Eating before working out?

garber6th · July 2013

Is it better to eat something before a workout, or is it better to work out on an empty stomach?

caseythirteen · July 2013

It's a matter of personal preference really. I work out @ 5am and used to always do it without eating. Recenlty I started eating a homemade protein oat bar on my way to the gym and I noticed it helped give me an extra bit of energy to have a better workout. What's best is what works for you.

lattarulol · July 2013

I almost always work out on an empty stomach (running) since I go right when I wake up but I've started waking up at about 5am for a bodypump class at the gym and found that eating a Quest bar on the way to class has given me way more energy and I can work out harder in the class. I haven't tried it with running yet but I think I will soon. I suggest you try it both ways and see how you feel the best!

mssierra2u · July 2013

For me, if it's first thing in the morning, I prefer to workout on an empty stomach. I typically work out after work, and about 1.5 hours after my last snack. I worked out once within 1 hour of a full meal and almost tossed my cookies. Also, make sure you drink water while working out. :-)

sweetNsassy2584 · July 2013

In order for me to do best and keep my strength and endurance up I eat something small like banana and pb, apple with pb, protein bar, or protein shake. I lift heavy and in order for me to make gains I have to eat up!

Jayiz · July 2013

I cannot workout on empty myself. I need something like an apple or boiled egg to give me some fuel. I also add lots of water to that.

crystalfisher89 · July 2013

I always eat about 45 minutes to an hour before my workout (I workout in the early evening after work), but it is usually something small like a cheese stick or apple with one or two glasses of water. Then after my workout, I immediately have a low cal electrolyte drink (40 cals and barely any sugar) and a protein shake and that usually tides me over until I get home and can fix dinner.

I wouldn't recommend working out on an empty stomach because your metabolism keeps going strong if you are keeping your body fulfilled. I've done it a couple times because "it was all the rave" and I was so hungry after my workout I was grumpy and dang near ate the first thing I could find coming in the door (which tends to be foods I shouldn't be eating after I workout).

javajinny · July 2013

For me it depends on how hard I'm going to work out, but my hubby always workouts out on an empty stomach. It's a trial and error thing; I've learned that before some workouts I need to eat because I'll feel lightheaded if not and before other workouts if I eat then I feel sick during the workout. Just try stuff and listen to your body.

bokodasu · July 2013

Both-ish? If you're doing a hard workout, you should have enough in your system to get you through it but probably not anything actually in your stomach at the time unless it doesn't bother you.

The jury is still kind of out on fasted workouts - there are some studies that show them having benefits, but I think more that show they're not useful. I tried it for awhile but found myself having not enough energy to finish my last sets, and that's kind of the most important thing to me when I'm working out, so I stopped. Now I eat something quick-digesting about 20 minutes before my morning workouts, and then real food afterwards, or just at regular mealtimes if I'm doing nighttime workouts.

gobonas99 · July 2013

it depends on what I'm doing and when. first thing in the am, and a regular workout that's under an hour - nothing. if I'm running a triathlon that morning, I'll have like a banana and a little oatmeal 2 hours before race start. after work, I have a banana as a snack at least an hour before working out. If I have more than that (or don't let at least at hour pass after I eat), and then workout, I feel like I'm going to puke. :sick:

Eating before working out?

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