Could you lift before you walk the dogs?

I'm almost always ravenous by the time I get to deadlifts. Since you lift at home, could you do a snack break? This is giving me the giggles just thinking about it. You could do your squats, eat a bit of cheese or some nuts, do OHP to let the food settle a little, and then do deadlifts.

Lifting before your walk is probably a better suggestion.

I always workout fasted. If I eat before I deadlift, well, it would not be pretty. Are you walking really far with your dogs? If it's just a quick walk, I'd call that warming up. If it's a long walk, then I'd do it after lifting.

Try eating before you lift and see what happens.

I'm in the minority I guess. I make it a point to always eat something with a good amount of carbs & protein about 1.5-2 hours before I lift. Same with cardio. I need my fuel!

I usually lift on an empty stomach in the morning with a 20-minute warm-up beforehand of some sort. Used to be yoga, nowadays it's elliptical. I don't usually have trouble hitting my scheduled lifts unless I didn't get enough sleep or I start too late after getting out of bed. As long as I get going between 30-60 minutes after getting up, I'm good to go.

I've eaten breakfast before lifting, but it honestly doesn't make a discernible difference for me, and I only ever eat first if I wait too long with the lifting after I wake up.

I know that lifting fasted isn't going to qualify me for achieving world records, but I don't care. It works best for my schedule as it is right now since I work evenings/2nd shift.

If you feel more comfortable walking your dogs first and lifting after, then set your lifting goals a little lower and don't fret over them too much. Fit lifting into your life, don't bend your life around lifting. Who cares? Just lift, give it the best you've got at each session, and make sure that you progress overall in some way.

I think everyone is different, and so my advice to you would be to just do what works best for you. Do whatever fits into your goals and personal life, and don't be afraid to mix things up here and there, because the bottom line is that there really is no such thing as an "optimal" or "perfect" training plan. The best training plan is the one that you follow and that helps you achieve the results you're after. They're all going to be perfect for you in their own way, but also have their own imperfections. Because they're all created by human beings. The universe does't crap training plans out of the heavens, you know. Some person puts them together, usually a person just as imperfect as the rest of us. And being an expert (self-proclaimed or with some schooling/expertise under your belt) still doesn't make anybody perfect. Sorry.

That's why trial and error and the willingness to be flexible are going to be in your corner here, so don't be afraid of change.

My dog would never let me leave for the gym before walking her.

I also lift in the morning, though, so what I do is have some coffee and a protein shake with milk. That usually gives me enough fuel.

I'm finding the older I get the harder it is for me to exercise without eating before hand.

Not that I'm calling you old or anything, erm... but you are a whole year older than I am so we're no spring chickens either. :flowerforyou: Sorry, just dug myself in a hole there.

I'm finding the older I get the harder it is for me to exercise without eating before hand.

Not that I'm calling you old or anything, erm... but you are a whole year older than I am so we're no spring chickens either. :flowerforyou: Sorry, just dug myself in a hole there.

LOL - If you guys think you're old then I must be ancient.

Don't know if age has anything to do with it as I've always fueled prior to workouts, so wouldn't know.