Exercising on a full or empty stomach?

Athijade

I eat a little something before I workout otherwise I feel HORRID about half way through. It's usually something light though such as a banana, a protein drink, or some oatmeal with berries. Nothing too heavy. I had to find a balance.

Bobby__Clerici

Both...I enjoy doing HIIT in a fasted state while resistance and cardio a few hours after a balanced meal.
It's an old bro-science conclusion that HIIT in a fasted state burns more calories from fat.
Who knows?
I seem to get those results.
Just try for yourself, and decide if what's right for you.
Good Luck :flowerforyou:

nturner612

my personal experience has been this: splurge a few calories on a filling snack BEFORE you work out (banana, pretzels wahtever just not like a hamburger)...becuase if u work out on an emtpy stomach 9 out of ten times u will come out of there and tear up everything in site(if you are at the right place at the right time). True story. Happened to me yesturday matter of fact and i ate back just bout ALL of my exercise cals back

VanessaGS

Eat a little before you work out so you have energy and eat some more afterwards to replenish. Sounds like a plan to me.

Dave198lbs

my personal experience has been this: splurge a few calories on a filling snack BEFORE you work out (banana, pretzels wahtever just not like a hamburger)...becuase if u work out on an emtpy stomach 9 out of ten times u will come out of there and tear up everything in site(if you are at the right place at the right time). True story. Happened to me yesturday matter of fact and i ate back just bout ALL of my exercise cals back

actually there is a theory that exercise increases endorphins which decrease feelings of hunger

it works for me

maybe not for evferyone

Kelly_Runs_NC

I'm no expert, but I've heard that you should have a light snack around 30 minutes before you work out.

^ this - I eat half a power bar (90 calories roughly for the half) before I work out...about 20-30 mins before. I NEVER have indigestion. Thats if you eat like 200 - 300 calories before I think.

lisaeshenour724

I get up and go running first thing in the morning, so I don't have time to let food digest. My body does really well with running on an empty stomach until I get to 5-6 miles or more. For those days, I will eat a banana before. When I'm doing really long distances, I will do Gu or Shot Blocks during. I really do think it's all about what works for you.

nashsheri33

i like your profile pic!

to answer your question: it depends on your body's reaction to eating before a workout. for me, eating a full meal before a workout = feeling sluggish at best and barfy at worst. eating nothing = no energy and poor performance.
i'm diabetic, so what works for me might not be what works for you.
usually i eat something small for breakfast (a good-quality granola-type bar or 1/2 cup oatmeal with 2 tsp. almond butter and an 8oz glass of soy milk or almond milk) and by the time i get to the workout 30 minutes later, it's just enough to tide me over until halfway through, then i might have a little fruit and a low fat cheese stick, then finish up. by the time i get home and get cleaned up and maybe take care of an errand, it's time for lunch.
so basically, i eat 2 small breakfasts instead of one big breakfast and that works for me.
just use your common sense and listen to your body. try it both ways and see how you feel during your workout, and after your workout.
if you eat nothing, will you be so hungry after your workout that you binge on whatever food is handy? then it would be counterproductive.
keep up the good work!

krissenior

I only ever eat 1 and a half hours to 2 hours before working out then by the time i have finished my work out it is time to eat again in my 5 meal 3 hour cycle

AllisonEBrown

In my experience playing various sports, everything from field events in track to rugby to swimming, I have found that a slice of toast or a banana an hour before help provide that extra boost of energy without making me feel nauseated. And also always follow the workout by drinking a cup of chocolate milk within 30 minutes of completing said workout.

melaniecheeks

Depends.

I can go running before breakfast (well, I need a cup of tea before I do ANYTHING, but nothing solid)

But if I'm doing strength training I get dizzy unless I've eaten something, like a piece of toast with peanut butter, say 30 mins beforehand.

grrrlface

I work out straight away when I wake up on an empty stomach. I can't work out if I've eaten, I feel bogged down and makes me feel sick.

I refuel afterwards with something high protein.

joeint

My opinion, for weight loss doing cardio, empty stomach first thing in the morning. If its strength training, a protein shake about an hour before you start and another asap after, then a high protein meal an hour later.

JamesBurkes

I pretty much always work out fasted whether it be weights, steady cardio or HIIT. Not because I think it's magically better for fat loss or anything but just because it fits my schedule. I do 12 - 16 hour days so there is no way on Earth I will do anything other than flop in front of the TV when I get home, so I have to get it done in the morning.

In my experience this works fine - in fact, I feel fresher because I'm not bogged down with food, so I can really push myself. If I do try working out later in the day I always seem to be balancing whether or not my last meal has gone down enough or if I'm feeling hungry and should eat. Doing it 45 minutes after waking (after several coffees!) means I get it out of the way for the day and it wakes me up too (getting up at 5:30 isn't good for me bearing in mind I'm not a morning person).

Personally, doing it when it suits you is more important. People get too wound up in the micro-details and in my experience both camps are wrong - I don't think fasted training magically burns more fat, but then I don't think it burns off muscle and turns you into a pencil neck, either.

I usually take some BCAAs and a small ham slice (25 cals/5g protein) just to be on the safe side, but really, the main thing is having a good meal afterwards, IMO.

I do however need food if I'm working out for much longer than an hour, I've noticed. 60-70 minutes is fine. 2+ hours (such as at the weekend when I go for my long bike ride) then yes, I definitely need food then.

bellamia88

I was told to eat a banana at least a half hour before a workout. When I wake up in the morning to go to the gym I like to get up and go so I usually just have half a banana or an apple beforehand but if it's later in the day I don't eat anything an hour before.

JohnLawrencejackson

Exercise for stomach http://losebellynow.com

JohnLawrencejackson

Exercise for stomach http://losebellynow.com

dakotababy

I actually was monitoring my calorie burn (HRM) while working out on an empty stomach VS after eating.

I find that when I work out (cardio) 30 minutes AFTER i eat, i burn WAY more calories, plus I feel like I can go on forever!

SweetestLibby

It depends....I have lunch at 12/12:30 and leave work at 5 to go to the gym from 5:30 to about 7. I don't get home to about 8 so I have to eat something before working out - otherwise I'll faint.I keep it light - protein bar, piece of fruit, something like that.

Crochetluvr

I have to eat before I exercise or else I feel nauseous.

dmaloof2013

I always have something to eat, but I give myself time to digest before I work out. I haven't gotten the cramps but I have definitely gotten the indigestion (ie the want to throw up) if I work out too soon after having food. But I cannot work out on an empty stomach. I don't have the energy to do a good work out unless I have something to eat

CalJur

Do what works best for you. I encourage you to have some form of protein to energize your workout but do whatever you feel maximizes your workout time.