Snack for 5am workout? Go on Empty?

chmiddleton
chmiddleton Posts: 30 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I get up at 5am to work out. It's the only real "Me time" I have to get a good workout in. Some mornings I feel a little hungry when I get up and will eat something super quick right before my workout. I don't have time to let it diget (lol). I have been doing a tablespoon of powdered peanut butter on 3 reduced fat triscuits. Sometimes maybe I'll eat a 1/2 a banana instead. Sometimes, I won't eat anything. I always will drink water before and durring.

So, my questions are: Do you eat first?; What do you eat?

I read a fitness magazine article that said studies used to say not to eat. Now they say you burn more calories if you do eat 15-20 minutes before. I don't have 15-20 minutes of time to wait until my workout. There is so much "do this, not that" information out there.
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Replies

  • Br4ndi
    Br4ndi Posts: 177
    Great question, I am in the same boat. I have to be done working out by 6:15 to start my day and I get up at 4:45am to be working out at 5. I d not want to have to get up any earlier to eat.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I get up at 5am to work out. It's the only real "Me time" I have to get a good workout in. Some mornings I feel a little hungry when I get up and will eat something super quick right before my workout. I don't have time to let it diget (lol). I have been doing a tablespoon of powdered peanut butter on 3 reduced fat triscuits. Sometimes maybe I'll eat a 1/2 a banana instead. Sometimes, I won't eat anything. I always will drink water before and durring.

    So, my questions are: Do you eat first?; What do you eat?

    I read a fitness magazine article that said studies used to say not to eat. Now they say you burn more calories if you do eat 15-20 minutes before. I don't have 15-20 minutes of time to wait until my workout. There is so much "do this, not that" information out there.

    I would choose whichever method gives you the greatest:

    a) personal satisfaction
    and
    b) workout performance

    This is absolutely not a one-size-fits-all answer. I enjoy training fasted, others hate it.
  • tammihart
    tammihart Posts: 953 Member
    I get up at 5 and am out the door by 5:10 to meet my friend for a run. I eat after! I don't want to get up any earlier to eat, I need to be back home by 6 to get my kids up for school.

    I
    There are so many theories eat before/ eat after. I say do what works for you!
  • George1567
    George1567 Posts: 107
    My bet is most answers will be about finding what works best for the individual. You can find "data" to support eating and not eating before workout but it all seems to be slanted by what your workout/fitness goals are. If you can go to the gym and kill a workout on empty, then that has to be better than trying to fit in a snack/meal prior and having it detract from your workout.

    My winter work schedule is very un-typical. I go in from 8-10am and then I'm off until mid afternoon. I go to the gym at 10am and do not eat anything until after my workout. I drink plenty of water, but no solid food. I find this works best for me.
  • Krys_140
    Krys_140 Posts: 648 Member
    I get lightheaded if I train fasted, so I always eat a little something. In the morning, it's either some yogurt & granola, or wheat toast with nutella. I agree with the others on here that say do what works best for you.
  • jasonp_ritzert
    jasonp_ritzert Posts: 357 Member
    Keep trying different variations until you find what works best for you. It took a few weeks of me doing one thing for a few days then switching to something else to find out that before I work out, I function best with some carbs and protein in my system about an hour before I workout to keep me from feeling nausous.
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    If you're hungry or get light headed during your work out, I'd say eat, if not, then don't. I get up and am at my gym by 5am, I don't eat before hand cause I'm not awake enough to be hungry yet
  • Sarabeth1980
    Sarabeth1980 Posts: 62 Member
    I few nuts has always helped me when I am super hungry, I do this a lot when I get home from work and dinner isn't going to be ready for a bit. It stops me from pigging out on dinner later
  • runfatmanrun
    runfatmanrun Posts: 1,090 Member
    An option to consider is to eat late at night, like just before bed. Nothing big but maybe a slice of bread with some peanut butter and an apple. I don't know how intense your workouts are but it should help ensure there is something in your stomach to get you through your workout. Otherwise, a bagel or some toast is good too.
  • Ta2dchic20
    Ta2dchic20 Posts: 376 Member
    I always eat a little something, a piece of turkey bacon, a couple bites of sweet potato, whatever's handy, otherwise I tend to get tired faster.However, that's me, I agree with what the others are saying, do what works best for you.
  • Donnaakamagmid
    Donnaakamagmid Posts: 198 Member
    I'm up at 4 and leave at 4:15 for the gym. I do not eat beforehand.
  • shreded7
    shreded7 Posts: 3
    My bet is most answers will be about finding what works best for the individual. You can find "data" to support eating and not eating before workout but it all seems to be slanted by what your workout/fitness goals are. If you can go to the gym and kill a workout on empty, then that has to be better than trying to fit in a snack/meal prior and having it detract from your workout.

    i agree, some people cant handle working out on an empty stomach.
    Working out on an empty stomach will burn more calories though, because it forces your body to pull from its secondary energy source, fat reserves. I'm a cyclist who races, and will ride one to two hours hard some mornings, and those i know a banana is a good idea, because 1) i need a lot MORE energy for the workout (since its kinda long) 2) i need some quick energy. fat reserves have slower utilization than blood glucose and muscle glycogen, which will both run out sorta quickly ,while also being restored at a slower rate than they're eaten up on the bike.
    A shorter ride or run though will be better without any food.

