Fasted Cardio

CatLadyyy
CatLadyyy Posts: 102
in Fitness and Exercise
I am about to start doing some fasted cardio some morning before work.. But before I make this a regular routine I want to make sure its actually beneficial!

Any opinions?

Replies

  • SRH7
    SRH7 Posts: 2,037 Member
    Bump - interested to see the responses.

    I run first thing before eating simply for convenience as it saves time on waiting for breakfast to digest before getting out. But if there are other benefits then that would be good!
  • shammxo
    shammxo Posts: 1,432 Member
    Personally, I can't stand it. I'm more efficient in working out if I fuel myself a little bit first. I always eat before my workouts and I've lost almost 40 lbs.
    But I know some people on my friend's list loooove and it and swear by it who have had success also. So if it works for you, great! If it doesn't, that's fine too :)
  • Matt_Wild
    Matt_Wild Posts: 2,673 Member
    No gain IMO.

    If you eat 2000 calories and burn 300 you have 1700.

    If you burn 300 calories and eat 2000 you still have 1700 calories during same day.
  • prium01
    prium01 Posts: 306 Member
    Search Google, some links say cardio empty stomach, first thing in the morning causes 20% more fat burn.

    http://www.builtlean.com/2012/05/29/cardio-empty-stomach/
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0124091425.htm

    Anyways I exercise twice a day...so doesn't effects me much!
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    There CAN be benefits, but they are small, and only really noitcabel for people already fit or very athletic.

    If it suits you, then do it. But dont feel it's compulsory.
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    I do a short (av 20 min) workout to a DVD before breakfast as that way I can fit both in before work. I couldn't eat and then work out. Same in the evening - workout than have my bath and dinner (otherwise I'd just sit down and not get up again:ohwell: ). Don't know whether it really works better or not - I'm just doing it that way because it fits my routine.
  • Lulzaroonie
    Lulzaroonie Posts: 222 Member
    I don't usually have breakfast until 10am, or mid-morning some days, I've not noticed either way whether it's made a difference.

    The only thing I've heard about it is that it may use your stored energy first rather than the food you have before hand?
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    No gain IMO.

    If you eat 2000 calories and burn 300 you have 1700.

    If you burn 300 calories and eat 2000 you still have 1700 calories during same day.

    Agreed...... I think it more or less comes down to personal preference over having any advantages... I for one prefer to eat before my workouts, I am a type 2 diabetic so for me I don't like playing around with low blood sugars while I am in the middle of any workout.... Best of Luck..
  • JoshuaL86
    JoshuaL86 Posts: 403 Member
    The benefits are minor to non-existent. I run 30 miles per week, and I find I have much more energy if I run after I eat. I feel that cardio after eating is much more beneficial due to your energy level being greater, just my experiences though.
  • strikerjb007
    strikerjb007 Posts: 443 Member
    I have done both. I even lift weights on empty stomach. Once you get used to it (a week or two), it makes no difference. I do at 4 a.m. out of convenience. If you are going to do it, do it because it's convenient. I doubt that the benefit are worth the effort.
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    It makes little difference to weight loss, but if it makes the difference to your lifestyle, i.e. doing the exercise rather than not fitting it in, that makes all the difference in the world!

    If I have to exercise first thing in the morning I'll do it before breakfast, but if I'm doing something that requires endurance, such as a long run, I leave it to the weekend, eat breakfast and leave time to digest before setting out. My running is totally rubbish if it's not properly fuelled!

    For the record, some hardcore running buddies set their alarms for 4am, eat some porridge, go back to bed and get up at 6am to run, fuelled, but not with a full stomach!
  • Matt_Wild
    Matt_Wild Posts: 2,673 Member
    Search Google, some links say cardio empty stomach, first thing in the morning causes 20% more fat burn.

    http://www.builtlean.com/2012/05/29/cardio-empty-stomach/
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0124091425.htm

    Anyways I exercise twice a day...so doesn't effects me much!

    No, it does not.

    You're own quote says:

    "The group that ate before the moderate cardio session continued to burn significantly more calories up to 24 hours after the exercise bout. The authors concluded that “when moderate endurance exercise is done to lose body fat, fasting before exercise does not enhance lipid utilization (fat use); rather, physical activity after a light meal is advisable. - See more at:
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member
    Search Google, some links say cardio empty stomach, first thing in the morning causes 20% more fat burn.

    http://www.builtlean.com/2012/05/29/cardio-empty-stomach/
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0124091425.htm

    Anyways I exercise twice a day...so doesn't effects me much!

    No, it does not.

    You're own quote says:

    "The group that ate before the moderate cardio session continued to burn significantly more calories up to 24 hours after the exercise bout. The authors concluded that “when moderate endurance exercise is done to lose body fat, fasting before exercise does not enhance lipid utilization (fat use); rather, physical activity after a light meal is advisable. - See more at:

    In addition, the actual amount of fat utilised as a fuel substrate during any given workout is miniscule and not worth worrying about in any event...

