is irrelevant as long as you get all the food you need for the day eating all your calories and ideally meeting your macros.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    It's fine. Go without eating. I do it all the time. If you find your workouts are suffering, have 2 tbl of honey before you walk out the door.
  • bwcrouch
    bwcrouch Posts: 105 Member
    I never eat before working out and I meet with a trainer at 5:15 in the morning. And sometimes, like this week I work all night before going. I used to have a protein shake before (tmi warning) but they made me puke afterwards. Like others have said, what is your body telling you during the workout when you skip, do you feel like you are strong till the end?
  • lovinmyselfagain
    lovinmyselfagain Posts: 307 Member
    I think it depends on how intense/long your workout is and if it's cardio, weights or both. Everyone's different, but you may want to eat a banana or apple with 1 tablespoon of natural peanut butter. Quick, healthy, and easy.
  • bpmartyr
    bpmartyr Posts: 141
    I work out fasted regularly with no problem both cardio and lifting type workouts. Meal timing is irrelevant as long as you get all the food you need for the day eating all your calories and ideally meeting your macros.

    ^^ this
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    I can't imagine working out after eating. I think people that do that are crazy. I can only workout on an empty stomache or I get sick and want to puke.
  • donnam40
    donnam40 Posts: 246 Member
    I have been working out in the morning on a cup of coffee only for 20 years. I have never passed out or felt weak. At the moment I am doing weights then cardio 3 x week and pure cardio 3 x week. I have even trained for marathons using this method.

    If it works for you then there is nothing wrong with it.

    Donna
  • laughingdani
    laughingdani Posts: 2,275 Member
    I work out fasted regularly with no problem both cardio and lifting type workouts. Meal timing is irrelevant as long as you get all the food you need for the day eating all your calories and ideally meeting your macros.

    ^^ this

    ^^ Same.

    I actually prefer fasted workouts. I would just recommend drinking some water beforehand though.
  • Jessb1985
    Jessb1985 Posts: 264 Member
    I always exercise first thing in the morning then eat before going to work. I know if I eat first i'll end up wasting time and procrastinating and nto make it. I've never thought about eating before exercise in the morning and it's never affected me :)
  • NZhellkat
    NZhellkat Posts: 355 Member
    When I used to go to the gym it was at 6am. I would take a sports drink with me for hydration, bike to the gym, do my weights work out, then bike home and have breakfast. Work with what works for you. Good luck.
  • tricia156
    tricia156 Posts: 13 Member
    it depends on how long of a workout if I am pressed for time and only doing 30 min no food...longer workout a handful of trail mix and drink 2 cups of water before workout but never a big breakfast yuk:sick:
  • laracolette
    laracolette Posts: 43 Member
    thanks so much for the advice everyone!! I very rarely feel faint or dizzy, so I think it will work well for me :)
  • munchlaxx
    munchlaxx Posts: 102 Member
    Thanks for posting this topic, I had been wondering about this sort of thing. While I don't get ill working out after having some breakfast, I've been having some fat burning issues at the gym. I'm gonna test my workouts on an empty stomach until the weekend and see what happens. I'll probably slip a protein powder drink and/or luna bar in my backpack for emergencies. ;)
  • photorific
    photorific Posts: 577 Member
    I don't eat before I work out, and have been fine. I do, however, have a cup of coffee with a splash of almond milk. (Without the coffee, I don't think I could even get my shoes on to get out the door...)
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    You should always have something first. I used to work at a gym and people would pass out all the time because they don't eat and then think they can work out. Your body needs fuel.

    Not true. I'm a trainer part time and I have many clients perform fasted cardio. I've also done it during a cut. Not everyone passes out while doing fasted cardio.
  • apocalypsepwnie
    apocalypsepwnie Posts: 373
    More success for fat burning if you workout before eating. You have nothing to burn but fat and a little muscle.
    Kickstarts your metabolism and helps your body keep a more even keal all day.
    However, no more than 30-40 mins or if high intensity 20 mins.

    The reason this works, other than the above, is we still haven't evolved past chasing down your meals. Your brain still wants you to hunt and is wanting you to do this.

    If you eat before a work out (depending on what and how long ago) it's more likely you will burn off the energy from that rather than burning fat. So for example low GI will take 3-4 hours to turn into energy and spike in the blood where high GI takes 30-60 mins. So depending what you've eaten beforehand is what you will burn. If you CAN'T work on an empty tummy try a small meal of complex carbs or a protein bar. If you workout within the hour of eating it you wont be working very much if any of it off.

    If you are eating AFTER a workout beware that there is a 45 min window of anabolic recovery. This is prime time where your body is at it's highest for absorbption. So get in 30-50gm of carbs like beans or veggies and 15gm of protein. Any fat eaten in this time will be stored right away. So doing a run before eating that pizza is not a great idea, run it off later.
  • apocalypsepwnie
    apocalypsepwnie Posts: 373
    You should always have something first. I used to work at a gym and people would pass out all the time because they don't eat and then think they can work out. Your body needs fuel.

    Not true. I'm a trainer part time and I have many clients perform fasted cardio. I've also done it during a cut. Not everyone passes out while doing fasted cardio.

    If you are passing out on fasted cardio there are some other issues. Either you aren't eating enough cals in general or not enough complex carbs to help your blood sugar level stay as even as possible. If you are eating within the 30 min period before working out your body will not burn it unless it's really high GI like a sports drink or protien shake. Pre-digestives.

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