workout.....BEFORE or AFTER you eat?

I usually train fasted but a lot of people have the same effect as you. What are you eating in the evening?

I workout after work, before dinner. I try to get in a snack (usually yogurt, some nuts or a banana) around 4 so I have a little extra energy to do my workout, but not enough to make me feel full and sick while exercising.

If I eat before its usually AT LEAST 1 hour before I workout. I never feel dizzy when working out, but sometimes even if I eat 2 or more hours before a workout I can feel the food in there wanting to come back out the way it went in. And thats with something as little as 8oz chicken and some almonds.

I try and eat after working out 100% of the time.

I can't work out for about 3 hours after I eat. I feel ill and lazy. So I always work out before I eat. But, there are times when my body doesn't have enough energy if I haven't eaten for a while, and I crash when I do my run.

So I use an pre-work-out / during workout energy drink (Cytomax) and this seems the best of both worlds. At 180 calories this is a bit of an investment, but it typically enables a 600+ calorie workout so net-net all is good.

Like all things, it's personal and the trick is to find what works best for you and, no matter what, to find a way to get that workout in.

I usually workout sometime after dinner. But really, I workout where ever it fits into my schedule or where I can make it fit. I like having protein before and after my workouts. My muscles don't feel so sore from my vigorous routine then.

Always remember that the affects of training and dieting are cumulative. So when you eat, before or after exercise, doesn't make a difference.

Just do what works for YOU, and you will be fine. Much more important are how many calories you're eating and what you're eating.

I've read both ways, so recently I have started to split my breakfast into two eatings - probably 3/4 before (mix of Greek yogurt and various berry fruits), then the balance after. I have the same overall nutrition intake, but now I feel better both during my morning workout and after. I make up my breakfast muck the day before, so I can just eat and go.

I'm assuming you're working out in the mornings. I typically will eat a hard boiled egg (sometimes maybe an additional one or two, whites only) and a banana pre-workout. That's usually enough to give me some energy without making me feel like I'm going to be sick.

I would try to stick with this rule of thumb (again, just a suggestion, but works for me).

If you're doing cardio only for less than 45 minutes, I'd eat a quick digesting carb around 50-100 cals
Cardio only 45+ minutes: 100-150 cals of a quick digesting + slow digesting carb
Strength training: 150-200 cals quick carb, slow carb, and lean protein

Quick digesting carbs: white rice cake, banana, green apple
Slow carbs: Brown rice cake, oats, sweet potato, brown rice
Protein: protein shake, fish or poultry, scrambled/boiled egg white



Also - make sure you get some post-workout protein in to help your recovery and muscle growth!

Just do what makes you feel best. Maybe just something light (half a banana, some yogurt, ...) if you don't like a full meal but want something. Personally, I get up and go at o'dark'thirty in the morning so I take my pre-workout and have a protein muffin or something. It's usually something in the 50-100 calorie range.

i eat light in the evening i save my "heavest" meal for lunch. However i do like that idea of maybe just a banana or an apple before working out to get rid of the dizziness only sometimes i have it tho. I wondered what was best as far as calorie burn or that doesent matter?

Doesn't matter.

It's usually going to be a personal thing. Figure out what works best for you. Lots of stuff in fitness is trial and error.

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

It's usually going to be a personal thing. Figure out what works best for you. Lots of stuff in fitness is trial and error.

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

This..... Nothing but personal preference...... Best of Luck

A couple of people have already pointed this out but doesn't seem to have taken affect.

It doesn't matter if you eat before or after. Do what works.

When it comes to weight loss it's the old "80/20 rule"

80% of your weight loss success comes from the fact that you're eating properly. Not working out.

I deffinetely need to eat something small before I work out atleast an hour before or I feel like passing out and have no energy

I have to eat an hour before or I don't have the energy to push myself.
After, if I really worked hard and I was ravenous, then I'd have something too.
I will never torture myself if I felt I needed it.