Morning Workout: Eat before or after

bdbuell
bdbuell Posts: 2
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello MFP!

Just a quick question, encouraging people to share their thoughts. I am currently working out in the evening, but soon I plan on working out in the morning before going to Work. What are your thoughts on eating before working out in the morning or eating after. I've been told that if you can hold off on eating until after your workout, it will raise your metabolism. Truth? Thoughts?
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Replies

  • RunningFromFat
    RunningFromFat Posts: 4
    I find it impossible to workout before breakfast, so for me personally, if I am working out really early I will have at least a banana before hitting the gym. When I have more time for digestion I will have my full breakfast. I find it really helps me to get the most out of my workout. But I'm afraid everyone is different, and you will get so many different opinions, so the best thing to do is try out a couple of eating patterns, and see which one suits you best. Hope this helps.
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    I personally eat after, but you may find that you don't have enough energy if you don't eat before.
  • divincenzo1
    divincenzo1 Posts: 25
    I sometimes workout before breakfast and in fact am planning to change my schedule to do morning workouts most of the time. One of the trainers at my gym recommended eating after my morning workouts (something like an english muffin and peanut butter) to get my metabolism going. However, if you feel you don't have enough energy and are getting dizzy and/or nauseous I would def. eat beforehand. I'm also not a morning eater in general....hope that helps a little!
  • Wargamergal
    Wargamergal Posts: 58 Member
    I usually eat after but if i am going to have a big sesh (like on the weekend) i will have something small with a bit of sugar like fruit just to keep my blood sugar up :)
  • castlerobber
    castlerobber Posts: 528 Member
    I just can't eat that early. Workout first for me, then I'm ready for breakfast.
  • lewcompton
    lewcompton Posts: 881 Member
    I used to workout before breakfast without a problem... I've also worked out afterward... I found for me it worked best to have something small prior to working out... I'd start with weights and move to the cardio... My workout buddy couldn't eat anything or drink anything before a workout or his workout would be halted by a trip to a restroom for an involuntary purge... Try both and see which works best for you... I like to do weights before cardio... Burn through the glucose to get a great hard workout and then do cardio afterward to burn fat and work on flexibility.
  • alzjunkyard
    alzjunkyard Posts: 4 Member
    I cannot run with anything in my stomach, so if that is the type of workout, I will skip the meal. If it is something like hiking or lifting weights, I'll go ahead and eat something not fatty or dairy first.
  • aloranger7708
    aloranger7708 Posts: 422 Member
    When I used to workout in the mornings, I would eat something small that would hold me over, like a banana, and then work out. After that, I would eat a full breakfast. It worked REALLY well for me and made me enjoy working out in the a.m. (as someone who hated mornings and eating breakfast.)
  • Rambo529
    Rambo529 Posts: 170 Member
    I usually will eat a little bit before so I have some energy for my workout as well as making sure to eat after.
  • jensweighingin
    jensweighingin Posts: 168 Member
    I eat afterwards. If I do a big session I have a piece of string cheese on my way to work and then eat my breakfast at work. I'm already getting up at 4:30 to get to the gym before work, so it's hard to do anything but throw on clothes and get myself into the car and get to the gym.
  • thesarahsundae
    thesarahsundae Posts: 240 Member
    I don't eat before I workout. I am up at 4:45am and at the gym by 5:30am. I'm just not hungry that early in the morning. When I'm done with my workout and on my way home to shower and get ready for work, I'm usually starving. I try to remember to bring something to eat on the way home that is easy or eat something small before I get work. At work I am lucky enough to be able to eat breakfast at my desk and I have oatmeal with some sort of fruit usually every day.
  • katevarner
    katevarner Posts: 884 Member
    When I workout at 6, I have some yogurt and coffee about 30 to 45 minutes before, but if I go in at 5:30, I just have coffee (black). Haven't noticed too much of an effect on my workout, but I know if I work out on a full stomach I have issues.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Hello MFP!

    Just a quick question, encouraging people to share their thoughts. I am currently working out in the evening, but soon I plan on working out in the morning before going to Work. What are your thoughts on eating before working out in the morning or eating after. I've been told that if you can hold off on eating until after your workout, it will raise your metabolism. Truth? Thoughts?

