Eating carbs before working out?

_monicagarner
_monicagarner Posts: 20 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi! So i know not much about this, i've tried reading about it but it didn't really make sense to me since i am not very aware with many scientific terms :tongue: sooo i've come to you people for help :smile:

So i am currently trying to lose weight, not a significant amount due to the fact i don't have much fat anywhere except my thighs and am just trying to lose the last bit of fat in my inner thigh area. I am aware that i cannot spot train to lose this fat. I am doing the program Insanity: The Asylum Volume 1, and Volume 2, and it burns about 200-400 calories a video.

SO my question is CARBS! Some places online say it's very bad to eat a lot of carbs, some say it's good, some say it does not matter, and the only thing that really matters is calories in, and calories out, which is confusing because THAT'S THREE DIFFERENT ANSWERS :noway:

Anyways, before i work out i eat about 200 calories of carbs and usually have about 300 calories remaining after that which goes to dinner (plus the calories i gain from working out)

So i've been seriously stressing, is it bad to eat carbs 30 minutes before working out? I tested it and didn't eat any before and i literally had NO energy to workout and really just didn't want to at all. But when i eat carbs, i am SO efficient on working out and don't even want to stop!!

So doing this, am i even burning off fat or am i really just burning off carbs? Will this cause me to lose weight slower?

Btw, i've been eating around 200g of carbs a day and i have no idea if it's too much for weight loss or not. I eat so much carbs (complex carbs, i don't eat much simple carbs) because it's basically the only foods that are really available in my house other than chicken which i don't have much time to make before working out.

Sorry if this is a lot, i am just very confused :cry: :ohwell: Thanks! :smile:

Replies

  • cassique
    cassique Posts: 164 Member
    For weight loss, calories-in/calories-out is all that matters.

    For maximizing your workouts, I think you already answered that question by paying attention to how your body responds with and without the carb boost.

    I'm sure someone more experienced will chime in here. But this is my understanding of this. Your body will burn the carbs first, but since you are eating at a deficit your body is tapping into the fat stores every day anyway.

    For overall health, carbs have gotten a bad rap, but they are the most efficient energy source available to us. I think the fact that they are so cheap and easy to get has led to this current state of things--eating too much carbs at the expense of fat and protein. I think if you hit your protein and fat goals, and fill in the rest of your calories with carbs, you are good to go. It is all about balance.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Carbs are good for you-- they give you energy. I usually have a little bit of carbs and a little bit of protein before I workout in the morning.

    Eating carbs won't hinder your weight loss unless you have a medical condition. Personally I usually eat about 200 grams of carbs per day.
  • RobynMWilson
    RobynMWilson Posts: 1,540 Member
    I always have carbs before a workout. I usually have to Kodiak Cakes flapjacks dipped in a bit of pure maple syrup about 2 hours before my workout and a banana or strawberries about an hour before my workout.

    Carbs aren't the enemy. Fad diets that are anti carb are the enemy! lol
  • Linnaea27
    Linnaea27 Posts: 639 Member
    I think you can go by how you feel-- your body is telling you what it needs. :) Carbs before working out improve my energy and ability to keep going hugely too, and I lost weight quite successfully (though I don't always eat carbs only before I exercise).

    As another person who didn't/doesn't have a lot to lose but who is working on the last bit of unwanted pudge (mine is on my tummy), I would say you can eat in whatever way makes you feel healthy and energetic, as long as it is within your calorie goal.
  • caesar164
    caesar164 Posts: 312 Member
    Having carbs pre workout is a good idea! You'll be able to push harder in the gym thus burning more calories! Consume your carbs while your most active throughout the day, and pre work out, and eat less carbs when your winding down your day. Even though, all that matters is that your in a caloric deficit.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Eating carbs before a workout is good. In fact, I get the bulk of my carbs before my workout and it makes a big difference in workout performance. I would never hit the gym without eating a bunch of carbs first. I've made that mistake a few times - never again.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    You answered your own question :smile: If you don't have them, training sucks, so have them!
  • MsHarryWinston
    MsHarryWinston Posts: 1,027 Member
    Carbs and a little protien for me pre-workout (like a half a banana and small glass of protien powder mixed with water). Then more protein post workout, either a tall glass of protein powder with water or a glass of chocolate milk.

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