    so it depends on your workout, and ultimately, YOU!
  • kenazfehu
    kenazfehu Posts: 1,188 Member
    I've tried it both ways, and I like working out with no food on my stomach best. It seems to pull some of the intensity from my workout if my digestive tract is busy.
  • nexangelus
    nexangelus Posts: 2,080 Member
    I work on empty if I go to the gym that early...
  • Ezada
    Ezada Posts: 207 Member
    I have to eat before I work out or my body tries to involuntarily shut down (aka pass out) I don't' know why, my guess is its a blood sugar thing. I normally do evening workouts and I try to eat at least a half hour before I exercise. Any closer than 30min I am burping food ;D

    My go to preworkout snacks are
    Whole Unsalted Almonds
    1 banana
    Cheese stick (sometimes with the almonds)
    Baby Carrots
    Hard Boiled Egg

    Haven't tried many others beyond these, though if I get any more I will tell you!
  • naner61
    naner61 Posts: 85
    I have a banana or a babybel cheese 35 minutes before (on the drive to the gym ) because otherwise I get to lightheaded and have trouble finishing my workout(bootcamp!) It totally depends on how your body reacts to early morning workouts. When I do deepwater aquasize I don't need anything but the bootcamp for an hour I definitely need a little something and a glass of water.
  • karllundy
    karllundy Posts: 1,490 Member
    I find that eating before I workout at 5:00 a.m. makes my stomach hurt. But, like others have said, I think it is personal preference.
  • stetienne
    stetienne Posts: 560 Member
    I agree with those that say the right answer is whatever works best for you. I find that when I work out after eating, my stomach gets upset. And yet, when I work out on an empty stomach, I kind of feel depleted earlier. No good answer for me or from me.
  • RHHMom
    RHHMom Posts: 34 Member
    I wake up absolutely famished. A banana, glass of water, and cup of coffee helps me run faster, and not get distracted by hunger pains.
  • ninick
    ninick Posts: 44 Member
    When I have to do early workouts, I tend to have something liquid. Usually coffee mixed with milk and 1/2 serveing protein powder. Gets me some carbs and protein to power through workout.
  • ardorrequiem
    ardorrequiem Posts: 70
    I would say that if you can, you shouldn't eat before you work out. Not only can you get cramps of a wretchedly unpleasant sort, but it can prevent fat burning. Dr. Mercola has some great information on his website about that. I can't link you because of the forum rules but if you want some info message me!
  • LeenaRuns
    LeenaRuns Posts: 1,309 Member
    It's totally up to you. I get up at 3:45 am to workout and I go on empty whether I'm running, lifting, or doing a video.
  • crazyellybean
    crazyellybean Posts: 999 Member
    I get up at 5am to work out. It's the only real "Me time" I have to get a good workout in. Some mornings I feel a little hungry when I get up and will eat something super quick right before my workout. I don't have time to let it diget (lol). I have been doing a tablespoon of powdered peanut butter on 3 reduced fat triscuits. Sometimes maybe I'll eat a 1/2 a banana instead. Sometimes, I won't eat anything. I always will drink water before and durring.

    So, my questions are: Do you eat first?; What do you eat?

    I read a fitness magazine article that said studies used to say not to eat. Now they say you burn more calories if you do eat 15-20 minutes before. I don't have 15-20 minutes of time to wait until my workout. There is so much "do this, not that" information out there.

    I would choose whichever method gives you the greatest:

    a) personal satisfaction
    and
    b) workout performance

    This is absolutely not a one-size-fits-all answer. I enjoy training fasted, others hate it.

    ^^ Agree
  • Flixie00
    Flixie00 Posts: 1,195 Member
    If I ate before an early morning work out I would end up bringing it back up. Water only for me.
  • sltapp
    sltapp Posts: 1
    I also have half a banana then a proper breakfast afterwards. Works for me.
  • UnoDrea3732
    UnoDrea3732 Posts: 342 Member
    I've always heard to workout before you eat. So I do just that.

    Actually I take my green tea supplement (for energy) with a bottle of water and then go work out. The water keeps me "full" and hydrated during my workout. Then after I'm done, I try to eat within 30 minutes after my workout.
  • Jester522
    Jester522 Posts: 392
    I would choose whichever method gives you the greatest:

    a) personal satisfaction
    and
    b) workout performance

    This is absolutely not a one-size-fits-all answer. I enjoy training fasted, others hate it.

    This. My pumps are way better when fasted but mentally I feel more in it with some calories in me. Call it my sword and shield when entering battle.

    I would avoid fats, a small protein and carb meal is better for performance. More simple forms of carbs are better pre workout so that banana is a good choice. In low carb cycles of my diet I'll switch to MCTs like coconut oil.
  • wallerbear
    wallerbear Posts: 10 Member
    I get up at 4:00 - 4:15 and begin training by 4:30. I don't normally eat anything before I start and then I usually have a protein shake or whole wheat bagel with peanutbutter after my workout. Several years ago when I was working out early, I would sometimes eat a boiled egg on the way to the gym and then have a protein shake after. But I was doing that an hour later than my schedule allows now. I'm not usually very hungry when I first wake up, and 4:00 is pretty darn early for me to think about food...haha!
  • dorianaldyn
    dorianaldyn Posts: 611 Member
    For me it totally depends on the activity/duration. If I'm working out for less than an hour (like doing an INSANITY video in my basement), I won't eat. If I'm heading out for a long mountain bike ride or a long run, I eat something that sticks with me, like oatmeal, otherwise I get jittery and lightheaded.
  • annahuebscher
    annahuebscher Posts: 114
    If you can handle it I don't see any harm in skipping breakfast. I do sometimes, but overall if I don't eat within an hour of waking up I get super nauseous, so its counterproductive to my workouts.
    I'll make a small protein shake, or half a banana, or yogurt. Something light.

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