    Nutrient timing will not have an appreciable effect on metabolism. As such I'd really recommend using personal preference for the above. I'd go with whatever makes you train the best.
  • zaph0d
    zaph0d Posts: 1,172 Member
    Yes. I agree. You sohuld eat before or after your workout. Doing both is ok too. Doing neither is ok too as long as you eat later on at some point.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    The metabolism thing is bogus. Do what works best for you. Personally, I workout fasted and eat after.
  • cailinlowe
    cailinlowe Posts: 161 Member
    I would highly suggest eating a little something before hand. I normally just have 8oz of OJ and half of a piece of toast with peanut butter on. Depending on what your workout is really means a lot too. When I was doing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, I could get by without eating first.. when i tried to do that with Insanity, i passed out.

    Whatever you choose. just be careful :]
  • rubixcyoob
    rubixcyoob Posts: 395
    When I swam early early mornings I would have something like a banana or energy bar. Light but gave me that little bit of sugar to help kick the morning blues.
  • MagnaSky
    MagnaSky Posts: 93 Member
    If I do 30 min - 1 hour workout I do not eat before. For anything longer than 1 hour, I do try to eat some banana before and have protein shake ready to drink during and after.
  • sjohnny
    sjohnny Posts: 56,142 Member
    Try it both ways and see which you like better.


    As stated above: eating at some point during the day is generally a good idea regardless of what time you work out.
  • divacat80
    divacat80 Posts: 299 Member
    A workout is supposed to challenge your body, and that depends on each person. For some people a workout is a 30-minute stroll around the neighbourhood. If that's the kind of workout we're talking about, then you might not need to eat before doing it.

    For me(according to my abilities and my current fitness goals), a workout is a high-impact aerobic routine, or a good strength training session. So I do need to fuel my body if i don't want to feel drained after burning between 500-900 kcals

    But when i go for a stroll or for groceries,sometimes i do wait until i come back home to. have breakfast. Depends on you and how hard you exercise.
  • tommygirl15
    tommygirl15 Posts: 1,012 Member
    Everyone is going to have something different that works for them.
    For me, it's coffee (for the boost) before a morning workout, and then breakfast afterwards.
  • alisiaendris
    alisiaendris Posts: 213 Member
    I personally get sick to my stomach if I do not have a little something before working out because of all of the water I drink during my workout. I usually have half of a breakfast bar before my workout and eat the rest when I get hungry later.
  • Becky388
    Becky388 Posts: 157 Member
    I prefer to have my coffee with stevia and half & half, workout, then eat.
  • KS_4691
    KS_4691 Posts: 228 Member
    both! :)
  • sjohnny
    sjohnny Posts: 56,142 Member
    A workout is supposed to challenge your body, and that depends on each person. For some people a workout is a 30-minute stroll around the neighbourhood. If that's the kind of workout we're talking about, then you might not need to eat before doing it.

    For me(according to my abilities and my current fitness goals), a workout is a high-impact aerobic routine, or a good strength training session. So I do need to fuel my body if i don't want to feel drained after burning between 500-900 kcals

    But when i go for a stroll or for groceries,sometimes i do wait until i come back home to. have breakfast. Depends on you and how hard you exercise.

    You can still have a challenging workout without eating right before. I've gone for an hour and a half run on an empty stomach and PRed on lifts on an empty stomach. Different people have different preferences for this kind of thing and just because you can do it without eating first doesn't mean you're slacking.
  • faupster
    faupster Posts: 86 Member
    I personally eat after, but you may find that you don't have enough energy if you don't eat before.

    Truth
  • SelenaRios12
    SelenaRios12 Posts: 4 Member
    I usually do before and afterwards i have snack like an orange. Also I drink a lot of water during my workout, so I feel full once I'm done.
  • CarlieeBear
    CarlieeBear Posts: 325 Member
    My trainer told me to eat a high protein breakfast before working out.
  • Sincere24
    Sincere24 Posts: 126 Member
    i tend to work out fasted, i find i perform before. Even if i've eaten two hours prior i still get a sickening feeling whilst doing exercise if i have eaten something. But then again i'm a subscriber of intermittent fasting and don't eat til around 2 or so.
  • shrinkingislander
    shrinkingislander Posts: 315 Member
    It depends on the workout, any run under 8km and before 9am I prefer not to eat and will have oatmeal afterwards. A longer run and after 9am I'll have a small breakfast toast, peanut butter, and a banana.

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