Breakfast before or after running?

I'm looking to start my C25K soon and I just had to know what way worked better.
I used to do competitive sports before and for my personal training, I always ran a few minutes before eating breakfast.

So, what would be better?
I'm looking to tone my body up as a lose the last 20lbs. I just dieted my way through those 15lbs and I'm going to start running again not only to maybe fast track my weight loss but also to tone myself up.

(FYI, I'm also going to start bringing back some light weight training with this.)

Replies

  • xsmilexforxmex
    xsmilexforxmex Posts: 1,216 Member
    I've always heard if you're doing a light workout it's okay to eat after but if you're like marathon training//an hour+ workout first thing try to get at least something small to fuel it.. Honestly tho it's prob personal preference tho I imagine if you are doing an intense workout after not eating for 5+ hours you could get fatigued more than you might if you have a pre-workout snack.
  • _jkr
    _jkr Posts: 24
    Thanks! C25K is designed for just a 30 minute workout. Adding weights would total maybe an hour or so.
  • If you want to switch from burning glycogen to burning fat, fast then exercise.:smile:
  • delyn356
    delyn356 Posts: 145 Member
    Personally, I can't get through a workout on an empty stomach. You could try working out first then eating & see how you feel? But take a banana with you just in case you feel a little light-headed or super hungry to the point you can't exercise.
  • Cheval13
    Cheval13 Posts: 350 Member
    There's no set rule. If you eat immediately before you exercise, you aren't really fueling the body for that workout... you're just inputting sugar to spike your blood sugar for a while, which will give you quick energy, and telling your body to start metabolizing faster again after its fast. It is a matter of preference. Some people with very fast metabolisms will get up an hour or so before their workout to eat something that they can use as fuel during. Others will rather use the energy they've stored overnight before inputting newer, not as clean energy, so they will exercise on an empty stomach.
    That being said: Running, it does not matter. Heavier workouts which include strength training will probably have better benefits with quick fuel to contract/detract those muscles. Unless you're at a consistent deficit in your eating, with little body-fat, your body will always have enough fuel to get through a 3 miles run or less. The quality of that workout is another matter.

    By the way, this is all mostly personal opinion backed by experience and some research. If you want professional/medically informed information, maybe try some of the articles from Runner's World.com?

    edited to add that I almost always do my morning run, sometimes up to 15 miles, on an empty stomach. 13+ milers, I'll maybe bring a Gu or sommat, and my run usually consists of 6-8 miles and I can run them sub-9 minute no problem even on an extra stomach. I've trained my body to be that way though. At the beginning of the running regimen, it may be a bit difficult. And it is VERY important after a morning run on an empty stomach to refuel properly afterward, otherwise you will most definitely crash.
  • VickyO1977
    VickyO1977 Posts: 156 Member
    I never have anything heavy before a run I usually have a banana half an hour before and make sure I am we'll hydrated sometimes I have an energy drink too such as powerade or a low cal one. Then I have a good breakfast when I return something like poached egg on toast. I run three times per week normally and a minimum of 3-4 miles and it works for me.
  • Martucha123
    Martucha123 Posts: 1,089 Member
    I can't workout after meal. so I always go fasted
    Try both and see what suits you best...
  • Bex2Bslim
    Bex2Bslim Posts: 1,092
    I can't workout after meal. so I always go fasted
    Try both and see what suits you best...

    ^^^ THIS ^^^
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    There isn't a right way or a wrong way. C25k isn't THAT intense, so you could try doing it fasted if that suits you. But if you find you run out of energy, then you should try fuelling beforehand with something light like a banana or a piece of toast with peanut butter.
  • SwindonJogger
    SwindonJogger Posts: 325 Member
    running with anything in my stomach just kills my running so i run on an empty stomach and drink watered down orange juice if i need a kick
  • smithers911
    smithers911 Posts: 5 Member
    Most research points to evidence that cardio first thing in the morning before eating will burn more calories from fat than exercising later on in the day after eating. Mike Matthews explains this quite well and cites the relevant research.

    If you do train early on an empty stomach, make sure you hydrate really well beforehand. Get some serios water down first!

    Interestingly, there is also strong reserach to show that weight training and cardio should not be done back-to-back. Again, the reasoning is quite complicated, but in a nutshell - cardio prevents / reduces production of growth chemicals, so the cardio is likely to reduce the usefulness of the weights. The suggestion is that if you must do both types of training in the day, do cardio before breakfast, and weights late afternoon.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    i work out early, so i prefer to work out fasted.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    I can't workout after meal. so I always go fasted
    Try both and see what suits you best...

    ^^^ THIS ^^^

    this
  • _jkr
    _jkr Posts: 24
    Most research points to evidence that cardio first thing in the morning before eating will burn more calories from fat than exercising later on in the day after eating. Mike Matthews explains this quite well and cites the relevant research.

    If you do train early on an empty stomach, make sure you hydrate really well beforehand. Get some serios water down first!

    Interestingly, there is also strong reserach to show that weight training and cardio should not be done back-to-back. Again, the reasoning is quite complicated, but in a nutshell - cardio prevents / reduces production of growth chemicals, so the cardio is likely to reduce the usefulness of the weights. The suggestion is that if you must do both types of training in the day, do cardio before breakfast, and weights late afternoon.

