How long do you wait after eating to workout?

So here's an answer that flies in the face of reason!

Sometimes I'll do my 4 1/2 mile run ~ 15 minutes after eating a large dinner. Now mind you, I know this is not recommended AT ALL, but it is what works for me at times. I work during the day and by the time I get home, my wife and daughter are waiting for me to have dinner. Since I'm not a morning workout person, I try to get exercise at night. With added daylight, a quick run is a very efficient for me to burn significant calories. I have a recumbent LifeCycle that I use at times also, but running just feels good and the minimum effort it involves is pretty high, higher than I can naturally push myself on the LIfeCycle...

If one doesn't cramp (which I don't), are there any studies validating this as "good" or "bad" for you?!

Again, I'm not promoting this method, but it's what I have to do sometimes...

10 hours.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Really? You're just going to say something like "10 hours." and list your qualifications without giving any reasoning? You're really saying that if I eat breakfast at 9:00 a.m., I can't work out until 7:00 p.m.? I have to go hungry all day before I'm allowed to exercise? -- That's ludicrous.

Question was how long do "I" wait? Not you. I work out fasted. I eat at 12:00am, go to sleep, get up at 7:00am, then work out at 10:00am. Not ludicrous. You just didn't realize that I work out in the morning.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

It all depends on what you ate and how much you ate. So if you keep your meal size down to a moderate size and eat light food. The hour window that your giving yourself between your meal should be fine. But your the only one who can really answer the question, because its your body and should only talk the advise you get from everone as just a guildline. I hope this clear up things for.

I don't necessarily like to work out first thing in the morning but sometimes that's all my schedule will allow for. I have to eat breakfast in the morning or I cannot function.

I've been waiting about an hour after breakfast to work out....wondering if that's enough time for my food to digest or should I be waiting a little longer?

I also drink hot water with lemon upon waking so I'm hoping that helps get the digestive process going a little sooner than later!

if it's not right for you you'll know... sometimes if i don't wait long enough, i just feel sluggish, other times i feel like throwing up. your body will tell you. for me it's 1-2 hours depending on the size/content of the meal...

Again, if its a very light snack then may be 15 mins is fine. But if its a decent meal say a veggie salad then yeah, 60-75.

Just seems to me that someone who takes the time to list a long string of "qualifications" might have better used some of that time to read the entire post and discover the core question before giving a flippant, two-word answer with no backup.

You're just miffed that I can wait 10 hours.:laugh: If asked I can elaborate. It got you to read the post and not skim over it.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Just seems to me that someone who takes the time to list a long string of "qualifications" might have better used some of that time to read the entire post and discover the core question before giving a flippant, two-word answer with no backup.

You're just miffed that I can wait 10 hours.:laugh: If asked I can elaborate. It got you to read the post and not skim over it.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I have not qualifications except that i am me and it asked how long i wait so i am guessing it is poll of sorts so. I wait about 9 to 9 and 1/2 hours. I eat at 5am go to bed at 630am and get up 300pm and work out at 330pm.

See, I'm not the only one!

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition