Eat: before or after exercising?

princessblanquisima
princessblanquisima Posts: 46 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
What is better? eating after doing sports or eating before. (in other words, eating after burning calories or eating when you have burned calories?)

Replies

  • Iggy585
    Iggy585 Posts: 104 Member
    It's a big topic of debate. A lot of people work out on an empty stomach and swear by it.

    For intense workouts/cardio you are definately going to need to eat before.

    Personally I eat a snack and take some creatine about an hour before lifting and then I eat right after I am done.
  • pierremignon
    pierremignon Posts: 172 Member
    I'm no nutritionist, but I've heard/read that it's a matter of what really works for you. Some people work out on an empty stomach, while the others have to fuel themselves up for workout (especially cardio).

    Personally, I don't seem to have any energy when I workout without eating. So what I do is work a few hours after I eat dinner. That has worked for me for 2+ years now.
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    Before and after. I never do exercise on an empty stomach and inevitably I am going to feel the munchies after too.
  • lmjblues
    lmjblues Posts: 117 Member
    I agree with the prev poster... I think you have to find what works for you. I tend to eat "something small" before a cardio workout and then follow it up with protein post workout.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    yes.

    I don't like working out 'fasted'. makes me grouchy and have bad lifts.

    And I'm always hungry after lifting- so I tend t have a small snack 30-45 in advance of working out- then I have a large meal/protein shake or whatever- honestly it's usually just my dinner when I get home.

    You have to do what works for you. really there is no right answer.
  • dixiewhiskey
    dixiewhiskey Posts: 3,333 Member
    You'll have to try both and see how you feel. Personally, I have to have something in my system before working out or I do horribly at whatever I'm doing.
  • Srarojas
    Srarojas Posts: 170 Member
    If you are going to lift weights or have more than a 30 - 45 minute cardio session, you need to eat 90 minutes prior - consisting of a complex carb (like oatmeal) and protein (I eat 4 oz). You need to eat or have a protein shake within 30 minutes (before you stop sweating) to feed the muscles you just broke down. This is per my personal trainer, who is certified in nutrition as well.
  • Rocbola
    Rocbola Posts: 1,998 Member
    Both!

    Endurance athletes would also include eating during exercise.
  • csuhar
    csuhar Posts: 779 Member
    It will often depend on what works for you and your schedule. I prefer to not have something newly-arrived in my stomach when I work out. That means I'm fasting for physical training with my unit before work because I'm not going to get up early just for a snack. (Plus, for our job, it helps to build mental toughness to keep working despite an empty stomach.)

    However, most of my personal workouts tend to be in the evening, so I'll have whatever I ate that day somewhere in my system.
  • madhatter2013
    madhatter2013 Posts: 1,547 Member
    Personally, I snack on something about an hour before my workout, drink my protein shake during my workout, and then have a meal about an hour after (cause how long it takes me to get home and cook it). But, like everyone else says, it's whatever works for you. I found that if I eat too close to my workout, I get all cramped up.
  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    I'm a personal trainer, certified nutritionist, exercise and sports nutrition consultant, and I suffer from food dependant exercise induced anaphylaxis... so I make sure I don't eat too soon before a workout.

    When a competitive endurance cyclist asked me for advice though, I told her to make sure she had the appropriate amount of carbohydrate 2-4hours before her workout.

    It's dependant on the individual, ability, goals/sports, physiology and preference.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    It's personal preference...and also somewhat dependent on what exactly you're doing for exercise. I generally eat both before and after. If you're doing intense/vigorous exercise and/or training for an endurance event, it's pretty important to get in some recovery calories/nutrients shortly after and get proper nutrition before and during.

    Generally before lifting (evening) obviously I've eaten throughout the day..but I usually have half an apple and some almonds about 30-60 minutes prior and have a protein shake right after with the other half an apple and generally eat dinner a couple hours later.

    I ride my bike a few days per week at work during my lunch break...usually my breakfast suffices as my weekday rides are only about 12-15 miles and I have lunch immediately following...but on my long ride days I eat a full breakfast about 1.5-2 hours before I ride (generally oats, eggs, and berries) and usually have a gel pack during and then one of my recovery smoothies within 30 minutes of finishing for recovery and to aid in repair.

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