    Okay, thanks for that! I might just do interval days instead so I'll be sure to be doing something everyday.
  • sunsnstatheart
    sunsnstatheart Posts: 2,544 Member
    I can't workout after meal. so I always go fasted
    Try both and see what suits you best...

    ^^^ THIS ^^^

    this

    ^Another for this. Do what works for you.
  • _jkr
    _jkr Posts: 24
    I can't workout after meal. so I always go fasted
    Try both and see what suits you best...

    ^^^ THIS ^^^

    this

    ^Another for this. Do what works for you.

    HAHA yes, yes I understand!
    Thanks for all the input! I just wanted to read people's experiences on regarding this (:
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I'm looking to start my C25K soon and I just had to know what way worked better.
    I used to do competitive sports before and for my personal training, I always ran a few minutes before eating breakfast.

    So, what would be better?
    I'm looking to tone my body up as a lose the last 20lbs. I just dieted my way through those 15lbs and I'm going to start running again not only to maybe fast track my weight loss but also to tone myself up.

    (FYI, I'm also going to start bringing back some light weight training with this.)
    For body composition purposes, it doesn't matter. The question is how your body responds. Do you feel sick if you eat first? Do you feel sick if you don't?

    I've done it both ways and either works for me, personally.
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    This is really hugely a personal preference. I don't like to eat before my workouts, but I usually have a large glass of water. If I'm running over 4 miles, or if I'm pushing especially hard for pace, I'll have a bite of PB and a banana. But this is really something you have to try out for yourself and see how you feel.
  • ejwme
    ejwme Posts: 318
    I wish my body were consistent enough for me to have advice to give, but figured I'd mention it because nobody else had - what works best for a given person can also vary. Some days I'm a champ running 8 miles on empty. Other days I drag 3 miles and wonder why on earth I didn't swig some OJ first. I normally try to eat, but often forget (AM isn't terribly lucid for me). Before a race, I can usually get down some yogurt and a tiny bit of oatmeal, the jitters keep me from wanting more. But I've also had amazing long runs on evenings only an hour after a decent sized dinner.

    So not only try it and see what works for you, but understand that even that may vary wildly from day to day. In the C25K, the MOST important thing to do is to put your shoes on and get the run done. Let it be ugly, slow, annoying, but get the miles under your shoes. Once (if ever) you start working on performance (distance or speed or both), it will start to matter how/when you eat much more.
  • _jkr
    _jkr Posts: 24
    Thank you for all your response! It's really helpful (:

    I'm trying to recall the last time I've exercised and I don't think I've eaten anything before that's remotely near the work out. Back when I was still competing, eating even an hour or two before a game would make me sick (even if it was just a banana). I'm going to try eating after the work out and if that works for me, I'll stick with it.

    Thank you for all your help! If there's anymore information you can share, just post! (:
  • meredith1123
    meredith1123 Posts: 843 Member
    Seriously do what youre body tells you to do. Some people can go out and run or do a full hour of running or exercise with out eating something.
    as for me? no way in hell i'm taking a 3 mile run with out AT LEAST eating a slice of wheat toast with spray butter or peanut butter. I'm not saying I fill up because then i just feel heavy. What i am saying is my body needs carbs to get through 3 miles so a piece of toast usually does it. When i have early morning 5k events, i get up at 530am - eat a slice of wheat toast or half a pack of instant oatmeal and then i go to the event and jog.
    Its a personal body preference that you will need to learn about yourself.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    you should really ask your body instead of ours.
  • Muddy_Yogi
    Muddy_Yogi Posts: 1,459 Member
    you should really ask your body instead of ours.

    ^ this. There is no right or wrong answer. I get sick if I eat before I run. Other people can't run due to lack of fuel if they don't eat. It is your body, how would we know what it needs.
  • dorianaldyn
    dorianaldyn Posts: 611 Member
    It comes down to personal preference.

    For me, if I were only running for a half hour, I wouldn't bother eating.

    If I'm running for an hour or more, I try to eat a small breakfast - usually something like whole wheat toast and peanut butter.

    If I'm running for 1.5 hours or longer, I also bring along some fuel to consume mid-run.
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    switch it up to confuse the muscles
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    muscle confusion to avoid plateauing:

    hurry and get dressed for the gym, sit on couch.

    muscles = confused.
  • pplf2001
    pplf2001 Posts: 133 Member
    running with anything in my stomach just kills my running so i run on an empty stomach and drink watered down orange juice if i need a kick

    ^^^ this, but I have to take extra salt because of my low blood pressure, so I drink 1/2 of a 12 oz bottle of regular gatorade before I run in the morning (gives me a bit of sugar and some electrolytes). Only 40 cals too.
  • ejwme
    ejwme Posts: 318
    muscle confusion to avoid plateauing:

    hurry and get dressed for the gym, sit on couch.

    muscles = confused.

    ha! Sometimes, if I know I'm not going to want to but have to go for a run super early in the morning, the night before I'll put on all my running gear (even shoes and HRM strap) and then go to bed. Talk about confusion.