Exercising on an empty stomach?

alexander_airey93
alexander_airey93 Posts: 19
in Health and Weight Loss
So today, I went to Zumba and bunt over 1000 calories. I didn't eat anything prior because I was in a rush. Ive heard that exercising on an empty stomach burns more fat because there are no carbs to burn.

Is this true?

Thanks
Alex. :happy:

Replies

  • jjennyb4
    jjennyb4 Posts: 1,581 Member
    Not sure, but I workout on an empty stomach everyday... I don't burn 1000 cals though. I sure would love to know this answer also.
  • Phaedra2014
    Phaedra2014 Posts: 1,254 Member
    I also exercise on an empty stomach when I workout early in the morning. I don't do it for any other reason than it makes me sick to my stomach if there is food in it.

    You burned 1000 cals doing Zumba? What Zumba is it?!
  • toddis
    toddis Posts: 941 Member
    At best some research shows about a 5% difference. Generally the research is neutral.
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    I get up and run on a empty stomach in the morning. It doesn't bother me but I do wonder if a snack would help start the calorie burn faster or make no difference.
  • deepthavinay
    deepthavinay Posts: 13
    1000 calories! Wow . I exercise on an empty stomach because i just can't exercise if I've eaten something..
  • Commander_Keen
    Commander_Keen Posts: 1,179 Member
    Old school says u r right.

    New school of thought is u need carbs for energy to do Zumba.

    Try it both ways. Take notes for your self.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    Not fueling before I train has a noticeable effect on my performance. Notwithstanding the slower speed I burn out very quickly as well.
  • alexander_airey93
    alexander_airey93 Posts: 19
    I use my Polar FT4. Zumba in my opinion is the best way to lose weight, especially 1000 calories in an hour. Keep up the good work.

    :smile:
  • gem5639
    gem5639 Posts: 90
    Usually best to eat before workouts, but as long as you have enough time to digest prior to starting workout. Body will use any excess sugars/carbs, but if not in surplus then it will be eating in to muscle for energy..
  • alexander_airey93
    alexander_airey93 Posts: 19
    I also exercise on an empty stomach when I workout early in the morning. I don't do it for any other reason than it makes me sick to my stomach if there is food in it.

    You burned 1000 cals doing Zumba? What Zumba is it?!

    Its intense zumba. Love it
  • Stripeness
    Stripeness Posts: 511 Member
    At best some research shows about a 5% difference. Generally the research is neutral.

    QFT

    Best practice is whatever works best for you, and that you'll do consistently for the long haul. Some people get sick if they eat beforehand. Others bonk if they don't have at least a preliminary snack.

    YMMV
  • gem5639
    gem5639 Posts: 90
    Def agree.
  • alexander_airey93
    alexander_airey93 Posts: 19
    Old school says u r right.

    New school of thought is u need carbs for energy to do Zumba.

    Try it both ways. Take notes for your self.

    As long as I'm hydrated with water, I'm good at exercising on an empty stomach. Plus what with being a choreographer, I love Zumba
  • gem5639
    gem5639 Posts: 90
    Not fueling before I train has a noticeable effect on my performance. Notwithstanding the slower speed I burn out very quickly as well.

    Def agree.
  • craigheon
    craigheon Posts: 167 Member
    I've heard both schools of thought as well. I agree with trying it out both ways and seeing what works better for you. I wouldn't stock up on breakfast and then do it, (maybe a small bite to eat with some protein for fuel would work) or you may end up losing all of your cookies when you have exerted yourself.

    I'm curious about the 1000 calories though. Do you know that for a fact? That's a lot of calories to burn in one session. Are you wearing a FitBit or a HR monitor, or was that a guesstimate?
  • alexander_airey93
    alexander_airey93 Posts: 19
    I've heard both schools of thought as well. I agree with trying it out both ways and seeing what works better for you. I wouldn't stock up on breakfast and then do it, (maybe a small bite to eat with some protein for fuel would work) or you may end up losing all of your cookies when you have exerted yourself.

    I'm curious about the 1000 calories though. Do you know that for a fact? That's a lot of calories to burn in one session. Are you wearing a FitBit or a HR monitor, or was that a guesstimate?

    I was using my Polar Heart Rate Monitor.
  • craigheon
    craigheon Posts: 167 Member
    I've heard both schools of thought as well. I agree with trying it out both ways and seeing what works better for you. I wouldn't stock up on breakfast and then do it, (maybe a small bite to eat with some protein for fuel would work) or you may end up losing all of your cookies when you have exerted yourself.

    I'm curious about the 1000 calories though. Do you know that for a fact? That's a lot of calories to burn in one session. Are you wearing a FitBit or a HR monitor, or was that a guesstimate?

    I was using my Polar Heart Rate Monitor.

    Good work then man! Keep it up! That's killer!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,984 Member
    Usually best to eat before workouts, but as long as you have enough time to digest prior to starting workout. Body will use any excess sugars/carbs, but if not in surplus then it will be eating in to muscle for energy..
    Time to rehit the physiology books. It takes a lot of energy usage before muscle is used as a fuel source. The majority of people out there will have an extremely hard time depleting their glycogen stores for this to happen.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • alexander_airey93
    alexander_airey93 Posts: 19
    I've heard both schools of thought as well. I agree with trying it out both ways and seeing what works better for you. I wouldn't stock up on breakfast and then do it, (maybe a small bite to eat with some protein for fuel would work) or you may end up losing all of your cookies when you have exerted yourself.

    I'm curious about the 1000 calories though. Do you know that for a fact? That's a lot of calories to burn in one session. Are you wearing a FitBit or a HR monitor, or was that a guesstimate?

    I was using my Polar Heart Rate Monitor.

    Good work then man! Keep it up! That's killer!

    I love Zumba, the classes i teach/go to are very intense.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,984 Member
    Training fasted is fine. I've done it for the last 10 years and note that for me it's more an attitude adjustment than an energy adjustment. My body has adjusted to it quite well. Personally when it comes to heavy heavy lifting, I don't get that queasy feeling that I used to get even if I ate an hour or two before training.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    So today, I went to Zumba and bunt over 1000 calories. I didn't eat anything prior because I was in a rush. Ive heard that exercising on an empty stomach burns more fat because there are no carbs to burn.

    Is this true?

    Thanks
    Alex. :happy:

    Your liver and muscles can store 2000-2500 calories' worth of glycogen, the form in which glucose is stored for use as energy. That's plenty of carbohydrate. From what I've read, your ability to mobilize fatty acids as an energy source has more to do with training than with exercising on an empty stomach.

    How much Zumba were you doing, by the way - two hours? The Compendium of Physical Activities estimates Zumba at 6.5-7.3 METs (https://sites.google.com/site/compendiumofphysicalactivities/Activity-Categories/new-activity-updates). Subtract the one MET that you would burn just by sitting down and doing nothing, that suggests an exercise calorie burn of 5.5-6.3 calories per kg of body weight per hour, i.e. 440-504 calories/hr for someone who weighs 80 kg/176 lb./12 st. 8 lb.

    The MET estimates in the Compendium are just that - estimates - but I think they're more reliable than MFP's fitness database, which tends to overestimate calorie burn (it has 8.8 METs for Zumba). A lot of people who get frustrated and give up on MFP because they're not losing weight are being misled by overly generous exercise estimates. I went for a bike ride on Friday that burned 750 calories, according to my heart rate monitor, but MFP's database claims 1006. If I believed MFP, I would have eaten 250 calories too much.

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