Optimal wait time to exercise after a meal

cwelsh
cwelsh Posts: 12 Member
edited September 20 in Fitness and Exercise
While looking through numerous websites i found answers all across the board on this topic. Quite simply i just want to figure out how long after eating a meal should you wait to exercise. I personally go walking / jogging for about 45 minutes during my lunch hour so i only leave myself about 15 minutes for my lunch to digest. Should i be waiting longer before i begin the daily routine?

Any thoughts, comments, and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Replies

  • sportsmomof2
    sportsmomof2 Posts: 136
    While Im definately not an expert, I was under the impression you should work out after you eat because your body continues to burn calories after your exercise. Hope that helps and if Im wrong atleast it will bump your topic and someone else can answer!

    Best of luck on your journey!
  • emorym
    emorym Posts: 344
    I find that if I wait about an hour I am able to do whatever I want with out feeling like I am going to lose my lunch. I do like to eat something before exercise so I have the energy to work out.
  • FrankyOsage
    FrankyOsage Posts: 275
    I've been told about 30-45 mins by my brother majoring in Exercise Science. It allows the food to digest but you still benefit from the energy it gave you. Also, that way your body wont be concentrating on burning the calories in your stomach instead of sending that energy to your muscles. Same reason he advised me to have a small handful of almonds a little before I work out to up the energy (I work out after work and hours after lunch), and it really helped me.

    I hope is at least sort of in the direction you are looking for...
  • sportsmomof2
    sportsmomof2 Posts: 136
    Ok..what I meant was you should eat after you work out..re-read what I wrote..Sorry..:

    frown:
  • thecheese
    thecheese Posts: 51 Member
    Is there anyway you could eat a small snack 40 mins before your workout and then eat your lunch after your run? I think everybody is a little different with how their body metabolizes so there will be a range. I personally can't eat a meal anywhere near my run. I have a small snack of lowfat cheese and grapes, odwalla bar, etc.. do my exercisie then eat my meal about 30 mins after.
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    If you're only doing low to moderate exercise, and doing it for 45 minutes, it's not a really big concern. Generally the addage is 2 hours after consuming a full serving of carbohydrates, is optimal, because A) (and I'm assuming you're eating GOOD carbs here) it takes a lot longer than 30 minutes to digest carbs, and B) 45 minutes usually isn't long enough for you to deplete your glycogen reserves anyway (in moderate cardiovascular exercise), now if you're bumping up into the high 70's or low 80's of HR Max, then that's a little different. If you don't wait long enough after eating and go into moderately high exercise levels, then you risk serious cramping, which sucks, and will ruin your workout (trust me, been there).
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