Early morning workouts - do you eat before or after?

boymom75
boymom75 Posts: 74
in Food and Nutrition
I've been getting up at 5am to go workout before work...problem is I'm not hungry. It's basically stumbling into my gym clothes and getting out the door. I am planning on starting a bootcamp 3x a week, so I need to eat before this workout.

Any ideas or tips? I know I need the energy for the workout before I go.

Thanks y'all for your help! :smile:

Replies

  • amwoidyla
    amwoidyla Posts: 257 Member
    Both! I go to spin class in the mornings and I usually have half a banana before and then after with a coffee.
  • laurelobrien
    laurelobrien Posts: 156 Member
    I eat when I'm hungry :) Normally that isn't until 9-10am, I wake up around 6. You don't need the energy before working out necessarily. Try it without eating if you don't feel like eating, and see if you feel like you hit a 'wall' or run out of steam too early.
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  • Phaedra2014
    Phaedra2014 Posts: 1,254 Member
    No food before early morning workouts for me.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    after. i've never been able to work out if there isnt at least a 90 minute window between when i eat and when i work out
  • sarafischbach9
    sarafischbach9 Posts: 466 Member
    I almost always eat before. It's personal preference, but if its an intense workout, then you should probably eat something. A walk in the park? Up to you.
  • boymom75
    boymom75 Posts: 74
    Thanks for the ideas/help! I think I'm going to start with something small and see how I feel. If I feel icky, then I know it's not for me.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    Both
  • rjdunn87
    rjdunn87 Posts: 385 Member
    I don't eat before, it makes me feel nauseous and icky.
  • maggierda
    maggierda Posts: 12
    If it's that early, no but I definitely eat after although I'll have lots of water before, during and after :)
  • keepongoingnmw
    keepongoingnmw Posts: 371 Member
    If it is intense no I get sick. I do gulp down some coffee. I tried half a banana but that did not work so well.
  • MissGamerGirl
    MissGamerGirl Posts: 187 Member
    Nope, if I work out in the morning I'm in a fasted state! I perform better.
  • cmeiron
    cmeiron Posts: 1,599 Member
    There's no right or wrong way to go about this, it totally boils down to your personal preference and how you feel during your workouts. Personally, I need a bit of food in my system or else I feel gross and weak and shaky, so if it's early morning I scarf a carb-rich snack down pretty much as soon as I get up so I've got some fuel but it has a little time to settle/digest before I start my workout.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Try it both ways...a lot of people do well working out fasted and others don't. It really is all about how you feel. Personally, my workouts are for **** that early in the morning so I go in the evening. I also don't get such a great workout fasted. I do workout on Saturday mornings, but I generally get up at 6 or so and have a big breakfast of eggs, bacon, potatoes and then hit the gym around 9 or so after I've given some time for digestion.
  • pandorakick
    pandorakick Posts: 901 Member
    I prefer working out fasted, but it's all personal preference!
  • stumblinthrulife
    stumblinthrulife Posts: 2,558 Member
    I used to work out fasted. Now I don't. My preference changed.

    Do what works for you, and don't worry about it being right or wrong.
  • kamyers1289
    kamyers1289 Posts: 129 Member
    I wake up at eat breakfast around 7:30. Workout between 10 & noon (depending on the day), then have lunch or a protein shake after (again, depends on the day).
  • 89nunu
    89nunu Posts: 1,082 Member
    If it's strength based I eat before or I will faint if it's cardio based I don't eat or I will puke :D
    But it really is just personal preference, try it fasted and if you feel light headed try eating a little something right after getting up. Maybe a banana or so. You will get used to eating in the mornings if you have to
  • mjudd1990
    mjudd1990 Posts: 219 Member
    It's based on personal preference yes but it also matters what your goal is. If you are just going to do cardio and your goal is to lose fat then not eating anything before is better. By fasting all night your glycogen stores will be at their lowest in the morning so your body will use them up quickly and you'll start tapping into body fat for fuel instead. If you are strength training however I would suggest eating a good breakfast before hand. I usually do eggs and oatmeal with blueberries and flax then wash it down with green tea. If you don't eat before hand your glycogen stores will be depleted and you won't have as much energy to lift and you'll have a greater degree of muscle catabolism while you workout.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    Any ideas or tips? I know I need the energy for the workout before I go.

    I used to have a 20 mile road cycle to work, always had to have a bowl of muesli and milk or yoghurt before I went out, otherwise I'd burn out very quickly.

    More recently it was down to 6 miles to the station, then a couple of miles at the other end of the train journey.

    I know that I'm broadly non-functional without something in my stomach though.
  • groomchick
    groomchick Posts: 610 Member
    Might not want to eat before a Bootcamp….They are pretty intense and lots of people get pukey! Eat when your hungry …but eat well afterward!!
  • Machdude
    Machdude Posts: 136 Member
    Usually a banana or piece of fresh fruit before, just to get something in my body. Then coffee and breakfast afterward.
  • quellybelly
    quellybelly Posts: 827 Member
    It's preference. I personally eat a banana or tablespoon of peanut butter before I go to the gym. Anything more than that will make me too full to workout.
  • jonnyman41
    jonnyman41 Posts: 1,032 Member
    pot of yogurt with berries added (or whatever I have in) and a tea spoon of oats, very easy to eat and gives me the energy to do the pre work run.
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    I have to eat before I workout in the morning...I don't know why but I am always weaker in the early morning than I am after around 10am. It can be frustating.

    Could you make a smoothie or protien shake instead of a sit down meal?
  • abickford82
    abickford82 Posts: 207
    I wake up super early, so no. I do my cardio in the morning but drink BCAA's during, and hit the weights later when I get home.
  • angelfish257
    angelfish257 Posts: 81 Member
    Personally I prefer to eat after exercise - just make sure I'm well hydrated during my workout.

    I have had times where I feel a bit light-headed or in need of extra energy, then i have a small pot of yogurt or like others have said, some banana.

    Just see what works for you - if in doubt make sure you have a piece of fruit or yogurt drink or something like that in your bag with you :)

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