    If you like it - do it. If it hampers your performance - don't.
  • majope
    majope Posts: 1,325 Member
    Search Google, some links say cardio empty stomach, first thing in the morning causes 20% more fat burn.

    http://www.builtlean.com/2012/05/29/cardio-empty-stomach/
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0124091425.htm

    Anyways I exercise twice a day...so doesn't effects me much!
    Yes, but the study discussed here demonstrated that people who exercise fueled continue to burn more calories in the hours afterward than people who exercise fasted: http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/eating-or-fasting-for-fat-loss-a-controversy-resolved-0

    My take: do what's most comfortable for you--some people feel better exercising on an empty stomach, some after eating something. The important part is getting the cardio done!
  • Matt_Wild
    Matt_Wild Posts: 2,673 Member
    Search Google, some links say cardio empty stomach, first thing in the morning causes 20% more fat burn.

    http://www.builtlean.com/2012/05/29/cardio-empty-stomach/
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0124091425.htm

    Anyways I exercise twice a day...so doesn't effects me much!
    Yes, but the study discussed here demonstrated that people who exercise fueled continue to burn more calories in the hours afterward than people who exercise fasted: http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/eating-or-fasting-for-fat-loss-a-controversy-resolved-0

    My take: do what's most comfortable for you--some people feel better exercising on an empty stomach, some after eating something. The important part is getting the cardio done!

    ^^^ We have a winner! :drinker: :bigsmile:
  • SRH7
    SRH7 Posts: 2,037 Member
    Search Google, some links say cardio empty stomach, first thing in the morning causes 20% more fat burn.

    http://www.builtlean.com/2012/05/29/cardio-empty-stomach/
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0124091425.htm

    Anyways I exercise twice a day...so doesn't effects me much!
    Yes, but the study discussed here demonstrated that people who exercise fueled continue to burn more calories in the hours afterward than people who exercise fasted: http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/eating-or-fasting-for-fat-loss-a-controversy-resolved-0

    My take: do what's most comfortable for you--some people feel better exercising on an empty stomach, some after eating something. The important part is getting the cardio done!

    ^^^ We have a winner! :drinker: :bigsmile:

    Hurrah! I will continue not eating before running in the morning and will continue to have a big breakfast a couple of hours before going on a day-long hike.
  • JenniBaby85
    JenniBaby85 Posts: 855 Member
    I CAN'T workout on an empty stomach. It freaks my body out and I start shaking and getting dizzy spells so I can never complete a workout in that condition, and therefore, it is in no way beneficial for me. It's up to you how you go about it, but my experiences have been very NEGATIVE with fasting before a workout.
  • BlackStarDeceiver
    BlackStarDeceiver Posts: 590 Member
    I'm sure if you Google it you can find studies that support both scenarios (Fasting exercise vs. Fed Exercise). Ultimately it is personal preference.

    I hate working out after eating, it makes me feel sick. Having said that, what works for me most definitely will not work for everyone else.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    I train fasted all the time ...cardio and/or weight training...

    For some reason, I actually have more energy when I train fasted. The only thing I take is BCAA's....

    as of if it is better then eating before hand, I think that is there would be a benefit it is probably minimal...but the idea now of working out on full stomach turns me off for sure...
  • cmeiron
    cmeiron Posts: 1,599 Member
    I think you should do whatever allows you to get the most out of your workout. If I don't have at least a little something to eat (a protein/carb mix works best for me) before a workout I tend to feel weak and wimpy and will bonk more often than not. With food in my system I can give 'er hell and my workouts are far more intense. My partner, on the other hand, gets terrible indigestion if she eats before working out so always does so in the morning on an empty stomach. We each do what works best for our own bodies :)
  • MountainDont351LBS
    MountainDont351LBS Posts: 29
    I was told that you burn fat when you cardio on an empty stomach rather than just burning off your food.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    I began running my long runs during marathon training on an empty stomach, solely because I was too lazy to get up any earlier than I had to so I could eat & let things settle. I ended up feeling MUCH better doing things that way, but in general I dont think it matters
  • squirrelzzrule22
    squirrelzzrule22 Posts: 640 Member
    I began running my long runs during marathon training on an empty stomach, solely because I was too lazy to get up any earlier than I had to so I could eat & let things settle. I ended up feeling MUCH better doing things that way, but in general I dont think it matters

    I'm the exact OPPOSITE with my half marathon training, but I believe its a to each their own thing. For me, 9 miles on an empty stomach (and possibly not properly hydrated as well, to be fair) left me feeling positively sickly for about two hours afterwards. The shakes, chills, circulation didn't feel great, and more sore than usual. Literally feverish symptoms. 11 miles an hour after a decent breakfast with a protein bar right afterwards felt ten times better. That's just me.

    ETA: I always end up doing my 4 milers on a fairly empty stomach (3 hours after bfast and before lunch) and I have no problem with that. Though I am ravenously hungry when I'm done! :)
  • debrag12
    debrag12 Posts: 1,071 Member
    I don't eat before I go to the gym, usually go in the mornings. Mainly coz I don't eat breakfast, I don't feel hungery unlike when I'm at work.
  • LiftHuff
    LiftHuff Posts: 131
    It depends on what type of cardio you are talking about. Fasted training is designed to complement low intensity steady state cardio like moderately paced walking, and usually strength training. How long of a fast is also significant, as is whether you are in ketosis and whether you have done it very much in the past.

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