Do you eat before you workout?

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alska
alska Posts: 299 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I exercise in the morning, and try not to eat or drink coffee etc before working out. Sometimes that's hard if I go for my 4 mile walk, or go to the YMCA instead of working out at home. I like to wait because eating makes me feel so lazy, and then it gives me time to talk myself out of doing it all together :( But if I wait, I sometimes feel straved n feel I could do a better workout if only I ate before. ugh!!

Do you eat before you workout?
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Replies

  • Kita328
    Kita328 Posts: 370 Member
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    I understand both- the not wanting to feel lazy bloated whatever...and running at 5am with no fuel for 4 miles... feeling exhausted when you know that running that far usually doesnt wipe you out!

    My resolution was to eat small amount of high protein. My go to snacks before a morning run are:
    Greek yogurt
    Cottage cheese
    One Hard boiled egg
    and on an off day if I am in a hurry Ill just do one packet of instant oatmeal...that isnt high protein but it gets the job done.

    But key is to eat that as soon as you wake up. Then brush teeth get ready that way there is at least 30 mins before you start running. Never eat to full... ONLY enough to give a boost so you dont feel wiped at the end of the run. then when you come home from running finish your breakfast.

    Hope this helped.
  • sabified
    sabified Posts: 1,051 Member
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    No, I don't... While I definitely have more energy if I eat before working out, I have to wait at least 45 mins to digest before hitting the gym.... and then I run into the same issue you have, where I start losing motivation to go and start talking myself out of it.

    What I have done a couple times is to take something with me in a lil ziploc baggy if I know that I'm going to work out harder than I usually do... something easy to just take a couple bites of, usually carby or with sugar for quick energy and something that doesn't sit too heavy in my stomach (ie usually half a banana or some dates, took a home made muffin one time)
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
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    I eat a small amount (typically a protein bar and maybe some fruit) about an hour before I workout and make sure I am well hydrated also.
  • Edie05
    Edie05 Posts: 10 Member
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    I have an egg before I workout/run. I get nauseous if I run on an empty stomach, especially if it's really hot/humid. I wouldn't eat a full meal before a workout/run.
  • JustSomeEm
    JustSomeEm Posts: 20,221 MFP Moderator
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    I have coffee before a morning run, because it helps me get rid of whatever might be lurking... if you know what I mean. No food until after a run, though. I don't want to be puking in the bushes. LOL!
  • Dianemarie65
    Dianemarie65 Posts: 20 Member
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    If I plan to run that day I will at least have a cup of coffee for an energy boost before I workout. If you plan to do a cardio workout that lasts longer than 60 minutes I would encourage you to have a slice of toast with peanut butter or half banana about a half hour to one hour before your workout. Now some folks can't eat before they run do to GI upset. Each person is different with this.
  • KombuchaCat
    KombuchaCat Posts: 834 Member
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    I usually like to eat a little something so I'm not running on empty. Maybe just a handful of nuts, a piece of fruit or a spoonful of coconut butter or nut butter. However I work out in the evenings mostly so I've eaten something before that at some point in the day. When I do bikram in the morning on the weekends I'll do the eat something small before I go.
  • ladyjc13
    ladyjc13 Posts: 2
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    I exercise in the morning and then during my lunch hour. For both occassions, I eat after I work-out to burn more calories and to eat less. :) So far, this is working for me. :)
  • MissBabyJane
    MissBabyJane Posts: 538 Member
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    Nope. I do my morning workout very early and I don't feel like even drinking water.
  • jfauci
    jfauci Posts: 531 Member
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    I don't because I work out from 4-5:15 AM and I think I would hurl if I ate that early in the morning. I usually nibble on some trail mix on my way to work at 7 AM.
  • trainguy917
    trainguy917 Posts: 366 Member
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    Depends. If it's a short, 30-40 minute, session, I get straight up and go. I am training for a half marathon, though, and do a long run on the weekend. I definitely eat before that, but it's 1.5-2 hours before, which is why it's on the weekend.
  • ccrdragon
    ccrdragon Posts: 3,370 Member
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    most mornings I do my workout on an empty stomach, the most that I ever eat before the workout is a banana and maybe black coffee.

    I also wait until I get to the office after the workout before eating anything - I do drink extra water on the drive to the office tho.., (it's 40 minutes to the office from the gym most mornings).
  • ashabiroo
    ashabiroo Posts: 2 Member
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    Usually I have something light before I work out. Sometimes I can go on an empty stomach. I usually work out after work in the evenings.
  • aekaya
    aekaya Posts: 163 Member
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    Yep, it gives me way more energy throughout the workout. I usually like to eat something light to "carb up" before a workout, plus a little bit of protein. Something like half a banana with a piece of string cheese, or fruit with cottage cheese.
  • ConnorS879
    ConnorS879 Posts: 47 Member
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    I usually have about a 350-400 calorie meal about 60-90 minutes prior to working out
  • DJ7203
    DJ7203 Posts: 497 Member
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    I get up around 5:30 am, drink a cup of black coffee & do 30 mins of fasted cardio. Then I eat breakfast & head to the gym to lift weights.
  • danaaae
    danaaae Posts: 13 Member
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    If it's a weightlifting day I do not eat first. I get very nauseous and stay that way for hours if I do. If I'm just walking or doing some other form of cardio I can handle a little snack, but for the most part I just wait until after.
  • mamaleftwich
    mamaleftwich Posts: 256 Member
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    I don't...my morning starts at 5:00 AM and I do a brisk hour morning walk before work and then eat when I get in to the office, and then on the week-ends or days that I'm off from work I walk much longer and eat when I get home.
  • kshadows
    kshadows Posts: 1,315 Member
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    I do, only because my only available time for working out/running is after dinner in the evening, so I don't have much of a choice. It doesn't bother me much.
  • laineybz
    laineybz Posts: 704 Member
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    Eating after works best for me.

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